FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                        September 9, 2007

HISTORIC CORNERSTONE REDEDICATION SCHEDULED AT NORTHWESTERN

            The cornerstone of the Fine Arts Building at Northwestern Oklahoma State University was dedicated by the Oklahoma Masonic Grand Lodge in March 1907.

            The stone and a copper time capsule behind it will be removed and the stone rededicated at a ceremony beginning at 1 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 20, as part of the university’s First Day of Class Celebration. This event is part of activities planned for the 110th anniversary of Northwestern and the centennial of Oklahoma statehood. Northwestern’s first day of classes was Sept. 20, 1897.

            The rededication ceremony, held at the northeast corner of Fine Arts, will be conducted by the Masonic Grand Master, Charles Dick of Yukon, and will include other Grand Lodge officials and university officials, including Dr. Janet Cunningham, president; Dr. Steve Lohmann, executive vice president; and Dr. Mike Knedler, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences.

Dr. Aaron Mason, assistant professor of political science, will make opening remarks and Charles Stuckey, former Grand Master, will give an address. Stuckey, who lives is Ponca City, is a 1961 Northwestern graduate and retired researcher for Conoco.

Music will be provided by the Ranger marching band, which will perform “God Bless America,” “Oklahoma” and “Ride, Rangers, Ride.”

Depending on their condition, items from the 1907 time capsule will be displayed and discussed. According to newspaper accounts of the day, those items include a list of officers of the Masonic Lodge; names of students in a choir assisting in the program; the roster of the Alva post of the Grand Army of the Republic; a document from the Odd Fellows Lodge; military letters of S.T. Carrico; a jewel from the Cherokee Lodge; Northwestern bulletins; copies of Alva newspapers; photographs of state and university officials, a bogus dollar, and a Master’s Journal from the Ingersoll Masonic Lodge.

Mason is collecting items for the new time capsule that will be sealed behind the cornerstone. He is taking suggestions from the public as to what those things will be. He thinks sports schedules, directories and photos are good possibilities. He also would like people, both from on and off campus, to submit business cards to be included in the container. Any items donated need to reach Mason no later than Friday.

He can be reached at (580) 327-8522 or via email at mason@nwosu.edu.

If the weather is inclement, the ceremony will be held in Percefull Fieldhouse.

-NW-

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