Opening the Time Capsule

June 3, 2007
On Sunday, June 3, Rev. Alan Head went out with a Bang!  After preaching his final sermon, the congregation followed him out to the front lawn where he conducted two rituals:  the dedication of the Dynamite Crepe Myrtle in honor of Mrs. Dulcie Biggs and the Opening of the Cornerstone to locate the time capsule embedded there at the dedication of the sanctuary upon the completion of its construction November 13, 1949.  All this was followed by one of the famous Trinity Covered Dish Dinners to give the Head Family a loving send-off.

Many Trinity folks have speculated on the contents of the lock box that was embedded in the cornerstone back in 1949.  What would seem important to that hardy band of Methodists who had traded in the little Brandon Memorial Methodist Church building for this grand brick neogothic structure with such beautiful symbols everywhere you look inside and out?  Some even worried about what might be found if we took a peek.

The opportunity presented itself at the conclusion of the restoration project of tuck pointing--replacement of the crumbling mortar with fresh mortar--when the contractor offered to open the cornerstone and replace the lock box that was in it with a new time capsule containing the important mementos of our present congregation.

Well, here's what Alan and the congregation discovered.  

Alan used the hammer(!!!) to get into the rusty lock box.

 

Click on the little pictures below for a larger view:

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The 1949 Methodist Book of Discipline was on top

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The cover of the Book Of Discipline

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The frontispiece of the water-damaged Book of Discipline

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The second item in the time capsule was an envelope

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The single page in the envelope had a list of the members of the building committee and architect.

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The last item was a Methodist Hymnal.`

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The water damage to the hymnal was severe.

  

 

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The contents of the time capsule have been on display in Fellowship Hall.  If you examine these items, use extreme care not to further damage them by rough handling.  Even normal handling of these aging and already damaged items can result in loss of portions of the materials.