Time Capsule reveals a forgotten past

"It made me feel like I was going back in time." - Mayor Morris Maglie

When the California city of Franklin Falls dug up a time capsule over the weekend, officials were amazed at how well the contents and the box that contained the artifacts had aged.

Buried in an enameled capsule that was encased in concrete and buried about twenty-two feet deep, the time capsule weathered the beating of California's climate. A plaque placed on the side of the capsule stated it would be opened in October of 2009 by Franklin Falls' mayor.

And so it was.

The 2005 time capsule, buried in front of Cap McCrarey Park, was crafted years ago by workers at Poulter, Stimmit and Company, neighboring city Larchville's sewer pipe and architectural terra cotta factory known more for its work with clay than ceramics.

"It was in pristine condition," said Sally Maglie, chairwoman of the city's 4th birthday party on Saturday. "It was a timeless work of art that those guys from Poulter, Stimmit created."

Inside, there were photos of the 2005 Franklin Falls Council, a Time magazine, handprints from schoolchildren, a letter from the then-mayor Morris Maglie, a picture of Franklin Falls founder Morris Maglie and newspapers.

Pope John Paul II graced the Time cover of April 11, 2005. Inside was an advertisement for a new Ford F150 truck that listed for $21,835.

Newspapers stored in the box were the Franklin Falls PennySaver, the San Francisco Chronicle and the Sunday Sacramento Bee. A daily copy of the Chronicle cost seventy five cents, and The Sunday Bee cost two dollars.

The Bee, dated September, 2005, featured a photograph of yet another soldier's coffin arriving from Iraq, and stories about a two new office buildings being built in Sacramento, and President George W. Bush apologizing for the 3.7% national unemployment rate. The capsule also included poems and essays from Franklin Falls High School students. Mayor Morris Maglie randomly chose one of the poems and read it to the assembled throng.

Franklin Falls
by Jennette Silas (11th Grade)

I get home
Sink into my regular depression
Self pity, self loathing
Self analysis
What a wimp

I hate this life
What comes ahead
What was
What is
We are born to die

Go to school
Work for fifty years
Die
Another ant come and gone
That's all we are

If you think you're different
You're Wrong
If you choose optimism
Congratulations

I wish I could
I try, but my brain
Won't have it

Cursed to a life of self pity
Self loathing, pessimistic.
I hate this place.

The "Four Years of Greatness" celebration in Cap McCrarey Park, which included a parade and fireworks, was attended by about 40 people, Maglie said.

"The biggest surprise was the condition of the 4-year-old time capsule," Maglie said. "They did such a great job with that. Everything was packaged well and in great condition."

Contents of the 2004 time capsule will be displayed for public viewing, Walker said.

At that time, officials also will bury a 2009 time capsule, to be exhumed in 2013.