Mystery of the Time Capsule @ the Washington County Free Library

Washington County Free Library's capsule mystery: It's about time. (Hagerstown Herald-Mail, 7/28/2011)

Excerpt:     The latest mystery at the Washington County Free Library in downtown Hagerstown isn't in the pages of a book.

It's a time capsule, with unknown contents.

Even a computerized axial tomography or CAT scan at the hospital hasn't solved the mystery.

Mary Baykan, the library's director, said a crew working on the expansion and renovation of the downtown branch on South Potomac Street found a container in the spring.

Library officials didn't know what it was, so they checked their records to see if a time capsule was mentioned.

Baykan said she enlisted  the help of Carol J. Appenzellar, who works on special historical projects for the library.

Appenzellar said library records showed a time capsule — but not in the spot on the property where it was found, at the corner of the building, close to Antietam and Potomac streets.

Appenzellar wrote a report on what library officials knew:

• The time capsule was found on April 13.
• The container is a copper or alloy box, 14 3/4 inches by 11 3/4 inches by 4 1/2 inches.
• It was placed in the library building on Aug. 17, 1966.
• The corners are sealed with metal stripping. There are signs of rust and corrosion. Air and water appear to have gotten inside because the corner seals have deteriorated.

Related post:
Ebooks, Netflix, and library building projects, part 40.  (5/24/2011)