Artifact of the Week — January 23, 2014

This framed and mounted lithograph of the Dedication of the Masonic Hall in the Batesville Institute is a part of the Sheffield collection at Old Independence Regional Museum. The dedication took place in 1858, but the building burned in January of 1859 The Institute was rebuilt almost immediately.  The second building was still a three story brick structure, but was simpler in style without a cupola.  The lithograph shows the names on the building:  Masonic Hall, Town Hall, I.O.O.F. and a large number of Masons are on the platform outside the building with a very large crowd gathered to hear.  It was used as the headquarters for the U.S. Army Quartermaster during the Federal occupation during the Civil War.

 

The story is told that President Warren G. Harding, a Mason, found the print in an Ohio junk shop and sent it to Mt. Zion Lodge #10.  It was then restored and framed by Dr. Wesley Ketz.  The Institute is the subject of an article in the ICHS Chronicle Vol. 35, no. 1&2, #112.

lithograph of the Dedication of the Masonic Hall in the Batesville Institute

lithograph of the Dedication of the Masonic Hall in the Batesville Institute

 

 


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