ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – A time capsule from 1966 was discovered Wednesday in the marble altar of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine.
The altar in the main sanctuary of the church was being disassembled as part of a renovation, which is being overseen by Baker Liturgical Art.
Among the items in the time capsule, which was a cardboard box placed there on Feb. 22, 1966, were newspapers from the day, a few pictures, a note from one of the painters and two medallions of Pope Paul VI.
"It was not a surprise to find a time capsule in the altar of sacrifice," said Brian Baker of Baker Liturgical Art. "It is a tradition to leave a time capsule in the main altar during a restoration."
The two pictures included in the box were a picture of St. Peter's Square in Rome and a picture of Msgr. John Burns, who was the rector of the Cathedral during the 1960s renovation.
"Some money was also discovered," said Father Thomas Willis, current rector of the Cathedral. "The small change amounted to about a dollar. But there were also eight Morgan silver dollars with dates ranging from 1882 to 1900."
Willis said some quick research showed those dollar coins could be worth a few thousand dollars, if they're considered to be in mint condition.
The items found in the time capsule were like a step back in time for Willis.
"I remember Msgr. Burns from when I was a child," Willis said. "I was 8 years old when the church was completed in preparation for the March 1966 blessing and grand opening. The fact of the matter is there are many people in St. Augustine who remember him. He expended a lot of personal effort and energy during the Cathedral's renovation of the mid-1960s."
The medallions of Pope Paul VI commemorate his election as Supreme Pontiff in 1964 and the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council in 1965. The latter is solid gold and was found to be in excellent condition.
The present renovation of the Cathedral includes a full cleaning of the altar and moving it forward in the Cathedral's sanctuary. This will provide better sight lines for those seated in the transepts of the church. A new pradella, or platform, will also be built around the altar.
The current renovations make the note found in the time capsule very meaningful.
The foreman of the 1960s renovation included a one-page note that said in part, "I really enjoyed working on this project and hope that the next company that works on the next renovation will enjoy it as much as I did."
"Almost 50 years later, I echo his sentiments," Baker said. "My crew and I have thoroughly enjoyed the work and our time here in St. Augustine."
A new time capsule will be prepared to place in the altar once it is set in its new place in the Cathedral's main sanctuary.
"Of course," Willis said, "My mind is already turning with ideas of what can go into the new one. We'll work closely with Mr. Baker and others to place appropriate items in it."