07/04/2026
What an AMAZING day for the town and county, for the recipients of the Bicentennial articles, and for those of us in the historic preservation community! To see the time capsule open in relatively good condition (yes, the contents were soaked but not destroyed) was a wonderful blessing for us all. Other communities opened their vaults to layers of mud, their items floating in water or just plain turned to sludge. Almost the entire contents of ours was salvageable. Thank you, Mr. J.D. Martin, for preserving it in the best way possible in 1976!
I just want to say the people who were there were respectful of the process and we so appreciate it. We knew many of them wanted their items and everyone seemed to understand the process of prepping and cataloging them, but mostly trying to get them back to a usable keepsake. It was hard for most to leave the articles, but almost everyone was patient and nice about it.
One thing we were not prepared for was the emotional part of it all. To watch people actually break down over seeing their loved ones contributions was difficult. Family members long gone, letters from moms and dads telling their children (who are now the age they themselves were at the time they wrote the letters) how much they'd loved them and their wishes for a good life, was difficult to see. People who were expected to be here and were not -- letters to children who had not survived the fifty years was something we volunteers had not planned for. So many photographs, which sadly was one thing that had not done well in the moisture, lovingly placed in packets with love letters and newspapers from the day, along with coins or $2 bills, was a bittersweet sight for us.
But, it was joyful to see parents present today--families still intact--sharing their long-ago contributions with their children. It was wonderful to see the looks on people's faces when they saw their mama and daddy's letters to them. Groups of siblings, many now in their 60's or 70's who had not had anything new from their parent in 30 or 40 years, became kids again. It was an unforgettable experience.
We will have a place on this site later for anyone who wishes to share their treasures with the public. Once the majority of the items are handed out later this week, feel free to send us your photos and stories. In the meantime, enjoy more photos of the day.
