Time Capsule - The Corner Stone Box
On June 10, 1931 a dedication ceremony took place at the Fairfield Hills State Hospital. A Time Capsule - The Corner Stone Box, was embedded in mortar with the placement of the Corner Stone of the Administration Building.
The Corner Stone Box was constructed of copper and sealed with solder. The box measured 15 inches long, 10 inches wide and 12 inches deep. Following is a list of the 61 items that were sealed within the Corner Stone Box:
1. Holy Bible. Presented by Rodney Proctor Shepard.
2. United States Flag.
3. Connecticut State Flag.
4. Official Invitation to the exercises accompanying the laying of the Corner Stone reading as follows: "State of Connecticut - The Trustees of the Fairfield State Hospital cordially invite you to attend the exercises accompanying the laying of the Corner Stone of the Administration Building, at Newtown, on Wednesday afternoon, June 10, 1931, at 2:30 o'clock (D.S.T.)", together with map showing location of hospital.
5. Order of Exercises at the Laying of the Corner Stone of the Fairfield State Hospital at Mile Hill, Newtown, Connecticut, June 10, 1931.
6. Address - Hon. Samuel A. Eddy, Chairman Board of Trustees.
7. Signed engrossed copy of Connecticut Special Act 1929, No. 445 entitled "An Act Providing for the Establishment of the Fairfield State Hospital" approved June 18, 1929.
8. Connecticut Public Act 1931, Chapter 3, entitled, " An Act concerning the Trustees of the Fairfield State Hospital," approved January 15, 1931.
9. Connecticut Special Act 1931, No. 35, entitled " An act making appropriation for the State Hospital," approved February 26, 1931.
10. List of Trustees typed on hand laid paper made at Lime Rock, Conn., by Dard Hunter, Inc.
11. Plot-plan showing map of property of the Fairfield State Hospital with names of former owners and their respective boundaries, by Walter P. Crabtree, Architect.
12. Hartford Courant Sept. 29, 1929, giving Prospectus of Proposed Hospital.
13. First Letterhead of Board of Trustees. Samuel A. Eddy, Chairman, North Canaan, Asahel W. Mitchell, Woodbury, Elton S. Wayland, Waterbury, Edward G. Buckland, New Haven, Harold B. Senior, Bethel. Rodney P. Shepard, Newtown, Charles G. Morris, New Haven, Alice W. Rugs, Shelton, William C. Gilbert, Danbury, Matthew H. Kenealy, Secretary, Stamford, Albert F. Hanlon, Greenwich, Harry O. King, Fairfield.
14. Letterhead of General Contractors, C. Abbadessa & Bros. Inc.
15. Inaugural Message of His Excellency Governor Wilbur L. Cross to the General Assembly January 7,1931.
16. Report of State Psychopathic Hospital Commission, to His Excellency the Governor of Connecticut, 1922.
17. Initial Report of the Commission on State Institutions 1927.
18. Report of the Connecticut State Hospital for the Insane at Middletown, 1930.
19. Connecticut State Hospital Reports, 1868-1893, Alsop Memorial Reprint,
20. Report of the Norwich State Hospital, 1930.
21. Report of the Hartford Retreat, 1930.
22. Report of the Mansfield State Training School and Hospital, 1930.
23. Report of the, State Board of Healing Arts, 1930.
24. Report Connecticut School for Boys, Meriden, 1930.
25. Report of the Connecticut Long Lane Farm, Middletown, 1930.
26. Report of the Connecticut State Farm for Women, 1930.
27. Report of the Connecticut Reformatory, 1930.
28. Report of the Department of State Agencies and Institutions June 30, 1929.
29. Report of the State Comptroller, 1930. 30. Report of the State Treasurer, 1930.
30. Report of the State Treasurer, 1930.
31. State Budget Report for Biennium 1929-1931.
32. "Historical Development of the Poor Law of Connecticut" 1634-1903, by Edward Warren Capen, Ph. D.
33. Bulletins of the Connecticut Society of Mental Hygiene.
34. Autographed copy of "The Mind that Found Itself," by Clifford Whittingham Beers.
35. "Twenty Years of Mental Hygiene, 1909-1929" Clifford W. Beers.
36. 1930 Connecticut Register and Manual with personal inscription of Secretary of State: "With all good wishes for Connecticut's New Fairfield State Hospital, and with the hope that it may meet the expectations of those responsible for its conception, planning, construction and equipment." (Signed) William L. Higgins, M. D., Secretary of State, June 10, 1931.
37. Proceedings at the Laying of the Corner Stone at the New State Office Building September 25, 1930.
38. Proceedings at the Laying of the Corner stone at the State Library and Supreme Court Building May 25, 1909.
39. A collection of pamphlets and other printed matter relating to the social, civil and business activities of the town of Newtown.
40. The Story of Two Centuries of the Congregational Church at Newtown.
41. The Keys of the Old Post Office of Newtown.
42. State Coat of Arms Electrotype.
43. Connecticut Nathan Hale Sequin-Centennial Medal, 1926.
44. 1931 Coinage of the United States Mint at Philadelphia.
45. Bridgeport Post, June 8, 1931.
46. Bridgeport Telegram, June 8, 1931.
47. Bridgeport Times-.Star, June 8,1931.
48. Bridgeport Szovetseg, May 15, 1931 (Hungarian).
49. Bridgeport L'Aurora, June 4, 1931, (Italian).
50. Danbury Evening News, June 5, 1931.
51. Danbury Times, June 9, 1931.
52. Darien Review, June 4, 1931.
53. Fairfield News, June 6, 1931
54. Greenwich News and Graphic, June 5, 1931.
55. Greenwich Press, May 21, 1931.
56. Newtown Bee, June 5, 1931.
57. Stamford Advocate, June 8,1931.
58. Stratford News, June 6, 1931.
59. Hartford Courant, June 10, 1931.
60. Hartford Times, June 9, 1931.
61. List of Contents of Corner Stone Box, by George S. Godard, State Librarian.
The Town of Newtown now owns the Administration Building of the Fairfield Hills State Hospital. Matthew Hunt was concerned about the preservation of the contents of the Corner Stone Box, of the Fairfield Hills State Hospital.
THIS PAGE LAST UPDATED: AUGUST 2, 2005