Time capsule provides peek into Salvation Army's past in New Kensington
It was a visual trip down memory lane and a peek into the past Sunday at the Salvation Army in New Kensington.
The original contents of a 1924 Salvation Army time capsule were on display for several hours after a worship service led by Maj. Greg Hartshorn of the organization’s Western Pennsylvania Division.
About 60 people attended, including New Kensington native Dian Fortson, 79, a retired homemaker.
“I had no idea this was here,” said Fortson of the 18-plus items that included newspapers, a Bible, a 48-star U.S. flag, letters and photos.
Fortson recalled being a part of the daily fabric of the Salvation Army in New Kensington from when she was a young child.
She perused some of the contents spread out on two tables. Most of the items showed the effects of water damage and are extremely fragile.
Seeing the contents triggered early memories of visiting the Salvation Army.
“This just brings out a lot of memories. I’ve been coming here since I was 6 years old. I remember the band playing. The band would march Sunday morning and play down at the hospital, in full uniform,” Fortson said.
A photo of the 24-member New Kensington band is one of the items included in the time capsule, which was discovered March 9 when a sign was dismantled outside the Salvation Army’s previous home in the former First United Presbyterian Church on 11th Street at Fifth Avenue.
The capsule had been atop the sign since 1974, when the Salvation Army moved there from its original location at Eighth Street and Fourth Avenue.
New Kensington Salvation Army Maj. Scott Flanders said the capsule was opened in 1973 and an inventory of its contents was recorded.
Because of the delicate condition of the contents, Flanders is sending them to the Salvation Army’s heritage museum in West Nyack, N.Y., where they will be preserved and permanently stored.
“I just want to make sure we document as much as we can, and eventually the capsule contents will be on display. I wanted to make sure it would be preserved for future generations,” he said.
Flanders said the response from the community has been one of surprise.
“A lot of people didn’t know about it. Not everyone has been around since 1974. It’s very interesting and historical,” he said.
Said Fortson: “It was amazing. I definitely wanted to be here today.”
When asked what she would have put in the time capsule if she had been involved during the 1970s, Fortson quickly answered.
“I would have put my Sunbeam uniform in,” she said. “This has been just fascinating. That was when newspapers were how people got their information. I’m surprised to see that it all survived so well.”
Salvation Army senior life board member James Kopelman, 82, of Lower Burrell has family roots in New Kensington dating to the 1800s.
Kopelman, an attorney and history lover, was eager to check out the time capsule. He said he knew nothing about its contents until Saturday.
“It’s before I was born (the capsule), but the Salvation Army has had some real longevity in New Kensington,” Kopelman said. “As time goes on and we’ve lost most of our industry, the need that the Salvation Army provides for is becoming more (prevalent).”
Kopelman noticed the Bible and went to touch it, but hesitated, remembering that Salvation Army officials asked people to refrain from touching the objects.
Gene Suprano, 78, recalled when the Salvation Army moved to a new location and said he grew up going to the Salvation Army.
“This is really interesting. The Daily Dispatch was something I grew up with. I sold them,” said Suprano as he viewed various local news articles. “I think they should really do more time capsules again.”
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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