When the Lincoln Oak toppled on the Green last fall during Superstorm Sandy, a barrel-shaped lump of concrete emerged from its roots (along with bones and skulls). On Wednesday, workers jack-hammered the concrete barrel apart and found two copper tubes.
Those tubes might prove a theory long held by citizen historian Rob Greenberg: that a time-capsule was buried underneath the Lincoln Oak when it was planted in 1909. Click the video to see the city bomb squad X‑ray the concrete earlier this month.
Acting parks chief Christy Hass, who oversaw the jack-hammering on Wednesday, said the tubes have been handed over to the state archeologist for scanning before anyone tries to open them. She said she didn’t know how long that could take.
Hass said the city has images of the tubes, which the Proprietors of the Green (the private owners of the public space) will share with the public later.
Thomas MacMillan Photo
Greenberg, at left, with the concrete barrel.