An incredible century-old milk bottle time capsule has been dug up with letters and rare coins inside.
The find from 1917 was discovered by a team working to restore an historical landmark in New York.
The Roslyn Landmark Society confirmed a crew restoring the Roslyn Grist Mill came across it buried under the floor.
The capsule was installed during a restoration project 103 years ago.
As well as the coins, it also contained two letters – one written in English and one in Italian.
The English letter was written by Stephen Speedling, who owned a carpentry shop in the city.
The Italian note was by Romolo Capparrelli, who identified himself as the person who designed the structure's planking-style concrete roof.
Caparrelli’s letter was translated by Andrea Fedi, professor of Italian and cultural studies at Stony Brook University.
In the scroll, Caparrelli states that he wants to be remembered for his pioneering concrete work on the Roslyn Grist Mill.
“Attention, this is a gift that I am giving you,” Caparrelli wrote. “Romolo Caparrelli invented the planking-style concrete roof and walls installed in 1916 and 1917. So remember us, first bricklayer Romolo Caparrelli.”
His granddaughter Pam Story confirmed that Caparrelli was born in Pico, Italy, and later became a resident of Roslyn.
“He worked on a restoration of the grist mill in 1916 when it was intended to be used as a museum,” she told the Landmark Society.
“He applied a unique style of stucco to the exterior and concrete for the floors and roof. He also placed his initials in the stucco by the front entrance. I had been told by my father that he put a glass jar in the building’s wall with various contents.
"I am so glad that it was found and in relatively good condition.”
Once the restoration is fully complete, the letters, bottle and the coins will be put on display for future generations to enjoy.
"To find such a piece of history is just really a treasure," Roslyn Landmark Society member Jennifer Lister said.
“We should put our own little message in a bottle when we get this structure back together.”
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