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{U of South VAULT/Early Papers Box 2 Folder: 1860: Cornerstone Ceremony IV}
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Black and White Sides Of Cornerstone Laying Revealed By Archives
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By BERT HATCH
Today Sewanee is bristling with excitement over the new buildings which will soon become reality. The day that Gailor Hall is formally opened will be a never-to-be-forgotten date in the history of the University. But for true excitement, awe-inspiring spectacle, flowing oratory, and all the other ingredients which make up a truly memorable occasion, there will never be a day on this mountain to equal October 10, 1860, the date of the laying of the cornerstone of the University of the South.
There have been many conflicting reports as to the size of the crowd which attended the ceremonies. Some over-generous souls have set the count in the vicinity of 10,000 but concrete evidence in the University archives proves this to be highly unlikely. Mrs. Torian, custodian of the Sewanee museum in the basement of the library, has the actual bills for supplies purchased for the occasion. From the amount of food and bedding that was bought it is evident that the plan was to feed no more than 500 and to provide accommodations for little more than half that number to spend the night. In these days of soaring prices it is interesting to note that the food committee bought 33 heads of cabbage for $2.00 and paid $1.20 for 13 1/2 pounds of lard.
The ceremonies have been reported as "breath-taking," "indescribable," "impressive", etc. They could not have been otherwise considering the great number of southern bishops, clergy, and educators in their colorful robes; the grand music rendered by "Horn's Silver Band", a highly touted ensemble imported all the way from Nashville; and the banquet, fit for a king, which was accompanied by splendid examples of now extinct "Old Southern" oratory. The principle speakers, other than Bishops Quintard and Otey, were Col. John Preston of South Carolina and Commander Maury of the United States Navy.
In the interest of good publicity only the beautiful and sanctimonious aspects of the cornerstone-laying are reported in modern journals. But research shows that was a darker side to the festivities. Some years ago the University received a letter from Mr. J. W. Gonce, who as a small boy had come up from the valley to see what it was that was attracting so many people to such a desolate spot in the woods. In his letter Mr. Gonce gives an eyewitness account of the great day which is not altogether flattering but is none-the-less interesting. He says that:
"They had come as we had come, on foot, horseback, and in wagons, drawn by all sorts of teams, from afar and near, and they had come prepared to enjoy the day, bringing provisions for man and beast; also intoxicating liquor, I might say also{italics} for man and beast, for a large part of the men had a striking resemblance
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BLACK AND WHITE SIDES (Continued from page 3)
to beasts later in the day. I saw fighting on a large scale when the combatants were so numerous that no one had the least idea what the row was about. I saw fighting, horsetrading, gambling, all conducted openly and vociferously and without the least regard for the ceremonies that were being conducted around the cornerstone, not over 200 yards away."
All in all, it seems to have been a highly satisfactory day. Both those who had come in search of beauty and things of the spirit, and those who had come in quest of free food and things of the bottle were satisfied.
Incidentally, the cornerstone, which was the cause of all this but which seems to have been overlooked in the rush, was a hunk of Tennessee marble, 2'8" wide, 4 feet long, and 1'9" high. It weighed 3,000 pounds.
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