The capsule was placed behind the church’s address placard when construction was completed in the early 1960s. Congregants who remembered it alerted the Rev. Marcus Allen, and the community gathered Oct. 21 to open it before demolition begins in the coming weeks.

“It was emotional at first because you get to see what those who came before us did,” Allen said. He said the capsule offered a reminder of the work Black church members put into building Mt. Zion on Madison’s South Side and the congregation’s responsibility to continue serving the community.

Many of the letters had deteriorated inside the small metal container, though some writing could still be made out. A letter from the Rev. O.D. Smith was comparatively well preserved, wrapped in brown paper and encased with the dollar bill and ring. Its message includes a passage about faith and finding strength in God.

Another letter, addressed to Rev. Dawson, was too damaged to identify its writer with certainty. Its letterhead appeared to name E.H. Mueller and gave a possible address of 208 E. Wisconsin Avenue or 208 E. Washington Avenue. Church members have not determined who Mueller was. Madison has no East Wisconsin Avenue, and the Washington Avenue address does not correspond to a building number; the document’s condition leaves its origin unclear.

A Bible was also thought to be inside the capsule but was not recovered. Church members and the demolition crew will watch for it as work on the old wing proceeds.

Mt. Zion plans to place a new time capsule in the Family Life Center once construction is complete, using a container intended to better withstand the passage of time.