"THE FIRST STONE WAS LAID IN THE SW CORNER"

CORNERSTONE OF PRESIDENT'S HOUSE LAID IN WASHINGTON 

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On October 13, 1792, the first stone of the President's House was laid here in the Nation's Capital. The description of this historic event comes from a news story appearing in the Charleston City Gazette of November 15, 1792.

"On Saturday the 13th inst. the first stone was laid in the southwest corner of the President's House, in the city of Washington, by the Free Masons of George-town and its vicinity who assembled on the occasion.

The procession was formed at the Fountain Inn, Georgetown.  The ceremony was performed by brother J.T. Casneve, the master of the lodge.  He delivered an oration well adapted to the occasion."

The news story also informed readers that a brass plate was placed inside the cornerstone with the following inscription...

"George Washington, President.
T. Johnson, Doctor Stewart, Daniel Carroll, James Hoban, Architect
Collen Williamson, Master Mason
Vivat Respublica*

*Source:  1792-Strange Secrets of the White House, Rense.com

                     The White House
                        North Portico
                 September 24, 2011
               Photo by John White

WHITE HOUSE CORNERSTONE MYSTERY

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 2087

WHITE HOUSE CORNERSTONE LAID 224 YEARS AGO

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) 224 years ago today, October 13, 1792, the first stone of the President's House was laid here in the Nation's Capital.  The description of this historic event comes from a news story appearing in the Charleston City Gazette of November 15, 1792.

"On Saturday the 13th inst. the first stone was laid in the southwest corner of the President's House, in the city of Washington, by the Free Masons of George-town and its vicinity who assembled on the occasion.

The procession was formed at the Fountain Inn, Georgetown.  The ceremony was performed by brother J.T. Casneve, the master of the lodge.  He delivered an oration well adapted to the occasion."

The news story also informed readers that a brass plate was placed inside the cornerstone with the following inscription:

"George Washington, President.

T. Johnson, Doctor Stewart, Daniel Carroll, James Hoban, Architect

Collen Williamson, Master Mason

Vivat Respublica

According to Hannah Schwefel of The St. Norbest Times, the cornerstone, made out of very heavy Aquia sandstone from Virginia, has not been seen since it was first laid.  The Masonic tradition was to locate first stones in the Northeast corner, but a letter found in 1946 suggested the White House cornerstone was laid in the Southwest corner.

Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Harry Truman attempted unsuccessfully to locate the cornerstone.  Ms. Schwefel says that its location remains a mystery.

SOURCES

"The Mystery of the White House Cornerstone," by Hannah Schwefel, St. Norbest Times, www.sntimes.wordpress.com/

" 1792-Strange Secrets of the White House," Rense.com

The White House

North Portico

Photo by John White (2016)

CONTINENTAL NAVY AUTHORIZED

October 13, 2013

CONTINENTAL NAVY AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (JFK+50) 238 years ago today, October 13, 1775, the Continental Congress of the United States of America gave the authorization for a Continental Navy.

The decision came in the wake of news that a British naval fleet was en route to the United States.

The 1st fleet of the United States, composed of 7 ships, was commanded by Esek Hopkins.*

The Department of the Navy would be established in April 1798.

*Esek Hopkins (1718-1802), the only Commander in Chief of the Continental Navy during the War for Independence, was born in Rhode Island.  Unable to pay his crews as much as those of privateers, Hopkins was censured by the Congress and terminated in 1778.

Commodore Esek Hopkins

Commander in Chief

Continental Navy

Anne S.K. Brown Collection

by Thomas Hart (1781)

CORNERSTONE OF PRESIDENT'S HOUSE LAID IN WASHINGTON 

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) 221 years ago today, October 13, 1792, the 1st stone of the President's House was laid here in the Nation's Capital.

The description of this historic event comes from a news story appearing in the Charleston City Gazette of November 15, 1792.

"On Saturday the 13th inst. the first stone was laid in the southwest corner of the President's House, in the city of Washington, by the Free Masons of George-town and its vicinity who assembled on the occasion.

The procession was formed at the Fountain Inn, Georgetown.  The ceremony was performed by brother J.T. Casneve, the master of the lodge.  He delivered an oration well adapted to the occasion."

The news story also informed readers that a brass plate was placed inside the cornerstone with the following inscription:

"George Washington, President.
T. Johnson, Doctor Stewart, Daniel Carroll, James Hoban, Architect
Collen Williamson, Master Mason
Vivat Respublica*

*Source:  1792-Strange Secrets of the White House, Rense.com

                     The White House
                        North Portico
                 September 24, 2011
               Photo by John White

CORNERSTONE OF PRESIDENT'S HOUSE LAID

CORNERSTONE OF PRESIDENT'S HOUSE LAID IN WASHINGTON CITY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) 220 years ago today, Saturday, October 13, 1792, the 1st stone of the President's House was laid here in the Nation's Capital.

The description of this historic event comes from a news story appearing in the Charleston City Gazette of November 15, 1792.

"On Saturday the 13th inst. the first stone was laid in the southwest corner of the President's House, in the city of Washington, by the Free Masons of George-town & its vicinity who assembled on the occasion.

The procession was formed at the Fountain Inn, Georgetown.  The ceremony was performed by brother J.T. Casneve, the master of the lodge.  He delivered an oration well adapted to the occasion."

The news story also informed readers that a brass plate was placed inside the cornerstone with the following inscription:

"George Washington, President.
T. Johnson, Doctor Stewart, Daniel Carroll, James Hoban, Architect
Collen Williamson, Master Mason
Vivat Respublica*

*Source:  1792-Strange Secrets of the White House, Rense.com

                     The White House
                        North Portico
                 September 24, 2011
               Photo by John White