EARLY DAYS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO 20. 



By the 4th of September the work on the foundation had sufficiently 

 progressed for arrangements to be made for the laying of the corner- 

 stone on Monday, September 20. 1 Due notice of the exercises was 

 given by the committee on arrangements in the Boulder News on 

 September 17. 2 On the same day the Grand Lodge of the Masons of 

 Colorado, Columbia Lodge, Number 14, of the same order, and the 

 Phoenix Hook and Ladder Company Number 1, gave notice to their 

 members to be present at the ceremony. September 20 was the 

 stormiest day of the season. A combination of rain and snow pre- 

 vented any of the imposing ceremonies arranged for and the citizens 

 of Boulder were greatly disappointed. 3 Shortly after the noon hour 

 the officers of the Grand Lodge, five trustees, the architect, the con- 

 tractors and a few others went to the university grounds and per- 

 formed the ceremony of laying the corner-stone. The ceremonies 

 were concluded in Union Hall with addresses made by Judge Belford, 

 Dr. Lord, Nathan Thompson and others. 



After the laying of the corner-stone the work on the building went 

 on rapidly. 4 Superintendent of Public Instruction Hale in his report 

 dated December 20, 1875, states that "the building will be ready for 

 occupancy in the spring." 5 On January 15, 1876, the members of the 

 legislature came to Boulder and, at the dinner given to them in the 

 Boulder House, Judge Leonard and others made speeches in which 

 they set before them the needs of the university. 6 After the dinner 

 the visitors inspected the grounds and building. A description of the 

 building appeared in the Fair play Sentinel shortly after their visit: 

 "The University, a handsome edifice of brick, four stories high, with 



1 Minute Book, p. 84. 



* In addition to naming some of the speakers, the committee offered suggestions as to what should be 

 placed in the "tin box." A list of the deposits is given in the Boulder News, September 24, 1875. 



' A full account of the exercises is given in the Boulder News, September 24, 1875. The addresses of the 

 speakers are given: of Judge Belford, September 24; of the Master of the Grand Lodge, of Dr. Lord and of 

 Nathan Thompson, October 1; of H. M. Hale, October 8. Nathan Thompson resigned his pastorate in 

 October, 1875, and left Boulder shortly afterward. This fact will account for the omission of his name after 

 the laying of the corner-stone. 



« See the bills allowed by the board October 6, 18, 30, November 13, December 2. — Minute Book, pp. 

 88-90. 



s Third Biennial Report, Supt. Public Instruction, p. 10. 



6 Boulder News, January 21, 1876. Cf. January 14, 1876. See also History of Clear Creek and Boulder 

 Valleys, p. 408. 



