Century-old Salvation Army time capsule found in New Kensington

Time was not kind to the contents of a near-century old Salvation Army time capsule found in New Kensington.

While water rusted away the metal container’s lid and damaged its mostly paper contents, the documents within — including a newspaper, news clippings, letters and books remain largely legible .

“It’s amazing information,” said Maj. Scott Flanders, who has headed the New Kensington Salvation Army since August 2020 in its current location at the former Fort Crawford Elementary School on Third Street.

The capsule was found when a sign outside the Salvation Army’s previous home in the former First United Presbyterian Church on 11th Street at Fifth Avenue was dismantled. Owned by AJ Rassau, the building is now New Ken Social and home to his record shop, Preserving, and concert venues.

He said he took the sign down, in part, because people kept leaving donations for the Salvation Army despite it having moved out nearly three years ago.

Rassau said several people had told him a time capsule was in the sign. He wasn’t sure it was there but told workers to be careful.

“Everything was wet,” he said. Although the lid was a pile of rust, “It protected it just enough.”

The capsule had been housed atop the sign outside the building at the corner of 11th Street and Fifth Avenue since 1974, when the Salvation Army moved there from its citadel at Eighth Street and Fourth Avenue.

The capsule was opened in 1973, and an inventory of its original contents, dating to 1924, was contained in a newspaper clipping that was among items added to the capsule.

According to the report, the capsule was placed in the cornerstone of the Salvation Army’s citadel at Eighth Street and Fourth Avenue when construction started in 1924. Also in the capsule was a damaged photo dated April 30, 1974, showing the razing of the “old building.”

The capsule’s original contents were a 48-star U.S. flag; a King James Bible; “The War Cry” Salvation Army publication from Sept. 13, 1924; “The Young Soldier,” a Sunday school paper, dated Sept. 6, 1924; “The Daily Dispatch” newspaper dated Sept. 6, 1924; a resume on the opening of the New Kensington Corps and its reopening; a listing of senior members, bandsmen, and Sunday school students; a printed program dated Sept. 7, 1924, for the stone-laying service for the citadel on Fourth Avenue and Eighth Street; a photo of the 24-member New Kensington Band; and letters of congratulations.

Rassau said the flag falls apart when touched. Flanders said the Bible also was severely damaged.

Flanders, who took possession of the contents Monday, said he will send them to the Salvation Army’s museum in West Nyack, N.Y., following a gathering for the Salvation Army’s advisory board Sunday.

“It needs special care,” he said. “It’s not something I want to have laying around here. The edges of most of the paper is brittle. I want to make sure it gets the care and documentation it needs for future generations.”

Flanders was grateful to Rassau for the care he took in recovering the capsule and its contents.

Flanders said the Salvation Army currently does not have a time capsule, but he said they’ll make a new one within the next couple of months.

Flanders said he would want to include photos and personal correspondence.

“That kind of stuff is important,” he said. “We have a home now. It’s going to be our home for a long time.”