The Hawk

Issue date: 5/10/08 Section: Features

Len Haley, director of operations at Episcopal Academy, is keeping his eyes open.

Rumor has it that an unknown number of time capsules containing Episcopal Academy memorabilia are hidden somewhere on the school's Merion campus.

There's no time to go searching behind old piles of brick now, said Haley, but once everything is moved out in mid-July, the search will be easier.

The school's move to Newtown Square provides welcome opportunities to turn over a few dusty boards hidden behind piles of storage, Haley said, adding that areas of interest include the gymnasium and chapel.

Continuing a long tradition of honoring the school's history, Episcopal officials plan to bring a time capsule with them to their new campus.

The capsule is actually a large box constructed with wooden panels and decorative molding, each a different shade of brown. It contains a DVR disk, a trophy, and a blue sweater.

The blue sweater tucked inside belongs to former Head of School James Lackey Crawford, Jr., a St. Joe's alumni who led Episcopal for more than a quarter of a century. Haley says that alumni were moved to tears when Crawford presented the sweater at a recent event.

The box itself pays tribute to the various campuses Episcopal currently occupies and soon will inhabit. The cherry wood comes from Episcopal's Devon campus, the oak from the school's Merion campus, and the walnut from the new campus in Newtown

When the school moves, the box will be placed in a display case and remain closed for 100 years.

"I don't know if they'll use discs by then," said Haley.

As for the hidden time capsules, if Haley doesn't find them in time, St. Joe's may inherit a valued piece of Episcopal's history..

"We hope if St. Joe's finds them that they'll hand them over to us," said Haley.

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