Time capsule opened on hospital’s 100th anniversary
Published 1:27 pm Monday, August 3, 2026
1/20
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Med Center Health hosted a ceremony Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026 to opened a 1952 time capsule at the Reservoir Hill site in Bowling Green as part of its 100th-anniversary celebration. The Reservoir Hill site is where the original City Hospital was dedicated in August 1926 and later expanded. Workers used X-rays to locate the copper box inside the concrete cornerstone without damaging the exterior marker, then jackhammered it out approximately four weeks prior to the opening. The copper box, originally placed during a hospital expansion cornerstone ceremony on September 10, 1952, contained, blueprints, a Bible, historical pictures, photographs and additional legal and historical documents from the era.(Photo by Joe Imel/Daily News)
(Joe Imel/Daily News)
2/20
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Med Center Health hosted a ceremony Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026 to opened a 1952 time capsule at the Reservoir Hill site in Bowling Green as part of its 100th-anniversary celebration. The Reservoir Hill site is where the original City Hospital was dedicated in August 1926 and later expanded. Workers used X-rays to locate the copper box inside the concrete cornerstone without damaging the exterior marker, then jackhammered it out approximately four weeks prior to the opening. The copper box, originally placed during a hospital expansion cornerstone ceremony on September 10, 1952, contained, blueprints, a Bible, historical pictures, photographs and additional legal and historical documents from the era.(Photo by Joe Imel/Daily News)
(Joe Imel/Daily News)
3/20
Swipe or click to see more
Med Center Health hosted a ceremony Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026 to opened a 1952 time capsule at the Reservoir Hill site in Bowling Green as part of its 100th-anniversary celebration. The Reservoir Hill site is where the original City Hospital was dedicated in August 1926 and later expanded. Workers used X-rays to locate the copper box inside the concrete cornerstone without damaging the exterior marker, then jackhammered it out approximately four weeks prior to the opening. The copper box, originally placed during a hospital expansion cornerstone ceremony on September 10, 1952, contained, blueprints, a Bible, historical pictures, photographs and additional legal and historical documents from the era.(Photo by Joe Imel/Daily News)
(Joe Imel/Daily News)
4/20
Swipe or click to see more
Med Center Health hosted a ceremony Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026 to opened a 1952 time capsule at the Reservoir Hill site in Bowling Green as part of its 100th-anniversary celebration. The Reservoir Hill site is where the original City Hospital was dedicated in August 1926 and later expanded. Workers used X-rays to locate the copper box inside the concrete cornerstone without damaging the exterior marker, then jackhammered it out approximately four weeks prior to the opening. The copper box, originally placed during a hospital expansion cornerstone ceremony on September 10, 1952, contained, blueprints, a Bible, historical pictures, photographs and additional legal and historical documents from the era.(Photo by Joe Imel/Daily News)
(Joe Imel/Daily News)
5/20
Swipe or click to see more
Med Center Health hosted a ceremony Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026 to opened a 1952 time capsule at the Reservoir Hill site in Bowling Green as part of its 100th-anniversary celebration. The Reservoir Hill site is where the original City Hospital was dedicated in August 1926 and later expanded. Workers used X-rays to locate the copper box inside the concrete cornerstone without damaging the exterior marker, then jackhammered it out approximately four weeks prior to the opening. The copper box, originally placed during a hospital expansion cornerstone ceremony on September 10, 1952, contained, blueprints, a Bible, historical pictures, photographs and additional legal and historical documents from the era.(Photo by Joe Imel/Daily News)
(Joe Imel/Daily News)
6/20
Swipe or click to see more
Med Center Health hosted a ceremony Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026 to opened a 1952 time capsule at the Reservoir Hill site in Bowling Green as part of its 100th-anniversary celebration. The Reservoir Hill site is where the original City Hospital was dedicated in August 1926 and later expanded. Workers used X-rays to locate the copper box inside the concrete cornerstone without damaging the exterior marker, then jackhammered it out approximately four weeks prior to the opening. The copper box, originally placed during a hospital expansion cornerstone ceremony on September 10, 1952, contained, blueprints, a Bible, historical pictures, photographs and additional legal and historical documents from the era.(Photo by Joe Imel/Daily News)
(Joe Imel/Daily News)
7/20
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Med Center Health hosted a ceremony Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026 to opened a 1952 time capsule at the Reservoir Hill site in Bowling Green as part of its 100th-anniversary celebration. The Reservoir Hill site is where the original City Hospital was dedicated in August 1926 and later expanded. Workers used X-rays to locate the copper box inside the concrete cornerstone without damaging the exterior marker, then jackhammered it out approximately four weeks prior to the opening. The copper box, originally placed during a hospital expansion cornerstone ceremony on September 10, 1952, contained, blueprints, a Bible, historical pictures, photographs and additional legal and historical documents from the era.(Photo by Joe Imel/Daily News)
(Joe Imel/Daily News)
8/20
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Med Center Health hosted a ceremony Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026 to opened a 1952 time capsule at the Reservoir Hill site in Bowling Green as part of its 100th-anniversary celebration. The Reservoir Hill site is where the original City Hospital was dedicated in August 1926 and later expanded. Workers used X-rays to locate the copper box inside the concrete cornerstone without damaging the exterior marker, then jackhammered it out approximately four weeks prior to the opening. The copper box, originally placed during a hospital expansion cornerstone ceremony on September 10, 1952, contained, blueprints, a Bible, historical pictures, photographs and additional legal and historical documents from the era.(Photo by Joe Imel/Daily News)
(Joe Imel/Daily News)
9/20
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Med Center Health hosted a ceremony Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026 to opened a 1952 time capsule at the Reservoir Hill site in Bowling Green as part of its 100th-anniversary celebration. The Reservoir Hill site is where the original City Hospital was dedicated in August 1926 and later expanded. Workers used X-rays to locate the copper box inside the concrete cornerstone without damaging the exterior marker, then jackhammered it out approximately four weeks prior to the opening. The copper box, originally placed during a hospital expansion cornerstone ceremony on September 10, 1952, contained, blueprints, a Bible, historical pictures, photographs and additional legal and historical documents from the era.(Photo by Joe Imel/Daily News)
(Joe Imel/Daily News)
10/20
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Med Center Health hosted a ceremony Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026 to opened a 1952 time capsule at the Reservoir Hill site in Bowling Green as part of its 100th-anniversary celebration. The Reservoir Hill site is where the original City Hospital was dedicated in August 1926 and later expanded. Workers used X-rays to locate the copper box inside the concrete cornerstone without damaging the exterior marker, then jackhammered it out approximately four weeks prior to the opening. The copper box, originally placed during a hospital expansion cornerstone ceremony on September 10, 1952, contained, blueprints, a Bible, historical pictures, photographs and additional legal and historical documents from the era.(Photo by Joe Imel/Daily News)
(Joe Imel/Daily News)
11/20
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Med Center Health hosted a ceremony Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026 to opened a 1952 time capsule at the Reservoir Hill site in Bowling Green as part of its 100th-anniversary celebration. The Reservoir Hill site is where the original City Hospital was dedicated in August 1926 and later expanded. Workers used X-rays to locate the copper box inside the concrete cornerstone without damaging the exterior marker, then jackhammered it out approximately four weeks prior to the opening. The copper box, originally placed during a hospital expansion cornerstone ceremony on September 10, 1952, contained, blueprints, a Bible, historical pictures, photographs and additional legal and historical documents from the era.(Photo by Joe Imel/Daily News)
(Joe Imel/Daily News)
12/20
Swipe or click to see more
Med Center Health hosted a ceremony Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026 to opened a 1952 time capsule at the Reservoir Hill site in Bowling Green as part of its 100th-anniversary celebration. The Reservoir Hill site is where the original City Hospital was dedicated in August 1926 and later expanded. Workers used X-rays to locate the copper box inside the concrete cornerstone without damaging the exterior marker, then jackhammered it out approximately four weeks prior to the opening. The copper box, originally placed during a hospital expansion cornerstone ceremony on September 10, 1952, contained, blueprints, a Bible, historical pictures, photographs and additional legal and historical documents from the era.(Photo by Joe Imel/Daily News)
(Joe Imel/Daily News)
13/20
Swipe or click to see more
Med Center Health hosted a ceremony Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026 to opened a 1952 time capsule at the Reservoir Hill site in Bowling Green as part of its 100th-anniversary celebration. The Reservoir Hill site is where the original City Hospital was dedicated in August 1926 and later expanded. Workers used X-rays to locate the copper box inside the concrete cornerstone without damaging the exterior marker, then jackhammered it out approximately four weeks prior to the opening. The copper box, originally placed during a hospital expansion cornerstone ceremony on September 10, 1952, contained, blueprints, a Bible, historical pictures, photographs and additional legal and historical documents from the era.(Photo by Joe Imel/Daily News)
(Joe Imel/Daily News)
14/20
Swipe or click to see more
Med Center Health hosted a ceremony Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026 to opened a 1952 time capsule at the Reservoir Hill site in Bowling Green as part of its 100th-anniversary celebration. The Reservoir Hill site is where the original City Hospital was dedicated in August 1926 and later expanded. Workers used X-rays to locate the copper box inside the concrete cornerstone without damaging the exterior marker, then jackhammered it out approximately four weeks prior to the opening. The copper box, originally placed during a hospital expansion cornerstone ceremony on September 10, 1952, contained, blueprints, a Bible, historical pictures, photographs and additional legal and historical documents from the era.(Photo by Joe Imel/Daily News)
(Joe Imel/Daily News)
15/20
Swipe or click to see more
Med Center Health hosted a ceremony Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026 to opened a 1952 time capsule at the Reservoir Hill site in Bowling Green as part of its 100th-anniversary celebration. The Reservoir Hill site is where the original City Hospital was dedicated in August 1926 and later expanded. Workers used X-rays to locate the copper box inside the concrete cornerstone without damaging the exterior marker, then jackhammered it out approximately four weeks prior to the opening. The copper box, originally placed during a hospital expansion cornerstone ceremony on September 10, 1952, contained, blueprints, a Bible, historical pictures, photographs and additional legal and historical documents from the era.(Photo by Joe Imel/Daily News)
(Joe Imel/Daily News)
16/20
Swipe or click to see more
Med Center Health hosted a ceremony Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026 to opened a 1952 time capsule at the Reservoir Hill site in Bowling Green as part of its 100th-anniversary celebration. The Reservoir Hill site is where the original City Hospital was dedicated in August 1926 and later expanded. Workers used X-rays to locate the copper box inside the concrete cornerstone without damaging the exterior marker, then jackhammered it out approximately four weeks prior to the opening. The copper box, originally placed during a hospital expansion cornerstone ceremony on September 10, 1952, contained, blueprints, a Bible, historical pictures, photographs and additional legal and historical documents from the era.(Photo by Joe Imel/Daily News)
(Joe Imel/Daily News)
17/20
Swipe or click to see more
Med Center Health hosted a ceremony Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026 to opened a 1952 time capsule at the Reservoir Hill site in Bowling Green as part of its 100th-anniversary celebration. The Reservoir Hill site is where the original City Hospital was dedicated in August 1926 and later expanded. Workers used X-rays to locate the copper box inside the concrete cornerstone without damaging the exterior marker, then jackhammered it out approximately four weeks prior to the opening. The copper box, originally placed during a hospital expansion cornerstone ceremony on September 10, 1952, contained, blueprints, a Bible, historical pictures, photographs and additional legal and historical documents from the era.(Photo by Joe Imel/Daily News)
(Joe Imel/Daily News)
18/20
Swipe or click to see more
Med Center Health hosted a ceremony Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026 to opened a 1952 time capsule at the Reservoir Hill site in Bowling Green as part of its 100th-anniversary celebration. The Reservoir Hill site is where the original City Hospital was dedicated in August 1926 and later expanded. Workers used X-rays to locate the copper box inside the concrete cornerstone without damaging the exterior marker, then jackhammered it out approximately four weeks prior to the opening. The copper box, originally placed during a hospital expansion cornerstone ceremony on September 10, 1952, contained, blueprints, a Bible, historical pictures, photographs and additional legal and historical documents from the era.(Photo by Joe Imel/Daily News)
(Joe Imel/Daily News)
19/20
Swipe or click to see more
Med Center Health hosted a ceremony Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026 to opened a 1952 time capsule at the Reservoir Hill site in Bowling Green as part of its 100th-anniversary celebration. The Reservoir Hill site is where the original City Hospital was dedicated in August 1926 and later expanded. Workers used X-rays to locate the copper box inside the concrete cornerstone without damaging the exterior marker, then jackhammered it out approximately four weeks prior to the opening. The copper box, originally placed during a hospital expansion cornerstone ceremony on September 10, 1952, contained, blueprints, a Bible, historical pictures, photographs and additional legal and historical documents from the era.(Photo by Joe Imel/Daily News)
(Joe Imel/Daily News)
20/20
Swipe or click to see more
Med Center Health hosted a ceremony Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026 to opened a 1952 time capsule at the Reservoir Hill site in Bowling Green as part of its 100th-anniversary celebration. The Reservoir Hill site is where the original City Hospital was dedicated in August 1926 and later expanded. Workers used X-rays to locate the copper box inside the concrete cornerstone without damaging the exterior marker, then jackhammered it out approximately four weeks prior to the opening. The copper box, originally placed during a hospital expansion cornerstone ceremony on September 10, 1952, contained, blueprints, a Bible, historical pictures, photographs and additional legal and historical documents from the era.(Photo by Joe Imel/Daily News)
(Joe Imel/Daily News)
On the outside, it is a small, metal box, corroded and dented.
On the inside, it is a testament to a legacy of community service now stretching back a century.
At a ceremony atop Hospital Hill, a time capsule was opened Sunday on the 100th anniversary of the establishment of City Hospital.
While the hospital, now known as The Medical Center, opened in 1926, the time capsule that was opened Sunday was placed in 1952 after a major expansion of the hospital.
That the capsule even existed was unknown until recently.
Cristi Pruitt, vice president of Accounting and Finance for Med Center Health, was doing research on the history of the hospital for the 100th anniversary. She came across a Daily News article about the formal dedication of the expansion in 1952, which included placing the repository.
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“I was like, ‘oh my gosh, there’s a time capsule,’” she said. “No one knew about it.”
But exactly where it was on the old building was unclear.
“We went on a hunt,” she said.
When a likely location was finally found, the presence of a void was confirmed with an electronic scan. Then, after drilling through six inches of concrete, the small metal box was located.
Opened with metal shears, a screwdriver and some effort, the box contained numerous items that were pulled out and displayed one by one: a bible, a copy of the Daily News from 1952, letters, photos, hospital staff rosters and more.
A letter from then-hospital administrator Dwayne L. Hull included a hope that, by the time the time capsule was opened, there would be cures for polio, heart disease and cancer.
A letter from Max Nahm, then the head of the hospital board, recounted the difficulty in obtaining needed expansion materials in those immediate post-war years, saying they “had to run up the hill” to get the project completed.
Med Center Health President and CEO Connie Smith spoke Sunday about how the time capsule represents “more than artifacts.”
They are “a reminder that while medicine has changed dramatically … our mission has remained the same. We have never lost sight of why we exist.”
About Wes Swietek
Wes Swietek is the Managing Editor of the Bowling Green Daily News
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