Secrets Uncovered: Contents of time capsule revealed on live broadcast

The box contained several items detailing the history of Spencer as well as the church, including hand written letters, a cornerstone dedication pamphlet, a second edition prayer book, a historic Bible, and a Spencer Herald dating back to September 1897. [Order this photo]

Spencer developer Dave Jacobsen and a collection of interested parties made their way into the KICD-AM 1240 studios, as air personality George Bower hosted the opening of a time capsule dating back 111 years when the St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Spencer was built from the cornerstone up. Within that cornerstone, a small shoe-sized copper box was placed. Dave Woodcock, grandson of Dr. William P. Woodcock, who helped build the church in Spencer back in 1897, was allowed to open the sealed casing for the first time.

As was anticipated, the contents were closely associated with the church itself, and provided a look back at the history of the period.

Inside the box, a hymnal, a King James Bible, a prayer book from 1984 - the first revision of the Episcopal congregation's prayer book since the original in 1779, a hand written letter looking recording the church's early history, material from the cornerstone's dedication, a sketch of Spencer's history, Evening Shade Lodge information, and a copy of the Spencer Herald newspaper from Spet. 8, 1897.

As Woodcock removed contents from the box, Jacobsen passed them among those in the room waiting in anticipation.

"It's been a big part of our family forever," Woodcock said of Spencer's vacant Episcopal church building. Woodcock said he was excited to be able to take part in the opening, and is even happier that the church is going to live on, albeit as a dining venue. "We're happy the church will live onand become a second generation landmark in Spencer."

The church will live on in the form of a retail and commercial development, as well as an upper level Italian restaurant, La Chiesa. Jacobsen is calling the project, "Gary's on the River," in honor of his brother, Gary Jacobsen. Gary, a graphic artist in Seattle passed away in 1994 due to AIDS related complications. Asked about his brother's iinspiration for the project during Monday's capsule opening ceremony, an emotional Dave Jacobsen declined to respond.

Jacobsen owns the church which was closed when the declining congregation decided to merge with St. Alban's and its Episcopal church congregation in Spirit Lake. Pews were empty, stained glass was dusty; only the local church's signature ivy returned for 16 years.

Members of St. Albans were also on hand for the capsule opening, including the church's pastor, The Rev. Carl Mann.

(Photos by Randy M. Cauthron) St. Albans Espiscopal Church of Spirit Lake member, Stevie Shively and The Rev. Carl Mann, take a look at the items removed from the St. Stephens Episcopal Church time capsule by Dave Woodcock (right). Woodcock's grandfather, Dr. William P. Woodcock helped build the original church 110-plus years ago. [Order this photo]

"This is very exciting," Mann said of the capsule opening. "I'm very fond of the history of the Episcopal Church in Iowa....I've always had a special interest in it. I expected there would be a prayer book of that vintage."

Mann said that he has a particular interest in the people who started the church. "The priests get a lot of credit. It's the people who are always forgotten. It's interesting to see this kind of stuff - the people who made up the church. I'm pleased and proud to be a part of it."

Woodcock was looking forward to seeing if his grandfather's signature appeared anywhere within the material. "We've never seen it."

He added, "I'm amazed at how well the documents were preserved."

Woodock did note that was a plaque in the furnace honoring his grandfather who moved to Spencer from New York to practice medicine. The Woodcock family has decided to donate the plaque to Dave Jacobsen's development with hopes that it will be displayed some for all to see.

As for the items in the box, the contents will be taken to the Parker Historical Society for preservation, and it will be up to the church to decide what will happen with them from that point. It was discussed that some copies of material might find a spot in the restaurant when it opens. The cornerstone will also be displayed in the restaurant.

The move of the church from its current site on the corner of Second Avenue East and East Fifth Street to its new location near the bike path and Little Sioux River off West Park Street will take place during the overnight hours between Tuesday and Wednesday.

Jacobsen said of the building, "It has true beauty. I've always had a love for it. I just had to find a use for it....It's got too much charm to not use it in the community."