A time capsule sealed inside the walls of Mt. Zion Baptist Church for more than 60 years was opened Oct. 21 as the church prepares to demolish an older wing of its building.
Placed behind the building’s address placard when construction was completed in the early 1960s, the capsule was nearly forgotten until congregation members who remembered its existence alerted Rev. Marcus Allen. The community gathered to open it ahead of the demolition and the construction of the church’s planned Family Life Center.
“It was emotional at first because you get to see what those who came before us did. The Black church built this church on Madison’s South Side more than 60 years ago, and seeing the work they put into it, knowing we’re about to tear it down and build something new, is powerful,” Rev. Allen said. “It inspires us to do the work needed today to take care of our community, just as they intended to do.”
(Photo by Omar Waheed)
The time capsule contained letters, a dollar bill and a ring contributed by Mt. Zion community members and leaders. After more than 60 years inside a small metal box with an opening at the top, the letters had deteriorated, but some of their contents remained decipherable.
One letter written by Reverend O.D. Smith was relatively well preserved. His letter was bundled tightly in a thicker brown paper that was then encased by the single dollar bill that also contained the ring.
“I am continually with thee. Thou hast holded my hand. Thou shalt guide it me with thy counsel, and afterwards revived to glory whom I am in heaven, but thee, and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
(Photo by Omar Waheed)
One letter was mostly degraded over time, but the thick letterhead gave their possible address and name. The letter belonged to an E.H. Mueller — possibly an insurance company — located at 208 E. Wisconsin Ave or 208 E. Washington Ave and was addressed to Rev. Dawson.
Community members are unsure of who E.H. Mueller was. There is no East Wisconsin Avenue in Madison; there is no building on Wisconsin Avenue with that address.
It may have come from Milwaukee’s East Wisconsin Avenue, however, deterioration of the letter makes it impossible to know for certain. If the address corresponds to East Washington Avenue — which there is no actual building that corresponds with 208 — it is currently an office building right off the square across the street from the Wisconsin Departments of Public Health and Workforce Development.
There are rumors that a Bible may also be hidden somewhere in the building’s walls. The Bible was expected to be inside the time capsule but was not found. Mt. Zion and the demolition crew will keep an eye out for it as they prepare to tear down the old wing in the coming weeks.
Mt. Zion plans to add its own time capsule when the new Family Life Center is completed. Ideally, they plan to have it in a container that would hopefully stand the test of time when it’s finally opened.
