Name/Title
Wilton Church CornerstoneEntry/Object ID
2026.39.4Description
Concrete Cornerstone from Trinity Lutheran Church of Wilton. Concrete block, engraved "Trinity Lutheran Church 1873-1950". The stone was placed in the church in 1950 and housed a time capsule.Context
Trinity Lutheran Church of Wilton had a history spanning over 150 years. Founded in 1873, the congregation originally met in a small wooden building. In 1950, the congregation transitioned to a new brick church building at 31184 West Wilton River Road in Waseca, MN. The church celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2022, highlighted by a special service with Rev. Dr. Lucas Woodford (president of the Minnesota South District of the LCMS). The congregation held its final regular worship service on August 30, 2026, followed by a formal decommissioning service with Rev. Wesley Odom on September 27, 2026.
The cornerstone laying ceremony took place in July 1950. The ceremony was a major milestone for the pioneer parish as they transitioned from their 1872 wooden structure into the modern brick building. The 5"x10" time capsule within the cornerstone housed archival materials documenting early Wilton settlers and parish history, specifically parish rosters, historical documents, and family photographs. In conjunction with the congregation's permanent closure in late 2026, the vessel was recovered from the masonry, and the preserved artifacts were subsequently exhibited for the community at the September 27, 2026 Decommissioning Worship Service. Following the exhibition, formal acquisition of the time capsule collection was ultimately declined by WCHS; due to the items being long-term housed in an environment containing asbestos, they presented substantial preservation and handling safety risks that WCHS is not equipped to mitigate or decontaminate.Inscription/Signature/Marks
Transcription
Trinity Lutheran Church 1873-1950Lexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
CornerstoneNomenclature Primary Object Term
Stone, BuildingNomenclature Sub-Class
Construction MaterialsNomenclature Class
Building ComponentsNomenclature Category
Category 01: Built Environment ObjectsRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Trinity Lutheran ChurchCreate Date
October 8, 2026Update Date
October 16, 2026
