I ran across an Iowa story this morning that struck a familiar chord. The Register headline reads, "Iowa town asks: Where did we put our time capsule?"
The town involved is northwest Iowa's Sheldon, which is celebrating its 150th birthday this year. Part of the celebration was scheduled for Friday --- a time capsule buried 50 years ago during a centennial observance was to be dug up, opened, new items inserted to mark the new anniversary, then reburied. Coffee and birthday cake served thereafter.
Unfortunately, the exact location of the capsule in a city park has been lost and ground-penetrating radar will have to be brought in to find it. So cake and coffee will be served, but the disinterment of the time capsule will have to wait for another day.
Something similar happened in Chariton back in 1976, as the city was preparing to join the nation in a bicentennial celebration. But in Chariton, the very existence of a time capsule had been forgotten --- until early in the year when Chariton attorney Paul Christoffers happened onto a brief reference to it in a State Historical Society of Iowa publication.
During the months that followed, every site thought likely as a repository for the box --- which it was agreed had not been buried --- was searched. Finally, in time for a July 4, 1976 unveiling, the cast iron container with contents intact was found in the vault at the Masonic Temple.
So our story has a happy ending; here's hoping that Sheldon's will, too.
For those interested the Bicentennial Box and its contents are kept in the Lucas County Historical Society Museum library. A much larger box was filled and sealed during 1976 to be opened during 2076. That box is in the library, too. Don't forget --- if you plan to be around for that opening.
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