Cornerstone Laying Ceremony
by Sue King, ©2023
September 27, 1904 was a momentous day in Richmond, Indiana. Not one but two cornerstones were laid in impressive ceremonies, partially honoring the man who financed both huge projects. Daniel Gray Reid, Richmond native and New York financier, had decided to use some of his immense fortune to build a fine new church building for his Presbyterian congregation.
His original plan was to give the current church (still standing at the corner of North 11th and B) over to St. Stephen’s Hospital for its use.
St. Stephen’s Hosptial, Richmond, Indiana
St. Stephen’s was a small institution started 1884 and run by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Located on the northeast corner of North 8 th and C, it was the only hospital in Richmond, and it was woefully inadequate. Having only nine beds, by 1900 it was estimated that it had to turn away as many as fifty patients a week.
When Reid learned that the need for a hospital was far greater than could be helped with the use of the former church, he decided to build a new hospital. He agreed to build the original building on the condition that the City of Richmond create an endowment for its upkeep. Its various wards were furnished by organizations and wealthy individuals. Unlike the hospital project, Reid financed every bit of the construction of the church as his gift to the congregation of his family.
Reid continued with his plans for the Presbyterian church, so he had two major construction projects underway at the same time. Consequently, the boards of both institutions decided to have the cornerstone laying ceremonies for both buildings held on the same day, September 27, 1904.
Laying the cornerstone at Reid Memorial Hosptial, Richmond, Indiana
The hospital’s ceremony started at 3:00 in the afternoon with several dignitaries on the platform, including members of the hospital board, Ladies Aid Society, Mayor William Zimmerman, and the City Council. When this photo was taken, president of the hospital board, John Rupe is making a few remarks before the workmen lower the stone into place. It’s not shown here, but the Richmond Item reported that “fully one thousand people witnessed the brief ceremony.”
Laying the cornerstone at Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church, Richmond, Indiana.
Most of the party then moved to the corner of North A and 11th to place the cornerstone for Reid’s church. This ceremony included a couple of hymns by a quartet, a scripture reading, a reading of the history of the congregation, and remarks by the pastor, Rev. S. R. Lyons. This photo shows the moment the stone was fitted into place.
Work continued on both projects until the following summer, when the new Reid Memorial Hospital opened to great fanfare on July 27, 1905. The church was a more complicated project, with Tiffany Windows throughout, a state of the art Hook and Hastings organ, and a set of 10 chimes in the bell tower. The church was finally dedicated on May 13, 1906.
Cornerstone laid in 1904 sits above The Reid Center sign on the corner of North A and North 11th Streets, Richmond, Indiana, August 2023.