Hoffman time capsule yields treasures from past

In the process of deconstructing the Hoffman building in February, workers discovered a time capsule, left there by previous students and faculty. The box included late 1940s newspapers from Harrisburg’s The Evening News and The Patriot, a 1948 Clarion yearbook and a couple Messiah Bible College bulletins.

“It was a wonderful surprise when I received a call that a time capsule had been located behind the Hoffman date stone,” said Kathie Shafer, Vice President of Operations. “Time capsules are a wonderful way to preserve history from a point of time. As the University’s campus physically changes, it is important to remember places that have impacted the students.”

In addition to the time capsule, the building yielded windows and furniture to serve the greater Harrisburg community.

Stewards of God’s resources

Before the building demolition, a team from Messiah worked with 20 volunteers from the Meeting House to help remove the building’s windows to be repurposed in the community. Also, the building’s furniture including desks, chairs, bookshelves, lamps and other office supplies were either sold at low cost or donated to Habitat for Humanity.

“In so many ways, this project epitomizes sustainability. Valuable resources like windows aren’t being wasted, and they are going to help a community organization provide quality services such as affordable housing to the Harrisburg area,” said Director of Sustainability Brandon Hoover.

The Hoffman legacy

Originally, a women’s residence hall, Hoffman opened in 1949 to commemorate the two sisters who are said to be “as much a part of the campus as the buildings and trees themselves,” as Morris Sider writes in his book, “Messiah College: A History.”

The younger sister, Mary, worked as the curator for the Archives of Messiah College and the Brethren in Christ and taught in local schools before coming to Messiah. Clara, the elder sister worked as the University’s first librarian and was said to possess a forceful personality and a keen sense of where trouble may be brewing, yet a warm heart.

“This time capsule is a window into what the Messiah community of the 1940s valued and how they hoped to be remembered,” said Director of Archives Devin-Manzullo-Thomas. “The school has changed a lot in the 70+ years since Hoffman Hall was built and dedicated, and the materials preserved in this capsule give us a glimpse of our shared past even as we look forward to our future.”

­—Molly McKim ‘23