What a hot find!
A 118-year-old time capsule was discovered last week in an Ohio fire station marked for demolition.
The Marion Fire Department desired to remove the cornerstone of the constructing for preservation, so a small group of off-duty firefighters began hammering and chiseling — until they stumbled upon a copper box contained in the cornerstone.
Using tin snips at a public unveiling this week, officials found nine turn-of-the-century firefighter badges, a hearth department roster from 1905, and 4 local newspapers from 118 years ago.
The box also held the unique lease for the property from Marion Power Shovel to the City of Marion, an 1878 invitation from the Delphos Fire Department for the Northwestern Ohio Volunteer Fireman’s Association Fireman’s Games, and a letter from the hearth chief on the time stating that the cornerstone was set on July 20, 1905, amongst other items.
“What a tremendous find! This stuff might be kept on the Marion County Historical Society while our latest Station 1 is constructed after which eventually placed there in a display case,” department officials wrote Wednesday on Facebook.
“That’s so awesome,” one local resident commented.
“Y’all should make a time capsule with similar contents. That will be cool,” one other really helpful.
“Thanks for allowing us to observe! I used to be surprised there was a lot history in that little box,” a 3rd exclaimed.
“Call me a dork. I like this type of stuff. I’m so glad you were capable of share this find along with your folks,” another person gushed.
“It was great with the ability to watch the opening and reveal of all this outstanding history!” one other shared.
“How exciting. Are there plans to place one other box in the brand new facility?” one wondered.
The hearth department replied: “There sure is!”
Other century-old time capsules have been unearthed lately under a Robert E. Lee statue in Virginia and a former middle school in Massachusetts.
