In April 1919, a curious discovery at an armory building in Springfield (Massachusetts?) captivated local antiquarians—a mysterious green bottle buried at a cornerstone. It featured surfaces inscribed with what appeared to be Masonic symbols, sparking intrigue and debate among historians. The presence of these strange symbols on the bottle fueled speculation about its origins.
Seems to Demand Solution
Mystery Surrounding Green Bottle Found in Cornerstone of Building Puzzles Antiquarians
April 17, 1919. — Springfield antiquarians are as interested as the weather will permit over the discovery in the cornerstone of one of the armory buildings of “an ancient green bottle,” to quote from the printed description of this find. It is said that it closely resembles an oldtime rum bottle, except that its surface is covered with what are alleged Masonic characters, says the Hartford Courant. Fragments of a cork were found, but the bottle contained no fluid, not even an odor.
That the bottle was empty when found affords no ground for surprise, but that its surface is completely covered by Masonic characters may give rise to much speculation. Had it been covered or partially covered with characters which indicated that it once contained distilled liquor from the West Indies there would have been little cause for speculation, inasmuch as such bottles and such spirits were common a hundred years ago when the cornerstone was supposed to have been put in place.
That the bottle was put in place while empty suggests a thrifty disposition on the part of the builders.
