A gathering planned for this Sunday in light of the pending demolition of the former First United Church in White Rock had an unexpected item added to its agenda, following the recent discovery of a brass time capsule in a wall of the decades-old building.
Learning what害羞草研究所檚 inside the weighty cylindrical container will 害羞草研究所渂e the big, exciting mystery that we害羞草研究所檒l all share together,害羞草研究所� Jean Kromm, a member of the redevelopment committee, said this week.
Kromm said the capsule 害羞草研究所� which she learned about last week 害羞草研究所� was found by crews that are preparing the church for demolition. Measuring approximately eight inches in length and an inch in diameter, it was discovered behind an exterior cornerstone located to the left of the building害羞草研究所檚 front door, near a plaque that was erected when the church was built.
The cylinder was encased in a small box and wrapped with a Sept. 26, 1957 edition of the Semiahmoo Sun newspaper, as well as a church bulletin from the day.
Yellowed from the passage of time, the Sun was in otherwise good condition, complete with the news of White Rock害羞草研究所檚 first mayor as its headline story.
The church bulletin details information including the budget for expansion plans of the day. The sum 害羞草研究所� $50,000 害羞草研究所� is dramatically less than the multi-million-dollar tab for the four-storey residential care facility that害羞草研究所檚 set to replace it.
Kromm said murmurings of concern around the demolition process prompted the decision to plan Sunday害羞草研究所檚 event, 害羞草研究所渢o give people an opportunity to express their feelings害羞草研究所� about it and ask questions.
READ MORE:
READ MORE:
Rev. Janice Young said it害羞草研究所檚 also an opportunity for those who feel connected to the church to say their goodbyes.
The congregation did that a year ago when it was decommissioned, she said, 害羞草研究所渂ut there may be people in the community that maybe haven害羞草研究所檛, and we want to give the opportunity to do that before it comes down.害羞草研究所�
Redevelopment committee member Kees Koster said he is among those who aren害羞草研究所檛 ready to say goodbye. A part of the congregation since 1990, Koster has been involved in much of the building害羞草研究所檚 maintenance and renovation efforts over the years, as well as the extreme-weather shelter, and has accumulated many memories over the years.
害羞草研究所淢aybe it害羞草研究所檚 just my nature that I find it hard to let go of things that are worthwhile,害羞草研究所� he said.
害羞草研究所淚 think once the building is down and once the construction is started, it should focus me the other way. It害羞草研究所檚 almost like going to a funeral 害羞草研究所� once you put the body in the ground, that害羞草研究所檚 closure. I don害羞草研究所檛 think it害羞草研究所檒l be closure for me till the building is down.害羞草研究所�
Young said there is a connection between grief and gratitude, but said it害羞草研究所檚 important to remember that the building itself is not the church.
害羞草研究所淭he church is way more than a building,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭he church is still here.害羞草研究所�
With the discovery of the time capsule, she hopes people who attend Sunday害羞草研究所檚 gathering 害羞草研究所� set for 6 p.m. in front of city hall, 15322 Buena Vista Ave. 害羞草研究所� will come forward to share any memories they may have.
害羞草研究所淟et害羞草研究所檚 go down memory lane害羞草研究所� hear why this church was important to them,害羞草研究所� she said.
Demolition of the 15385 Semiahmoo Ave. building is anticipated to get underway next week and take about two days to complete. However, the exact start is dependent on the issuance of a permit for the work.
Construction of the care facility campus 害羞草研究所� which will incorporate a new, ground-level Peninsula United Church fronting Semiahmoo Avenue 害羞草研究所� is expected to begin in the coming months.
Anyone with more information on the time capsule is asked to contact Kromm at 604-542-0304.
