A piece of Taylorville’s medical history is now on display in the lobby of Taylorville Memorial Hospital. The contents of a 1950s time capsule, discovered earlier this year, are available for public viewing throughout August.

The capsule was found during routine maintenance when employee Andy Mateer uncovered a hidden compartment behind the cornerstone of the former St. Vincent Memorial Hospital. After careful removal, the capsule revealed a variety of items from the era, including hospital photographs from 1940 and 1953, autographs from Sisters and staff, Catholic publications, coins from the early 1950s, and memorabilia from the hospital’s groundbreaking ceremony.

Taylorville Memorial Hospital President and CEO Kim Bourne says the display honors the legacy of the Sisters and the hospital’s rich history. That commitment to preserving the past is also seen in the restoration of original stained glass windows and the continued presence of a statue of Christ donated in the 1950s.

St. Vincent Hospital, founded in 1906 by the Adorers of the Blood of Christ, became the foundation for what is now Taylorville Memorial. Most of the 1953 hospital building was torn down during a major renovation in 2020 and 2021.

This year also marks TMH’s 30th anniversary of affiliation with Memorial Health.

Again, the time capsule display is open to the public now through the end of August inside the hospital’s main entrance.