From the Ipswich Tribune
September 20, 1928 edition
PLACE METAL BOX IN ARCH
Unique Ceremony at Arch-Songs and Speeches Feature of the Day’s Program
A very interesting and unique ceremony took place last Friday afternoon when a metal box, containing relics typifying the present age, was deposited in the pillar of the new arch which is being built over the Yellowstone Trail. J. W. Parmley and A. L. Beardsley conducted the ceremonies.
The Girls Glee club under the direction of Miss Helen Henderson sang “America.”
Mr. Beardsley gave a short talk, explaining the nature of the constructions of the arch, and gave a picture of how the structure will look when completed. The pillars are of stone and are to be capped with concrete. In the face of each pillar will be a tablet containing a roster of the soldiers who fought in the war and those who died on the field of battle. A large electric sign with the name “Ipswich” will connect the pillars, proclaiming to all travelers that there is a city by the name of Ipswich. A half a ton of iron is to be used in the reinforcement work.
Royal C. Johnson, congressman from this district, was present and delivered a short address. He was introduced by Mr. Beardsley.
“The greatest change in the civilization of the United States is due to good roads,” the congressman said. He told of coming through Ipswich thirty-five years ago with a team and old buggy, when good roads were non-existent. At that time he little dreamed, he said, that he would be present at the ceremony which took place Friday. J. W. Parmley came in for his share of praise, when Mr. Johnson told of the early days in Pierre when Mr. Parmley was making his plea for good roads.
The contents of the metal box were many and varied. Relics of the World war, copy of the Ipswich Tribune with a picture of former arch, folders and maps of Yellowstone Trail from its inception to the present, copy of state highway laws, many photographs of scenes along highway, South Dakota Blu book, copies of Aberdeen News and American, samples of wheat and other grains, were among the articles deposited. In response to the question asked by Mr. Parmley whether any one in the audience had any money which they wished to put in the box, several threw in small change. H. E. Beebe was the highest contributor, giving $204,000 in German money.
Mr. Beardsley, Mr. Parmley and Mr. Brown make themselves honorary masons and helped to cement in the box, and secure it for many years to come until the time when the arch should be no longer. Then the people of that day can examine the relics in the box and see what kind of a life we in this community lived in 1928.
The money for the arch, a sum amounting to about twelve hundred dollars, was raised through the combined efforts of the American Legion, the Lions Club, the Commercial Club and the City of Ipswich. It is money well spent and will again put Ipswich on the map as the “Arch City.”
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