CROWD JAMS HILTON LIBRARY AS 1898 TIME CAPSULE OFFERS HISTORY

An overflow crowd jammed the Hilton Library Saturday morning as township officials and historians opened a time capsule from a former nearby church believed to date back to 1898.

The small metal container, no bigger than a shoebox, had been found by developers of a 30-unit apartment building on the site of the former Hilton United Methodist Church at Boyden Avenue and Tuscan Road.

Inside, contents included an 1898 copy of the Newark Evening News, a copy of the New Testament, a Christian Advocate newsletter, some pennies from that decade, as well as papers and information about the church leaders of the day. Even a list of the construction crew that built the church and business cards for the church's pastor, the builder and plumbing contractor.

 

Mayor Vic Deluca and other members of the Township Committee were on hand and said the contents would be displayed and kept in an as yet undetermined space.

See video of the gathering, which included residents peeking in from outside the packed library to catch a glimpse, below: