TIME CAPSULES

Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald

TIME CAPSULES. A time capsule is a historic cache of goods or information, usually intended as a deliberate method of communication with future people, and to help future archaeologists, anthropologists, or historians. The preservation of holy relics dates back for millennia, but the practice of preparing and preserving a collection of everyday artifacts and messages to the future appears to be a more recent practice. Time capsules are sometimes created and buried during celebrations such as a world's fair, a cornerstone laying for a building, or at other ceremonies. (1)

In 1976 during Dubuque's celebration of the American bicentennial, a time capsule to be exhumed in 2076, was buried in WASHINGTON PARK. The capsule contained letters, photographs, tape recordings and news clippings of that year. The capsule was buried at the southern edge of the park on Labor Day, but the spot remained unmarked for three years. In May, 1979 a 1,500-pound monument of native stone complete with a plaque was delivered to the park and installed by workmen from the William Becker & Sons Stone Company. The marker read: (2)

                   Washington Square Time Capsule
                         1776-1976  *2076

          During Dubuqueland celebration of the 200th birthday
          of the United States of America, the people of Dubuque
          sealed their bicentennial-tricentennial time capsule
          for the future generations of Dubuque to enjoy. The
          The time capsule is to be opened July 4, 2076, and the
          contents distributed in accordance with the donors
          wishes.

          This time capsule is part of the Dubuque Jaycees
          Washington Sq2uare restoration. This square is the site
          of Iowa's first church, school and court house. This
          time capsule was made possible in part through the
          contribution Dubuque Savings and Loan Association.
          1876-1976

Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald

While it was common for commercial buildings or even schools to place lists of names, news articles, coins or other artifacts into hollow concrete blocks usually carrying the date of the building, personal time capsules were also constructed. In 1947 Ken Trowbridge and his brother-in-law were constructing a concrete-block wall around the porch of his house at 2676 Jackson Street. Trowbridge tossed a newspaper, pair of baby shoes, and a picture of himself into one of the blocks. While deconstructing the wall forty-nine years later, Scott Anderson found the artifacts. Trowbridge was contacted and remembered the incident he never thought he would see. (3)

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Source:

1. "Time Capsule," Wikipedia, Online: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_capsule

2. "Now You Can Find Bicentennial Capsule," Telegraph Herald, May 29, 1979, p. 10

3. McDermott, Brad, "Block of Time, Telegraph Herald, August 6, 1996, p 1