MUSCATINE, Iowa–As work continues to convert the old Musser Public Library building into the headquarters for the Stanley Center for Peace and Security, crews removed the building’s corner stone to preserve and display it on the Center’s grounds. Behind it, they found a time capsule which previous staff at the Musser Pubic Library had placed there during the building’s construction in 1971. Upon opening the capsule, Mark Seaman of the Stanley Center and Robert Fiedler discovered it contained documents from 1971 as well as items from the 1901 time capsule for the first Musser Public Library building. When the Stanley Center completes work on their headquarters, they plan to place a time capsule of their own, including some items from the original capsule as well as others that document the work of the Stanley Center today.
The time capsule before Mark Seaman and Robert Fiedler opened it. Muscatine’s The Evening Journal from Dec. 15, 1900 with a concept drawing of the original Musser Public Library front page, above the fold. Muscatine’s The Evening Journal, also from Dec. 15, 1900. Muscatine’s Saturday Mail from Dec. 22, 1900 featuring a concept drawing of the original Musser Public Library on the front page. The Old Friends’ Edition of the Muscatine Journal, published April 4, 1901.Muscatine’s Chat weekly free newspaper from April 27, 1901.Muscatine’s The Saturday Male from April 27, 1901.The Muscatine Daily News Tribune from May 1, 1901 featuring a front page article about the library board electing a librarian, custodian, and curator. Muscatine’s Deutscher Inzeiger (German Indicator) Newspaper from Dec. 3, 1901.Muscatine’s Der Correspondent (The Correspondent) Newspaper from Dec. 4, 1901.A program from the dedication of the original Musser Public Library Dec. 20, 1901. The (rather curled) list of companies that helped build the 1901 Musser Public Library.The City of Muscatine’s List of Officers and Standing Committees for 1901-1902.A photocopy of a newspaper clipping from 1902 detailing the Musser Public Library’s first year in operation. The finding list or catalogue for the Musser Public Library from 1901 to 1905.The Musser Public Library’s annual report from 1969.A folded and laminated Muscatine Journal with a front page article about plans to build the 1971 Musser Public Library.1970 Library Board. Standing: John Axel, Harold H. Usher Jr., Robert Hornig, George Hart, and Judge Robert Stohr. Seated: Allan H Duntein, Doris Trent (Mrs. Bret), Jane Miller (Mrs. Larry), and Margaret Olson (Mrs. Robert).1970 Library Staff. Vera Rehwaldt (Mrs. Michael), Cindi Ludman, Deanna Roudybush, Irene Sweitzer (Mrs. Paul), Betty Kohl (Mrs. Robert), Carol Kloster (Mrs. William), Dorthy Bemis (Mrs. Edward), and Pat Hollingsworth (Mrs. Frank).The Musser Public Library’s annual report from 1970.A list of the contractors for the 1971 Musser Public Library from March 15, 1971.Photocopy of a clipping from the April 1, 1971 Muscatine Journal showing the library board creating the time capsule. A list of the Musser Public Library’s staff from fall of 1971.Minutes from the Aug. 9, 1971 meeting of the library board documenting their plans to make the cornerstone and place a time capsule behind it. A half dollar coin and a letter from Former Library Director James White to the next people to open the time capsule, dated Sept. 28, 1971.A brief history of Muscatine County’s history from 1834 to 1971.
