Time Capsule Recovered from Masonic Temple Fire To Be Opened

ZANESVILLE, Oh – The long buried time capsule recovered from the tragic January fire at the Zanesville Masonic Temple is being opened.

The Lodge of Amity #5, along with the Mayor’s office and several community organizations will host a dinner and fundraising event Saturday for its opening.

The black-tie optional event at Zane State College’s Campus Center includes dinner, live entertainment, vendors and even a silent auction with all proceeds going towards the future rebuild of a new Masonic Temple. 

Lodge Treasurer Tyler Dunlap says the capsule and its contents hold significantly more sentimental value for the lodge and the community after the tremendous loss suffered at the temple.

“This is the only history that survived the fire. So this is the piece of the Lodge of Amity we have left, because we have a lot of old relics and stuff in that building that is now no more. So this is the one thing that we’ll be able to see and hold that will have survived,” Dunlap explained.

The time capsule, full of both Masonic and community history will be on display at the event in the piece of cornerstone it was found in for attendees to see and get pictures of and with. 

Lodge Trustee Matt Baldwin is excited for the opening and looks forwarding to seeing the capsule’s contents and sharing a hidden piece of history with the community.

“We have some ideas based on some history books and when they did place it there, which was June 24th of 1902. It seems to be that there’s going to be some items in there that might be unique to some local businesses. So we would like to get those items maybe back to those folks that put it in there, whether it be a bank or a newspaper or city school curriculum that we’ve been told that might be in there. Just to share those items with the community. You know those things were put in there were very important to the brethren at the time,” Baldwin told us.

Tickets and sponsorships for the event are still available. Individual tickets are 100 dollars per person and sponsorship packages begin at 300 dollars.

If you are interested in purchasing tickets or a sponsorship you can visit https://amitystrong.company.site or call Treasurer Tyler Dunlap at (740)-252-2124. And if you’re unable to attend the event but would still like to make a donation to the lodge you can also do so on the website or by mail, sending any donations to:

The Lodge of Amity #5 of Free & Accepted Masons

PO BOX 542

Zanesville, OH, 43702