The long-forgotten capsule held handwritten letters, newspapers, keepsakes and other memories that had been hidden underground for nearly five decades
NEED TO KNOW
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Residents in Whitfield County, Ga., opened a time capsule buried during the nation’s bicentennial in 1976
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The capsule contained handwritten letters, newspapers, coins and other keepsakes from local families
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Despite decades of water damage, many of the items — including one family’s heartfelt letter — were still readable
For nearly 50 years, it sat buried beneath a sidewalk outside a Georgia courthouse, quietly preserving snapshots of life during America’s bicentennial.
Last week, hundreds of residents gathered at the Whitfield County Courthouse as county workers unearthed and opened a time capsule that had been sealed in 1976, revealing handwritten letters, newspapers, keepsakes and other personal mementos tucked away by local families nearly five decades ago.
The capsule was originally organized by the Dalton Exchange Club as part of the nation’s bicentennial celebration. For $5 per family, Whitfield County residents could place items inside before the concrete vault was buried outside the courthouse at the end of May 1976.
When Public Works crews finally lifted the heavy lid, they found trash bags packed with envelopes waiting for their owners. But decades underground had taken a toll…