Historical preservation experts in Virginia began efforts to open an 1887 time capsule discovered in the pedestal that once held a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee on Wednesday.
Chelsea Blake, a conservator with Virginia’s Department of Historic Resources, began slowly chipping away at the capsule at around 10 a.m., news station WSLS reported.
But efforts were hampered as they encountered corrosion around the rectangular capsule, which is about the size of a large shoebox.
“It appears that the lid was placed on and then there was lead rolled over it to hold it in place and then water got in there and there was corrosion so it’s becoming a little more difficult than it would have been to get on,” said Blake, as she pressed a vibrating tool with a hard metal tip against the capsule.
Crews discovered the time capsule while performing work to remove the pedestal where the Lee statue had stood on Friday.
A person handles a book which was found in a time capsule recovered from Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s monument. REUTERS/Jay Paul
The time capsule suffered corrosion, which is making the process of opening it more difficult. REUTERS
The time capsule was discovered when a crew was working to remove the pedestal supporting the Robert E. Lee statue. It’s believed to have been underneath for more than 130 years. AP
Chelsea Blake began slowly chipping away at the capsule at around 10 a.m. REUTERS/Jay PaulThe time capsule, which is considered an artifact, is believed to have been under the massive bronze equestrian statue of Lee for more than 130 years.
With Post wires
A conservator works on an envelope removed from the time capsule. AP
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam watches conservator remove contents of the time capsule. AP
A conservator removes a book from the time capsule. AP