Library remodelers uncover a time capsule of sorts

Remodelers prying wallboard from two inside walls of the former insurance building that will become Albany's new library discovered mementoes taped to windows that were sealed off in 1992.

The workers left the "time capsules" in place and contacted Library Director Ed Gallagher, who said the mementoes will stay where they are and be covered up, but anyone wanting to claim family photographs can call the library at 917-7580.

The former Valley Insurance Co. building, later the Unitrin office, on 14th Avenue S.E. was built and then added onto in phases, said job Superintendent Dannis Miller of T. Gerding Construction Co. based in Corvallis.

"In 1992, the windows were on the outside of the building, and when the building was expanded, the windows were boarded up."

The items, on the first and second floors, include a 1992 pocket calendar and a People magazine with Oprah Winfrey on the cover. The lead story: "Who's winning and sinning in the diet wars."

Taped to one window was a story by then-D-H reporter Hunter Jameson about how the expansion was coming along. There was a Trail Blazer schedule and a Blazer ribbon.

There were business cards belonging to Sherri Vandecoevering, Andrew Trower, Eric Nelson and Julie Hansen, among others.

There was a book titled "The Fine Art of Getting Along," an ad from a magazine showing the new 1992 Camry, and an Oregon license plate. Next to the license plate was a Virginia plate with the word "Endures."

There were Alka Seltzer tablets, a penny, and a postcard from Rome. On one window were a pen advertising Beaver Ins. Co., a work area photo, and an HP computer manual. There was an employee phone list and a copy of a business plan signed by Dan Post.

Taped to the highest corner of one window was some Christmas underwear.

Miller said his crew pulled off some of the wallboard after some former insurance employees mentioned the time capsule when they toured the building during an open house in January.

NOTE

Posted on one window is a note on Valley Insurance Co. stationery written by Sherry Brockman, who worked in the IPC Typing Department. The note is dated 8:55 a.m. March 19, 1992: "The weather is sunny & brisk. We are contemplating putting all the commercial lines files in this time capsule but there's probably not enough room.

"We work for commercial lines, personal lines, E&S, administration, accounting, marketing, claims and whoever else needs our assistance.

"We have 5 full-time typists (with typewriters), 3 people on PCs. We work from microfiche, hard copy and dictated tapes."

The note is signed by nine other people.