The time capsule was discovered Nov. 9 during demolition of the former school.
The contents of a time capsule discovered at the former Ashley Street School.
WESTFIELD -- Contents of a time capsule found during demolition of the former Ashley Street School will be preserved and placed on exhibit in the $36 million school being built to replace it.
In the meantime, city officials hope to display the historical items at the Westfield Athenaeum, Mayor Daniel M. Knapik said this week.
“We are preparing an official unveiling of the documents discovered during demolition. Most of the items will be placed in a permanent display in the new school and, until that building is ready, we will ask the Athenaeum to display the find in the Rand Museum,” the mayor said.
The metal box containing items was found Nov. 9 while workers from Associated Building Wreckers of Springfield were demolishing the 114-year old former elementary school and School Department administrative offices.
A note in the box carried the message, “This learner box with contents laid in wall, May 30, 1898". The capsule was found in the foundation near the cornerstone for the building, the mayor said.
City officials were not aware of the box, the mayor said, noting "there had been rumors that a time capsule was buried outside the building. The only capsule found was the one discovered during demolition.”
Contents found include six newspapers, a letter, business cards of architect Augustus Holton; general contractor H.C. Wood and those of several craftsmen that worked on construction of the school. Also, cards from building committee members C.H. Abbe and O.B. Parks; a Board of Health directory on rules and regulations; Westfield annual report by selectmen and overseers of the poor; State Normal School catalogue and information circular dated 1898 and photo of the battleship USS Indiana.
Site cleanup following demolition continued Wednesday at the Ashley Street school site and construction of the new 600-student elementary school is expected to begin shortly. The new school is expected to open to students in September, 2014.
Construction has been delayed by a Superior Court injunction issued by Judge Tina Page and requested by residents of Ashley and Cross streets who dispute the status of the Cross Street Playground.
A portion of the new school will be built on about 1.3 acres of the playground property and residents claim the entire playground is protected as open space under provisions of Article 97 of the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act.
The city, last week, filed application with the National Park Service to replace the playground acreage with a 30-acre parcel located off Main Street that will be maintained as open space.
“We are currently awaiting approval of that application,” Knapik said Wednesday.
The city has also filed a request with the state Legislature to remove the Article 97 restriction from Cross Street but that request will not be considered until the Legislature returns to session after Jan. 1.