Mount Prospect to dig up 100th anniversary time capsule Saturday

The Mount Prospect Centennial Celebration will begin Saturday, July 23, with the opening of a time capsule filled with memorabilia from both the 50th anniversary celebration in 1966 and the 75th anniversary in 1992. The event is being held in conjunction with the Downtown Block Party.

"Always an eagerly anticipated summertime treat, this year's Downtown Block Party has the added distinction of the unearthing of the time capsule holding the memorabilia of our 50th and 75th anniversary celebrations," said Mount Prospect Mayor Arlene A. Juracek.

The capsule will be unearthed at 10 a.m. by Pipe View America of Schaumburg from its resting place just west of the Public Safety Building at 112 E. Northwest Hwy. It was buried on May 19, 1993, at the conclusion of the 75th anniversary celebration.

Former Mayor Gerald "Skip" Farley will read from the letter that he wrote 25 years ago to the residents of the village today. Dignitaries, including state Rep. David Harris, are expected to attend and the public is welcome, though viewing space at the location is limited.

Immediately following the ceremony, the capsule will be transported to the Downtown Block Party for public display, along with a list of the items that were buried. Because of the fragile nature of the items inside, however, the capsule will be opened later under archival conditions.

The plan is to display the items inside sometime during 2017 at the Mount Prospect Public Library or the Mount Prospect Historical Society. Some items also will likely be digitally recorded and available to view on the centennial website, mountprospect100.com, according to Centennial Commission Co-Chair Jean Murphy.