If someone asked you to paint a picture of what you thought 1957 was, could you? If there was a unique glimpse of the past lives of others offered, would you want to see it?
This was the surprise of a lifetime for the people of Ohio and North Canton middle school.
Custodian Chas Pyle made the amazing discovery while fixing the trim between the lockers and walls.
A stroke of luck for Chas Pyle.
A small red purse nestled behind the locker was still intact. Turning the surprising find to school authorities, they discovered that the time capsule belonged to a Patti Rumfola. Securing permission from the Rumfola family, the district were able to share the contents of the purse.
Patti’s personal belongings offered a telling perspective of this young woman many decades ago. And what a wonderful discovery it was.
A time capsule in red all the way from 1957.
The contents of the purse contained items every American teenager in the fifties would carry. Like many teenagers of her time, Patti’s hand carry contained a comb, makeup, peppermint flavored gum, and her favorite shade of lipstick “pastel pink”.
A signed photo from her friend, Bonnie, was also found with a written note.
“Never forget the wonderful times we had.”
Pretty sure Patti never forgot those wonderful times.
Ms. Rumfola’s personal belongings surrendered to lost and found.
Patti liked to draw. She was also a member of the American Junior Red Cross during high school. Imagine hanging out with her and her friends!
She kept old ticket stubs, photos, and library cards. There was even a football schedule from 1956 with certain dates of games crossed out. Patti must have been quite an active young woman!
No cellphones to record those football games and moments folks!
Set this photo as profile pic?
Patti’s kids were kind enough to provide old family photos to share with the public allowing others to see their mother in a different light.
From the bobs and dresses to the polka dots and pastels, the fifties came alive through the Rumfola’s family photos. And from what we can tell, Patti seemed to be quite the fashionable one.
She must have turned quite a few heads from the young lads back then!
Patti would have garnered a lot of ‘likes’ in her day.
Patti graduated from what was then known as Hoover High back in 1960. She went on to become a teacher. Must have been a swell teacher!
She got married to a John G. Michele in 1980 and went on to have five kids and several grandchildren. Unbeknownst to her, the old coins amounting to 26 cents would become tokens of remembrance for her children.
“Each of her five children kept one of the wheat pennies as a token of remembrance of their mom.” said the school district
She passed away in 2013 but little did she know that her little red purse would tell a story of a life lived 63 years ago. A life full of love and laughter, and moments not easily forgotten.
Tokens of priceless value.
Her story lives on in the halls of North Canton.
Patti has taught us to live in the moment and treasure all the times good and bad. You never know who’ll find out about you.
It could be in the very near future.
Click on the video below of Patti Rumfola and the mystery of the red purse.
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Source: CBS News/YouTube, CNN
