Wheaton can view time capsule buried 50 years ago

A time capsule recently unearthed in Wheaton is giving town historians a glimpse into what happened when the city celebrated its 100th anniversary.

Now residents are getting the chance to see what the time capsule protected for 50 years. The items - including posters, toys and letters - will be on display 10 a.m. Saturday at Memorial Park.

"I think it's going to be a great highlight to our sesquicentennial year," Mayor Michael Gresk said of the ceremony. "I have to go back and look and see who the mayor was in 1959."

Wheaton's Center for History has been caring for the artifacts since they were recovered on June 19.

Alberta Adamson, the center's president and CEO, said the items were found in "excellent condition." They include phone books, comic books, catalogs, a bible, a silver dollar and a commemorative ashtray.

The ashtray and several other items were made for Wheaton's 100th anniversary. Apparently, members of the committee that organized the celebration created the time capsule to mark the event.

They used a section of sewer pipe to make the time capsule, which was buried at the old police station site along Wheaton Avenue. It was unearthed for the first time when the building was demolished in 1992.

There were plans to open it then until a Glen Ellyn woman found a plaque in her garage that proved the time capsule wasn't supposed to be opened until 2009. So it was reburied at the current police station site along Liberty Drive.

Adamson said some letters found inside the time capsule might be read during Saturday's ceremony. Refreshments will be available immediately following the ceremony.

Meanwhile, the city is creating a new time capsule to be opened in 2059 for Wheaton's bicentennial anniversary. Community groups, students and individuals can submit items.

For more information about the new time capsule, visit the city's Web site at wheaton.il.us/