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| Time capsule is located beneath cement marker at right. |
(Over the years, I’ve had a number of people contact me
about the time capsule that’s located at Jones Park in downtown Frisco City. Many
have wanted to know what was buried in the time capsule, and I honestly couldn't say because I didn't know for sure. I’ve kept my eyes open for information about this time capsule over the
years and a few weeks ago, I ran across a great article that includes just about
everything you’d want to know about the time capsule.
The article below, which was originally published in the
Dec. 22, 1988 edition of The Monroe Journal newspaper, was written by Anna
Thibodeaux and appeared under the headline, “Frisco saves history in time
capsule.” If anyone out there knows anything else about this time capsule, that’s
not included in the article, please contact me and let me know.)
Headline: "Frisco saves history in time capsule"
By Anna Thibodeaux
A bit of Frisco City’s history was preserved on Saturday
when town officials buried a time capsule in a vault at Jones Park.
Minutes before sealing the steel box containing the material,
Mayor Billy McCrory enclosed a Christmas card and a copy of the New Testament.
He then read aloud letters written by Probate Judge Otha Lee Biggs and himself,
also stored in the capsule, to commemorate the event.
In the first letter, Biggs congratulated Frisco City on
celebrating its 100th birthday this year and said he was pleased to have
attended the celebration held in October. And he provided copies of The Monroe
Journal outlining the county’s industrial growth and a video being used to draw
new industry to the area.
The judge’s letter concluded: “Maybe, just maybe, with the
great strides in medical science that a few Monroe countians who are living
today will attend your second centennial celebration. Congratulations to the
people of Frisco City on this special day in the life of your city.”
As workmen began covering the steel box with sand, McCrory
read his letter:
“Congratulations on your 200th birthday. It is my fondest
hope that when you read this all of you are enjoying good health, peace and
prosperity. It is a chilly day today, the sun is shining brightly, and it is a
beautiful day. Christmas is almost here, and most people today are preparing
for the busy holiday season. All of us today wish you a happy birthday and a
merry Christmas in 2088.”
In gathering material for the capsule, townspeople strove
“to give a view of who they are today so that the people 100 years from now can
better understand those who came before them,” McCrory said later.
“This is truly an historic occasion,” McCrory said as he
assisted with burying the capsule. Retired contractor Ollie Wiggins designed
and built the project.
The steel box, 36 inches long by 24 inches deep by 24 inches
wide, was designed to hold nine tubes made of PVC pipe. The box probably weighs
about 150 pounds with contents. It was sealed with tar and lead coating at the
site to preserve the contents.
Encasing the capsule is a bunker or vault which is about
three feet below the surface and about 1.5 feet above ground. The bunker has
concrete walls about 12 inches thick, reinforced with steel rods running from
bottom to top.
Only one more task remains to finish the job. McCrory said
they are waiting on arrival of a plaque that will be placed atop the vault. It
will identify the capsule, contents and time of enclosure, and specify that it
should not be opened until 2088.
The capsule is jam-packed full of an assortment of
memorabilia. If one could peek inside, here are some of the items he might
find:
-
A card with the greeting “Merry Christmas to the people of
Frisco City from the people of Frisco City,” signed by McCrory; the family
history of Ollie Wiggins, as well as many, many others from Frisco City
families and the area; a book, “Taxes and Termites,” written by the late A.V.
“Shorty” Culpepper, a packet filled with news articles about the county’s major
industrial growth (Alabama River Pulp Co. and the coming newsprint plant); a
videotape used for industrial recruitment.
-
An historical news bulletin about Monroe County and
surrounding counties published by Southern Quarterly; a 1988 Monroe County
telephone book; the Nov. 1 issue of Time magazine, reporting results of the
presidential election; a 1988 calendar; a Ladies Birthday Almanac; promotional
information, including a pamphlet, about Patrick Henry State Junior College;
aerial photos of Frisco City;
-
The Oct. 27 and Dec. 15 issues of The Monroe Journal, as well
as numerous other articles about the centennial celebration and town growth; a
copy of the Frisco City Woman’s Club yearbook; a copy of The County View, a
local shopper/newspaper; a copy of a Frisco City centennial pamphlet designed
by the Chamber of Commerce; a quarterly publication by the Monroe County Museum
& Historical Society featuring Frisco’s history; a December issue of Southern
Pine Electric Cooperative’s magazine, featuring the centennial celebration and
quilter Mona Hendrix of Frisco City; numerous photos about the 1988 Christmas
parade.
-
More centennial memorabilia – wooden nickels, a T-shirt, hat,
cup and button; special Coca Cola bottles bearing the names of Auburn
University, the University of Alabama, Frisco City – all unopened and included
to note that the soft drink was once bottled in Frisco, dating back to when it
was called Jones Mill; letters telling how the chamber planned and held the
centennial celebration; color photos of the caboose in Jones Park, First
Baptist Church, United Methodist Church and Frisco City High School.
-
Photos of the firehouse; a roster of volunteer firemen, an
article about how Grady Gaston of Frisco City survived World War II; an article
about an interview with Mr. and Mrs. Pete Beard of Frisco City entitled,
“Frisco City – A Little Piece of Heaven”; assorted information from the Monroe
County Board of Education; Frisco City High School’s 1988 yearbook, with the
cover removed so it could be rolled up in a tube; journal entries written by
FCHS students about life today in their town; rosters and photos from the
Police Department; historical documents, copies of old meeting minutes, and employee
rosters from Monroeville City Hall.
-
McCrory’s family history dating back to the 16th century in
Ireland, as well as the histories and photographs of many other families; a
roster, bulletin and other information from the United Methodist Church; similar
material from First Baptist Church, plus a roster of current and former pastors
and the church history; letters from families addressed to the town; and old
Snoopy watch (it doesn’t work); and a two-ounce bottle of Dr. Tichenor’s
mouthwash.
McCrory, a pharmacist, explained that he believes the
mouthwash will be a collectible in 100 years.
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