Time capsule unearthed at St. Ladislaus Church reveals 120-year-old treasures

A Polish newspaper detailing the death of Pope Leo XIII in 1903 was among the treasures in a time capsule unearthed Wednesday at St. Ladislaus Church in Harrison’s Natrona neighborhood.

A metal box pulled from the cornerstone of the church was a pleasant surprise for demolition crews.

“All the old churches typically have a time capsule, but we didn’t know how well anything would be preserved,” said Tom Babinsack, church administrator.

St. Lad’s, a staple on Spruce Street for 120 years, is being demolished after it was closed in 2022 by the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh. Crews also are razing the adjacent elementary school building.

The church originally was attended largely by people of Polish descent and at one point boasted a congregation of hundreds.

The time capsule, about the size of a shoe box, had been buried in the stone block for 120 years.

Other finds inside it included a Tarentum Times newspaper that detailed the original church construction. There also were old coins and business cards belonging to the church contractors.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” Babinsack said. “It could’ve been anything tucked inside there.”

Items were fairly well preserved, he said. They will be placed on display at a future date.

Babinsack plans to laminate the newspapers and protect other items for preservation.

On Thursday, crews moved the large bell from atop St. Lad’s, along with the cornerstone, to a permanent display at Blessed Sacrament Church in Harrison.

“We want people to be able to have the chance to have an up-close look at the items and feel that connection,” Babinsack said.