Central Texas town finds 1930s time capsule in demolished city hall

A 10x8x5-inch copper time capsule was discovered by demolition crews in June in Taylor, Texas. The capsule, which was about 10 pounds, was placed inside the city hall's cornerstone in 1935. A 10x8x5-inch copper time capsule was discovered by demolition crews in June in Taylor, Texas. The capsule, which was about 10 pounds, was placed inside the city hall's cornerstone in 1935. Photo: Courtesy, City Of Taylor Photo: Courtesy, City Of Taylor Image 1 of / 30 Caption Close Central Texas town finds 1930s time capsule in demolished city hall 1 / 30 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO - City officials in Taylor are working on a date and method to open a time capsule from 1935 they believe includes dozens valuable items from the early 20th century.

The time capsule in Taylor, which is about 45 miles northeast of Austin, was discovered in June by demolition crews. However, a method to open the metal capsule, which is about the size of a shoe box but weighs about 10 pounds, has perplexed officials.

"We are anxious to open it but we are being cautious how we do it because we don't want to damage what's inside," said Deby Lannen, the city's Main Street manager. "It looks like the edges were welded shut."

Officials believe the items enclosed include items from the late 1800's and early 1900's including autographed memorabilia from former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, boxing champion Jack Dempsey, actor and humorist Will Rogers, photos and map of Taylor buildings, agencies and artesian wells.

Lannen said the city was able to alert demolition crews to the capsule's existence in a cornerstone of the city hall because of a 1935 newspaper article from the Taylor Daily Press. The article describes the items enclosed in the 10x8x5 inch box, which Lannen said is made of copper and was placed inside the building's cornerstone when it was constructed in 1935.

"The capsule doesn't rattle and there no sounds coming from it," she said.

Lannen, who has kept the capsule in her office since June, said the city will meet with experts on the best way to open the capsule, and open it during a downtown event in the Fall.

The city plans to archive and display the items after the capsule is open, and eventually place them in a city museum, she said.

According to KVUE, the 1935 article lists the articles as follows:

"Taylor Annual St. Patrick's Day parade, 1935; old pictures by A.A. Reno; roster of the Taylor Fire Department of 1903 taken from the old cornerstone and placed there by W.A. Still; {indecipherable} city limits of Taylor, May 1935; put there by T.W. Falkenberg; log of artesian well No. 2; autographs of President of the United States Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Vice President John N. Garner, former Governor of Texas Miriam A. Ferguson, present Governor James V. Allred, Jack Dempsey, boxing champion; Will Rogers, actor and humorist; J.P. Buchanan, representative; program of the Knights of Columbus 32nd Annual State Convention Banquet; Chamber of Commerce directors and officers; program of the Little Theater play "The Drunkard"; dedication program of St. Mary's School; American Café menu; oil well fire, presented by Will Stern; French door key taken from the 96th Aero Squadron barracks at Petite Maulin, France, and an airplane level presented by Frank Darlington; list of city employees; The Taylor Daily Press Trade Day issue; coin by C.O. Daliet; $188.50 in Confederate money submitted by Will Pryor; coins taken from the old cornerstone; picture of Marvin Bogg dressed for the Bowery Ball; centennial coin by E. Rummel; Centennial coin by C. Irving Ahlgreen; roster of the Taylor Fire Department of 1935; old penny by Asst. Chief of Police Ned Fails; a check dated 2035 for $100.00 by Fred I. Fisher; a letter by Sheriff Louis Lowe of Georgetown with an inscription on the envelope that reads, 'When this is read, I will be dead.'"

kparker@express-news.net

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