Monday, January 12, 2015

Paul Revere's time capsule opened! by Jonell Williams, 2nd Period

     
     Paul Revere and Samuel Adams' 1795 time capsule that was unearth on December 11, 2014 has just been opened on January 6, 2015. The location of the time capsule was inside the cornerstone of the Massachusetts State House, and the contents of the ten-pound box are as follows: Five folded newspapers, a Massachusetts common wealth seal , a title page from the Massachusetts colony records and at least 24 coins. Pam Hatchfield, head of objects conservation for Boston's Museum of Fine Arts, removed the items from the small box over a span of four hours with a porcupine quill and dental tool. The intial removal of the box from the site took seven hours. The condition of the items were "amazingly good condition"Hatchfield said and added that the conservation could attribute to the coins made out of copper which helped block fungus growth, and additionally mentioned that most likely the newpapers will not be unfolded to conserve them. The conservation of the items is the next step and in the future the artifacts will be in display at the museum for everyone to see, but eventually will be put back into the cornerstone with, maybe, more items included alluded William F. Galvin, secretary of the commonwealth.
    Catherine E. Shoichet, the author of the article, conveys the excitement of the occasion through her direct quotations, and provides the audience with concrete information directed at a general audience. The purpose of the article was to finally convey to the world what was inside Revere's time capsule since December 11, 2014 and elaborate the new found history inside the rectangular box. The purpose and why this is important is because another primary source of history has been found and left untouched until now, which means a greater insight into the past and of subjects long gone or forgotten, especially since the time George Washington was president.



http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/06/us/feat-paul-revere-sam-adams-boston-time-capsule/index.html

5 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh!! Haha that's actually really cool. Although, I would like to know how they knew it was their time capsule, and why did they both even made on in the first place?.

    -Trevor Haueisen 6th-

    ReplyDelete
  2. That's so cool that we have access to a time capsule from that long ago. I wonder what made them decide to unearth it now?

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am very excited that they have decided to both open AND display the objects within the capsule. I wrote a post about the time capsule being found a couple weeks ago and was eagerly waiting to hear the decision on excavation. In response to Corsica, they found the capsule for the second time since its opening because of drainage water from hard rain washing it free from its burial place.

    - Elisa Weich - 5th Period

    ReplyDelete
  4. Also, in reply to Trevor, they know that it's Paul Revere and Samuel Adams's time capsule because there is work of Revere's in it e.i. an engraving of his. Also both men wrote and signed a document that they enclosed in the capsule.

    - Elisa Weich - 5th Period

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow this is sooo cool. To think they would just randomly dig it up now. I wonder why they decided now was good time?

    ReplyDelete