Issue date: 10/15/08 Section: News

Pemberton Hall residents concentrate on a torn piece of paper found in the time capsule and work together to piece it back again on Tuesday night outside of Pemberton Hall. The digging up of what was believed to be a 1962 time capsule turned out to be one from Hallows Eve of 1979, when the residents of Pemberton dug up the 1962 capsule and replaced it with their own. (Karolina Strack / The Daily Eastern News)

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The time capsule dug up Tuesday night was expected to be from 1962; however, it was actually a capsule buried by the residents living there in 1979.

The residents dug up the original and replaced it on Hallows eve.

At the beginning of the day, Mark Hudson, the director of university housing and dining, didn't have very high hopes for what they would find in the ground.

"Anything that has been buried underground for 46 years doesn't hold much promise," Hudson said.

The dig was the kickoff for the 100th Anniversary of Pemberton Hall.

Mollie Neff, a junior mathematics major, said that the dig was very appropriate for the celebration.

"It's cool to be able to see the ancestry of women that have lived in Pemberton," Neff said. "I can't know them personally, but it is cool to see that someone else was here."

The dig revealed a box with an Eastern News paper that was still in tact, a note written by the women who had placed the box there, a miniature stein with the printed Eastern Illinois logo and a few other artifacts.

The women who wrote the note were all members of Phi Epsilon Mu, which is now a service sorority.

Danielle Frazier, a junior majoring in Special Education, said it was good to be a part of the past and present Pemberton community.

"It is really cool to be able to take part in the 100th anniversary celebration," Frazier said. "It's also great to be able to see the history of Pemberton."

Hudson said the celebration had a good turnout and that it was great to see the students so interested in the history.

The current residents, along with members of Phi Epsilon Mu, are planning on putting a time capsule of their own into the ground to carry on the tradition.

"In another 30 or even 50 years another group of students can dig our capsule up and have the same kind of fun," Hudson said. "It will create a sort of decade connection."


Melissa Sturtevant can be reached at 581-7942 or at mnsturtevant@eiu.edu.

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