Commissioner Richard Wells reports 1883 time capsule found during church sale; museum to review items

Commissioner Richard Wells reported at the board meeting on May 26 that a local woman notified him after workers preparing the former Holbrook (Congregational) church for sale found a time capsule containing material from 1883. “They dug that up…there’s some stuff in there from 1883,” Wells said, and added that the woman who contacted him brought documents and items she believed important to local history.

Wells said the capsule appears to include an 1883 newspaper and a sketch map of Livingston. He told the board the woman was worried the museum would only digitize the material and return her originals; Wells said he did not think the museum would do that and expected the woman to bring the items to the museum for discussion.

Board members asked to be alerted should the woman stop by with the materials so the museum can assess preservation needs and discuss possible accession, temporary custody or digitization. No formal action or decision was taken at the meeting; the board agreed to receive the inquiry and await the woman’s contact.

The report was raised as a collections/curatorial matter and may prompt museum staff to evaluate conservation and accession options if the items are brought in.