Members of a Madison Veterans of Foreign War post uncovered a 53-year-old time capsule.
Workers demolishing the VFW Post 1318 near John Nolen Drive uncovered the 1969 time capsule inside a brick wall Tuesday.
Among the items discovered in the capsule were an address book, coins minted in 1969 and photographs of VFW members. The capsule also contained a July 6, 1969 issue of the Wisconsin State Journal covering a story about a Chinese government official announcing “World War III” with the Soviet Union.
Carlos Tucker, the current post commander and U.S. Air Force captain, knew that there was a time capsule buried in the building’s walls. Tucker stated that some current members recall the time capsule being placed inside the wall.
“We got the time capsule out, opened it up, and it was really amazing to know that nobody had seen anything in that box since 1969,” Tucker said. “It was kind of amazing to rifle through the different pages and the different bits of history that they left for us.”
Tucker says that some of Madison VFW’s current members have been part of the group since the building was built in 1966. Tucker notes that, as a result of anti-Vietnam War sentiment, the number of members was much shorter in 1969 when compared to today.
“We still have members now that were small children, and their family members were members of the VFW. So they grew up around here; they knew that it was here too,” Tucker said.
The current post at 133 E. Lakeside St. is being demolished to make room for a 66-unit apartment building, according to the Wisconsin State Journal. The post’s new location will be located at 2740 Ski Lane, which is undergoing renovations. Tucker says that the time capsule will be brought to the post’s new location and will be filled with contemporary content.
“It’s kind of awesome to close the chapter on one location,” Tucker said. “We’re kind of stepping into a new location and stepping into the future to carry on the tradition.”
