A 1975 Nevada National Guard time capsule opened Thursday contained three coins and about three cups of water that had turned the paper items inside to mush.
The lesson learned for the next time capsule internment?
"We're gonna vacuum seal," said Maj. Jerome Guerrero, executive officer to Brig. Gen. Bill Burks, Nevada Guard adjutant general.
The brief ceremony at the old Nevada National Guard headquarters on South Carson Street preceded demolition of the adjutant general's office building.
Burks joked beforehand that the time capsule was put into place around the same time notorious mafia boss Jimmy Hoffa disappeared.
"Hopefully we won't find him in there," said Burks.
"No, you won't," said Ed Block, a member of the Masons who was there on Oct. 2, 1975 when the building was dedicated and the time capsule interred.
Though he couldn't remember exactly what was put in the capsule, Block thought it might contain Masonic paraphernalia along with documents from the National Guard and coins.
He was right as far as could be discerned.
After much cutting, tugging and disassembling, Guerrero made a hole in the copper capsule. He tipped it to let out a stream of rusty water, then pulled out handfuls of wet paper. On one piece could be read "Laws Relating to State Militia." Another indicated it was once a Masonic roster of some sort.
As Guerrero sorted through the soggy mess, the coins appeared - an early mint of a 1976 50-cent piece, a Nevada centennial coin issued in 1964 and a medallion whose writing was illegible after sitting in muck for 34 years.
"I'm just amazed that the water got in there," said Burks.
The complex at 2525 S. Carson St. was first occupied in 1957 and housed the Nevada Guard for nearly 50 years. The adjutant general building was occupied by five adjutant generals until the new complex was completed on Fairview Drive in 2002.
Demolition will be completed today. Only nine of the complex's original 27 buildings will remain.
The state will maintain control the compound. No decisions have yet been announced on plans for the site.
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