Time Capsule

Time Capsule

You may have heard at Mass last month that during the demolition of our old parish office, which was built in 1960, we found a time capsule behind the cornerstone. After opening, we found some materials from 1957-1967.

A $1000 Bank Note with the date December 15, 1840 was among the treasures. After a little online research, however, the bank note is a hoax. You can see the serial number is 8894, and according to Coin Word, it’s the most common fakes in history! Apparently it was produced in mass quantities in the 1960’s on fake parchment and put in cereal boxes as a promotion. If the serial number had been 8893, it would’ve been worth $1,920, but in this case, it’s worth $0.

There was a photo of the current pastor into the time capsule, Fr. Marty H. Vosbeek, who was pastor from 1956 – 1969. Fr. Ron is begging the staff not to do the same with his own photo.

Several newspaper clippings were included. Pictures of them are below. We hope to display some of these articles in our new parish center. One article says, “The Indians had, of course, made the early history of St. John Church. The first wedding there took place on Feb. 1, 1836, when Peter Quoquinata took Theresia Wahetin for his bride; and the first baptism was that of baby Paul Sawanon, son of Comaicin and Maria Mitamon.”

There were also several Annual Reports. Did you know, the overall cost of the parish office building built in 1960 was $150,000 compared to our current parish office building that’ll cost $7 million? The 1956-57 report states that St. Johns had about 1500 families, and it also included how much each family gave to the parish that year, when the annual suggestion appeared to be $156. “Wouldn’t that be fun to do!” Fr Ron said, jokingly of course. Other notable amounts: the pastor salary and car allowance was $1,500, the approximately 15 nuns in the grade school and high school had a combined total income of only $11,000, the choir director earned $300 in a year and St. Johns gave $2,000 to the diocese.

A dollar bill given to Fr. Marty from Daniel Steinberg, Jr. on October 3, 1958 with a written note on a napkin from the Butte Des Morts Golf Club.

A plaque reading “Alter Consecrated by Most Rev. Bishop P. P. Rhode on Oct. 28, 1917; Relics enclosed of Saints Mansveti and Vitalis; Rev. J. J. Sprangers Pastor”

And finally a photo of Midnight Mass in 1966. The church looks a little different!