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Keith McCord Reporting This next story is one that we won't have to update again until 2057! The University of Utah resealed a time capsule into a stone wall this afternoon ending a series of events that began back in November!
Quite the saga, and one that has a happy ending, it just took a while to get there. The story of a time capsule that was buried 50-years ago; and when they planned to open it up for a special ceremony they couldn't find it.
Michael Young, U of U President: "Time capsules are a lot of fun. This has been a great celebration for the university and we look forward to another 50 years!"
A brand new shiny box made from Utah Copper was filled with all sorts of artifacts was put back into a wall at the University of Utah. The box, replaces the old one, which was opened up last month. The contents are now on display in the Olpin Student Union Building, but it took some doing to make it all happen.
This all started back in November when we heard that the U. was looking for the sealed time capsule. It had been placed somewhere at the Olpin Student Union Building when it was dedicated in 1957. The idea was to open it up again 50 years later. But, no one marked where it was placed back then, so finding it turned out to be a challenge!
Based on old yearbook photos, everyone knew that it was placed in a stone fireplace wall, but there are several of them in the Union Building.
A Salt Lake company heard of the U's dilemma, and volunteered to bring its sonar equipment and scan the stone walls. It worked. A few days later, a stone mason chiseled out a hole, and the copper box was removed.
Last month, at the 50th anniversary of the Olpin Union dedication, University President Michael Young unveiled the contents--which will remain on permanent display. Current U students showed what they will put in the new time capsule that will be opened 50 years from now.
Today, those items were placed in a new container and then sealed, and back into the stone wall it went!
Michael Young, U of U President: "All of you who have a diary or journal or blog, raise your hands. Ok. All of you go back home tonight and write down where this is...(laugh)!"
Yes, they will mark the location with a plaque, so they don't have to go through this again in 50 years!
