MIDDLETOWN - Fifty-one years ago, managers at American Savings Bank sank antiquated coins, newspapers and photographs into a foot-long canister and buried it deep in the surface of the bank.

        In upcoming weeks, a new generation of bankers will pop the cork on the set of items. The time capsule was exhumed Thursday from the bank's old location in a 45-minute process that including chopping bricks from the now-dismantled City Centre Mall. The bank, which opened in 1889, resides in a new structure along North University Boulevard in Middletown.

        Bank President Stephen Croake says he'll wait until he can get several of the bank's directors present to unveil the artifacts, which include coins dating to 1847, a bank statement from 1951 and its original charter. Pieces of Middletown's history are included, too, he said.

        “We are still the same banking institution we were in 1889,” said Mr. Croake, a Middletown resident who has worked at the bank 23 years. “There aren't a whole lot of banks that have been around as long as we have.”

        When bank officials sold the old building, they retained the right to recover the box if the mall was ever torn down. In the new location, Mr. Croake plans to display the artifacts from the time capsule before resealing the container with the old items, and adding some from 1951 until today.

        In 50 years, he expects another set of bankers and customers to enjoy artifacts dating back to 2002.

        “I anticipate that will be the case,” the 52-year-old said. “There is history to this institution.”

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