Time capsule artifacts are in good condition

The contents included a Bible and sheet music by Alan Freed.
SALEM -- The initial examination of artifacts in the sesquicentennial time capsule have survived the last half-century underground in remarkably good condition, George W.S. Hays, chairman of the Salem Bicentennial Steering Committee, announced Tuesday.
The capsule buried in 1956 was removed from the lawn of the Salem Library last month.
Fred Baker Jr., with assistance from his father Fred Sr., from the Salem Welding and Supply Co., later opened the container.
Three generations of the Baker family were on hand as a memorial to Fred Sr.'s late wife, Ann. Three of his grandchildren shared in the event.
Contents
The first item in the capsule was a Bible that was inscripted:
"This Bible is an evidence of 'The faith of our fathers living still.'" The Bible also recognized the 35th anniversary of the First Friends Ruth Circle missionary group, which was organized in 1921.
The Bible was placed on a 48-star United States flag. Underneath were artifacts and paper documents from social and service clubs, schools and businesses selected to represent the Salem of 1956.
Numerous picture post cards of Salem sites were included. The production of post cards from local photographs is one of the common practices that have become lost over the past 50 years.
The items included sheet music of Alan Freed's "Sincerely," which was sung by the McGuire Sisters. Freed, who coined the term rock 'n' roll, attended the sesquicentennial and autographed the sheet music before it was placed in the capsule.
Among others items included were a pack of Double Bubble gum, a tube of Revlon lipstick, and several packets of seeds.
Public display
David Stratton, director of the Salem Historical Society, said some seeds will be planted to see if they will germinate after being sealed in the capsule.
The historical society is conserving the materials and preparing them for public display at the society and library during the bicentennial celebration this summer. The dates and times will be announced later.
The time capsule committee is drafting the criteria for selecting the artifacts to be placed in the bicentennial time capsule. The criteria, and where items can be delivered for the committee's consideration, also will be announced.
The capsule will be sealed and buried in a ceremony in front of the library Sept. 23 as part of Heritage Day.