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 what91裸聊视频檚 inside the weighty cylindrical container will 91裸聊视频渂e the big, exciting mystery that we91裸聊视频檒l all share together,91裸聊视频� Jean Kromm, a member of the redevelopment committee, said this week.
Kromm said the capsule 91裸聊视频� which she learned about last week 91裸聊视频� 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 building91裸聊视频檚 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 Rock91裸聊视频檚 first mayor as its headline story.
The church bulletin details information including the budget for expansion plans of the day. The sum 91裸聊视频� $50,000 91裸聊视频� is dramatically less than the multi-million-dollar tab for the four-storey residential care facility that91裸聊视频檚 set to replace it.
Kromm said murmurings of concern around the demolition process prompted the decision to plan Sunday91裸聊视频檚 event, 91裸聊视频渢o give people an opportunity to express their feelings91裸聊视频� about it and ask questions.
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Rev. Janice Young said it91裸聊视频檚 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, 91裸聊视频渂ut there may be people in the community that maybe haven91裸聊视频檛, and we want to give the opportunity to do that before it comes down.91裸聊视频�
Redevelopment committee member Kees Koster said he is among those who aren91裸聊视频檛 ready to say goodbye. A part of the congregation since 1990, Koster has been involved in much of the building91裸聊视频檚 maintenance and renovation efforts over the years, as well as the extreme-weather shelter, and has accumulated many memories over the years.
91裸聊视频淢aybe it91裸聊视频檚 just my nature that I find it hard to let go of things that are worthwhile,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频淚 think once the building is down and once the construction is started, it should focus me the other way. It91裸聊视频檚 almost like going to a funeral 91裸聊视频� once you put the body in the ground, that91裸聊视频檚 closure. I don91裸聊视频檛 think it91裸聊视频檒l be closure for me till the building is down.91裸聊视频�
Young said there is a connection between grief and gratitude, but said it91裸聊视频檚 important to remember that the building itself is not the church.
91裸聊视频淭he church is way more than a building,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淭he church is still here.91裸聊视频�
With the discovery of the time capsule, she hopes people who attend Sunday91裸聊视频檚 gathering 91裸聊视频� set for 6 p.m. in front of city hall, 15322 Buena Vista Ave. 91裸聊视频� will come forward to share any memories they may have.
91裸聊视频淟et91裸聊视频檚 go down memory lane91裸聊视频� hear why this church was important to them,91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频� which will incorporate a new, ground-level Peninsula United Church fronting Semiahmoo Avenue 91裸聊视频� 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.
