The year was 1920.

Pittsburgh was one of the 10 largest cities in the country; today, it's 60th of the 273 cities with more than 100,000 people.

Two Ohio newspaper publishers -- Republican Warren G. Harding and Democrat James Cox -- ran for president.

And, the Pirates had a winning record.

How times have changed!

It was in 1920 that Dormont United Methodist Church was built at Potomac and Mattern avenues at a cost of $125,000 -- the same price the New York Yankees paid the Boston Red Sox that January to acquire slugger Babe Ruth.

As part of the church's construction, a small receptacle containing items from that era was placed beneath the cornerstone.

At 2 p.m. Sunday, church members will open the time capsule as part of the church's 90th anniversary celebration. They will replace it with a 2009 version.

The 90th anniversary celebration will begin with an 11 a.m. worship service, where Donald Scandrol, district superintendent of the Pittsburgh district of the United Methodist Church, will speak. The service will be followed by a photo session and catered luncheon in the church's Fellowship Hall.

All 11 living former pastors, as well as two current ministers who attended the church in their youth, have been invited.

According to a 1920 Gazette Times newspaper clipping found in the church archives, the 90-year-old time capsule contains a copy of the newspaper article announcing the laying of the cornerstone, coins of the day and a list of church trustees, board members and parishioners.

Jack Frank, a member of the church since 1954, said a final decision on what to put in the new time capsule hasn't been made, but it likely will include a copy of a newspaper clipping commemorating the event, a plaque from the Dormont Historical Society, passes from the Dormont pool and Dormont T-stop with a transit schedule, Pennsylvania quarters and possibly a Medicare card, because, he said, "I'm sure they didn't have those in 1919, and when this thing's opened up in the future, they might not have those again."

Looking for more from the Post-Gazette? Join PG+, our members-only web site. You'll get exclusive sports content, opinion, financial information, discounts from retailers and restaurants, and more. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.