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St. Bernadette time capsule reveals history from 1940
By LINDA M. LINONIS
VIENNA
Rumors of a time capsule at St. Bernadette Church proved to be true.
Two crew workers of Vendrick Construction Inc. in Brookfield discovered the copper box about two weeks ago when they removed the cornerstone at the church, 7800 Locust St., Masury, where it was installed Oct. 27, 1940.
The box was opened Tuesday morning at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, 4453 Warren-Sharon Road, Vienna.
When the Diocese of Youngstown initiated downsizing in February 2010, St. Bernadette Church and St. Vincent de Paul Church in Vienna merged and signified a new beginning as St. Thomas. The parish is building a new church across the parking lot from St. Vincent.
As the event began, the Rev. Frank Zanni, pastor, read the Latin words engraved on the cornerstone: Ecclesia Sanctae Mariae Bernardae Anno Domini (church holy St. Bernadette in the year of our Lord) and the Roman numerals for 1940. About 30 parish members gathered to see the contents of the time capsule.
Rick Dickson and Gary Johnston, construction crew members, opened the box with a drill and saw.
Father Zanni carefully removed crumbling newspaper pages from 1940 of The Sharon Herald and noted it cost 3 cents. There also was a list of priests who served the parish.
“Here’s a history of the church that is handwritten,” Father Zanni said. Another find was somewhat of a mystery, an emblem of sorts.
The box also included a white lucky stone and a few coins of the golden jubilee of the ordination of Most Rev. Joseph Schrembs, bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland from 1921-45.
Father Zanni described the discovery of the time capsule as “exciting,” a word repeated by church members there. He added that a document on St. Bernadette’s history mentioned a time capsule. The pastor said he planned to consult a local historical society to see if the newspapers and handwritten history can be preserved. “We hope to display it if we can salvage it,” he said.
After the opening of the time capsule, the group moved over to the new church building, where the St. Bernadette cornerstone was installed. It is now with the cornerstone of St. Vincent de Paul from 1950 and the cornerstone marking the combined parish, St. Thomas, 2016.
The new church will be dedicated July 3, the Feast Day of St. Thomas.
Dickson and Johnston of the construction crew admitted “surprise” at finding the time capsule. “We’ve removed other cornerstones and never found anything. This is a first,” Dickson said.
“It was exciting to find the box. ... I called Father Frank right away to tell him,” Johnston said.
In the group that gathered, Father Zanni recognized Rosemary DeMay Keaveny, the oldest parish member. “Age is a just a number and mine is unlisted,” she said.
Keaveny was organist for 50 years at St. Bernadette, where she also sang in the choir. “I’m glad they found it,” the longtime church member said of the capsule, adding: “I wanted to know what was in it.”
Keaveny said she was “happy a new church was being established but sad to say goodbye to St. Bernadette.” She and her late husband, Austin, were married there.
Jim Davies, a parish member, said, “We’re excited about the new church. I was curious about what was important enough to put in the time capsule.”
Robert Rose and Jerry Piehuta, who coordinate the parish fish dinners, said they were interested in the capsule’s contents. “I was curious to see what would be there,” Rose said.
“It’s interesting to know the history and what was important to them,” Piehuta said, adding that a time capsule had been buried about a dozen years ago at St. Vincent de Paul under the bell tower.
Marlaina Marek, who attended St. Bernadette, said the combination of the two churches into one parish “is great. I’m interested in history,” she said. “I was surprised at how the items disintegrated.”
Gertrude Wells, who was at St. Bernadette for 50 years, said it was “meaningful” to see the capsule’s contents.