U of U Time Capsule Removed From Hiding

U of U Time Capsule Removed From Hiding


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Keith McCord Reporting This is Part 3 of the continuing saga of the missing time capsule at the University of Utah. Just a couple of hours ago, they finally uncovered it!

University of Utah President Michael Young removes a sealed, copper box that was placed behind the fireplace wall 50-years ago!

When asked how heavy it is, Michael Young, University of Utah President, replied: "It's pretty heavy, come feel it!"

This moment is significant, because actually finding the time capsule took some doing.

Let's take you back to November 8th when the U told Eyewitness News that it couldn't find the time capsule that was placed in a wall marking the dedication of the A. Ray Olpin University Union in 1957.

Old photos and documents pointed to a stone fireplace wall, but there was no plaque marking the spot.

The U. had some of the walls X-rayed, with no luck.

Word of the dilemma spread, and tips started coming in.

And one, helped to pinpoint the spot.

U of U Time Capsule Removed From Hiding

In this photo, showing President Olpin placing the time capsule, his jacket pocket was on the wrong side, the photo was reversed in the campus yearbook!

Now, they knew which side of the fireplace to look, and 10-days ago, a Salt Lake company specializing in sonar scanning, found it in this outdoor fireplace wall.

"This brings us back to today-- when a stonemason chiseled out the rock!"

Director of Olpin Union Bldg.: "I'm ecstatic to finally see it. And I'm surprised it's actually a lot bigger than I thought it was. I thought it was half this size. So this gives us an opportunity to put better stuff in for the next 50 years."

So what's in it?

We'll find out on January 17th at a celebration marking the 50th anniversary of when the Olpin Union building opened.

U of U Time Capsule Removed From Hiding

After that ceremony, the same copper box will be filled with new items, and put back into the same rock wall and resealed.

It will be opened 50 years from now--assuming they can find it again!

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