With a new Windsor city hall comes a new cornerstone.
Freemasons from throughout Windsor-Essex gathered in front of the current city hall Saturday to perform a cornerstone ceremony commemorating the construction of the new building set to be completed in 2018.
It's a tradition that has spanned more than 160-years and three buildings according to Mayor Drew Dilkens.
The two existing cornerstones embedded in the current city hall at 350 City Hall Square West. (Photo by AM800's Gord Bacon)
"Since our first one, when it was the town of Windsor, we're back today and they have a new corner stone for 2018," says Dilkens. "This is the official ceremony to dedicate that corner stone and reflect on the past city halls, and town halls we've had as a community. We're adding this cornerstone to the new city hall when it opens in May of next year."
He told AM800 News it's an honour to have freemasons from as far as Manitoba on hand to perform the cornerstone ceremony for the new building.
"We've kind of bridged 160-years of history here with all the time they've been involved in our community and we're appreciative for the work that freemasons do in Windsor-Essex," says Dilkens.
Ontario's Grand Master of Freemasons Paul Todd says it's about transferring history from one building to the next. The new cornerstone marked with the year of completion will join matching stones from 1856 and 1871.
Ontario's Grand Master of Freemasons Paul Todd carries out a cornerstone ceremony in front of Windsor's city hall Saturday Sept. 30. (Photo by AM800's Gord Bacon)
Those stones are currently placed near the north-east-entrance of the current city hall — the new stone will accompany them on an interior wall in the new building.
"At one time operative-masons laid corner stones in most structures that they made," says Todd. "There's a bit of symbolism to it that masons do, and we continue to do it to this day. We're very proud to be here."
Windsor's Masonic Lodge was founded in 1922, freemasons around the world are celebrating 300 years in the community this year.
#Freemason Cornerstone Ceremony for the new @CityWindsorON Hall underway. #cklw pic.twitter.com/SmfOL6jqHe
— Gord Bacon (@baconAM800) September 30, 2017