(SPS) -- An historic tradition saw a new chapter written on Friday as two Masonic Grand Lodges came together to conduct a joint cornerstone ceremony at Sapulpa High School. The cornerstones will be installed at the entry of the new Sapulpa High School before construction is completed.
The ceremony, held Oct. 2 at Sapulpa High School's Shaw Auditorium, brought together officers and representatives of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Oklahoma and the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Oklahoma. The joint observance is the first of its kind, according to Harrison Irving (Bart) Bartlett II, who organized the joint ceremony. Mr. Bartlett is a lifelong Sapulpan, SHS alumnus, Perpetual and Endowed member of the Sapulpa Masonic Lodge, and trustee of the Edward E. and Helen Turner Bartlett Foundation which provides tens of thousands of dollars in grants and scholarships annually to Sapulpa Public Schools and SHS seniors.
Also attending the ceremony were school district and high school administrators, school board members, Oklahoma state Sen. Todd Gollihare, Oklahoma state Rep. Mark Lawson, and Sapulpa Mayor Craig Henderson.
Two 16-by-16-by-3-inch granite cornerstones will be placed on either side of the entrance to the new high school. Dignitaries participating in the ceremony symbolically bonded the stones with cement, continuing a centuries-old Masonic tradition associated with the dedication of important public buildings. Beneath each cornerstone, a subordinate stone represents Sapulpa’s Masonic lodges. Time capsules containing mementos representing 2026 will also be placed behind the cornerstones, creating a permanent connection between today's community and future generations.
A Tradition Rooted in History
The cornerstone ceremony draws upon ancient building traditions and uses symbolic tools of the building trades, including the square, level and plumb. During the ceremony, each tool was applied to the cornerstone, representing principles that extend beyond construction.
The square represents the importance of aligning one's actions with high standards of compassion and commitment. The level symbolizes remaining true to the foundations of character and honor, while the plumb represents uprightness and personal integrity.
The ceremony also included the traditional use of corn, wine and oil. Corn represents prosperity and abundance, wine represents joy and contentment, and oil represents peace and healing. Together, the elements serve as symbols of hope for the people who will use and be served by the building.
The Masonic tradition of dedicating public buildings has a long history in the United States. The ceremony materials note that George Washington participated in the laying of the foundation stone of the U.S. Capitol using full Masonic ceremony, continuing a tradition that has connected Freemasonry with the dedication of significant public buildings.
A Meaningful Connection to Sapulpa's History
The ceremony also carries particular significance for Sapulpa High School.
In 1959, a tornado destroyed Washington High School, Sapulpa's Black high school. Black students subsequently moved into the new Sapulpa High School early, helping integrate the school ahead of what might otherwise have occurred. However, a cornerstone was never placed on the current high school.
The participation of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge adds another important dimension to Friday's ceremony. Prince Hall Freemasonry has a significant history in the Black American experience, including a longstanding emphasis on education, equal rights and community development. During the ceremony, representatives described the two Oklahoma Grand Lodges as standing together in service to their communities.
Building for Generations to Come
Following the placement and testing of the stones, participants symbolically set the cornerstone with cement. Sen. Gollihare, Rep. Lawson, Superintendent Rob Armstrong, Board Member Melinda Ryan, Mayor Craig Henderson and Sapulpa High School NHS officer and senior Madison Albers each spread cement on the stones. The ceremony concluded with a dedication of the work to "the service of humanity, the enjoyment of the people and the benefit of all who follow."
For Sapulpa Public Schools, the ceremony represents more than the placement of two stones at the entrance of a new building. The cornerstones, and the memories sealed behind them, will remain part of the physical foundation of the new Sapulpa High School, connecting the students and community members who will fill its halls for generations with the people who helped make the building possible.
As construction continues, the new Sapulpa High School is becoming more than a new facility. It is becoming a part of Sapulpa's history: built on the community's past, shaped by its present and created for its future.