Residents in Owatonna, Minnesota, took part in a historic event Monday after construction workers discovered a 104-year-old time capsule.
Construction crews were tearing down the front pillars and doors of Owatonna High School, Fox 9, when they discovered a silver box among the debris of the demolition project. report Thursday.
The capsule, which excited everyone in the community, was buried in the high school’s cornerstone in 1920, said Jeff Elstad, the district’s superintendent.
“It’s always exciting to learn about the history of our community and the visionaries who built great schools that serve so many students for generations,” he added. .
photograph show A cornerstone and a capsule are placed on top of it. The box appears to be in good condition:
A 104-year-old time capsule discovered during school demolition: What was inside https://t.co/Q710ABy2nb
— FOX4 News (@FOX4) April 25, 2024
When officials opened the box, they removed several items, including a directory of the school’s teachers and administrators, a copy of the high school newspaper, three local newspapers, and other documents.
Just before revealing the contents of the box in the presence of local officials, the man who carried out the operation asked construction workers to carefully remove the 1920 foundation stone, as authorities wanted to cut out and preserve the façade. He said he did.
“I said, ‘While you’re doing that, be really careful and turn it over and see if there’s anything inside.’ And sure enough, they called me, and I walked over and saw this in the cornerstone,” he explained, picking up the box and placing it on the table.
“It’s really, really cool,” he added, removing the lid and beginning to remove the contents.Readers can click here To watch the entire video
image show Documents arranged on the table:
Construction crews recently demolishing an old high school in Minnesota found a time capsule tucked into the cornerstone from when the building was built in 1920.https://t.co/eIpZEshKwV
— ABC News (@ABC) April 27, 2024
“We don’t know exactly what will be included, but many of the items, such as newspapers and local history, are typical of what would be included in a time capsule,” Elstad commented. “I especially enjoyed finding items that specifically shared information about the school at the time.”
After the discovery, the Owatonna High School Museum Committee worked with the Steele County Historical Society to preserve the items found inside the box.
Some of the treasures will be displayed at the school, while others will be housed in the association’s collection.
“We’ve been keeping something like this for a long time and we’ve actually just put it out there so we’re really excited to get it out there and share it with the community,” Owatonna High School Principal Corey Cass said. Said Keithy.
“For many of us, the first thing was the fact that it is well preserved and that it needs to tell a story,” he added.
