Hidden History
ZELIENOPLE — In 1917 the United States entered World War I with Woodrow Wilson as president.
Postage stamps cost two cents, the Chicago White Sox beat the New York Giants to win the World Series, and New York State voted to allow women to vote.
Passavant Community residents realized a connection to 1917 Friday afternoon when a time capsule from that year was opened after being found during renovations to the Old Main building several weeks ago.
“It's not only part of Passavant Community's history. It's also part of Zelienople's history,” said Bryan Hockenberry, superintendent of DCK Worldwide. DCK is the contractor doing the Passavant renovations.
Hockenberry found the capsule after hearing reports of where it was hidden.
It was known that the capsule was buried under the Old Main building in Passavant, but there was trouble finding its exact location.
“We knew it was in the cornerstone,” said Laura Roy, Passavant executive director. “However after years of renovations, we had no idea where the cornerstone was.”
Hockenberry said he gave up when his search proved fruitless.
However later research suggested the capsule was buried near the boiler room, which was near the rear of the building. Most of the searching done earlier was focused toward the front.
After using an excavator, the small box, estimated to weigh about seven pounds, was found.
“It was pretty exciting,” Hockenberry. “You've got to picture a pile of debris, anything from concrete to steel to everything and then a little copper box.”Although the box showed some rust, it was sealed shut. Hockenberry opened it using a crowbar and wire cutters to a chorus of applause from residents in attendance.The items were well-preserved, showing little sign of aging.Stacked inside the box were:• A letter and program about the laying of the cornerstone at Old Main, including photographs of the building.• A copy of the American Standard edition of the Bible.• A small, silk American flag.• A copy of the April 30, 1917, edition of The Butler Eagle.• A copy of the April 29, 1917, edition The Pittsburg Dispatch.• A copy of the April 26, 1917 edition of Connoquenessing Valley news.• Financial reports• A half dollar from 1917 along with a quarter, a dime and a penny.• A bronze medallion with German inscription: “The official quadricentennial at the Reformation.”• The Lutheran Church yearbook for 1917.• An invitation to the cornerstone of the Main Building of the Old People's Home of the Pittsburgh Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.• An envelope containing a quadricentennial stamp and a quadricentennial Jubilee Supply and a Reformed Catechism.• A list of rules for admission into the home.• A copy of the capital campaign for the home.• Reports of the home. The report referred to residents as “inmates.”• A flier from The Pittsburgh Synod 74th annual convention in 1916.• A copy of The Gazette Times.• A copy of the April 26, 1917, edition of the local Lutheran paper.• An American Lutheran survey from April 18, 1917.• A New Year's card from the home.• A contribution deposit from residents of the home.• A copy of the April 28, 1917 edition of Pittsburgh Chronicle Telegraph.Another time capsule will be buried this fall at the Alice Osborne Centennial Garden. Roy said residents will help with choosing what goes in that capsule.“It would be nice if we had more physical things to put in there. There, it was just papers,” said Passavant resident Stan Whiting of the future capsule.Whiting was one of four people featured on stage who were born in 1917, the year the box was buried.He also suggested the items from the capsule opened Friday should be placed in the new capsule to be opened another 100 years from now.“There's a lot of history there,” he said.The items uncovered Friday will be donated to the Zelienople Historical Society.
