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Local resident says 135-year-old time capsule found under Memorial Hall cornerstone; asks council to approve careful removal and display
Summary
A resident told the Ironton City Council they located a time capsule believed placed 135 years ago beneath Memorial Hall’s cornerstone and asked the city to approve a careful removal and temporary public display timed with Memorial Day celebrations.
A local resident told the Ironton City Council that they have located what they believe is a 135-year-old time capsule under the cornerstone of Memorial Hall and asked the council’s permission to carefully remove, conserve and display it for Memorial Day events.
The commenter, who led the search with two community volunteers, said archival research and on-site drilling confirmed the box’s location beneath a six-and-a-half-foot-high cornerstone and described the container as a sealed brass box roughly "about 8 by 8 by maybe 10" (speaker provided as approximate). "What you're looking at there, the first photo of that time capsule in 135 years since the placement," the resident said, describing photos and a short video they took while inspecting the site.
The resident said they had drilled exploratory holes and determined the large cornerstone itself would not need to be removed. They proposed removing a smaller stone beneath it to extract the box, and recommended hiring a contractor with experience on historic buildings to minimize structural damage. The commenter also urged the city to notify its insurance carrier and require liability releases before any removal work.
The resident said they planned to assemble a volunteer committee and to work with local historical groups and veterans organizations to display and interpret the capsule’s contents, and suggested incorporating the artifact into this year’s Memorial Day parade.
The council did not take immediate action at the meeting; the resident asked the council to consult the mayor, the city’s engineer and the city’s insurer and return with guidance on liability, costs and an acceptable timeline for removal and conservation.
