Pictured from left are John Hutsell, Nick Newcomer and Lloyd Hershberger who worked to open the 50-year-old time capsule, which was buried as part of the city of Nappanee’s centennial celebration in 1974.
The contents are now being decontaminated and will soon be documented by staff members and volunteers of the Evelyn Lehman Culp Heritage Collection at the Nappanee Center. They will be available for display during the 2024 Nappanee Apple Festival in September. InkFreeNews photo by Keith Knepp.

By Keith Knepp
InkFreeNews

As part of Visit Nappanee’s “Friday Fest” held Friday, July 12, the city of Nappanee unearthed a time capsule, which was buried 50 years ago. The capsule was buried in October 1974, as part of the city’s centennial celebration. Nappanee is celebrating its sesquicentennial in 2024.

The time capsule was put together by the Nappanee Rotary Club and dedicated in Rotary Park Aug. 14, 1974.

“The contents are largely unknown,” said Martha Owen, manager of the Evelyn Lehman Culp Heritage Collection at the Nappanee Center. “We believe there to be letters written to loved ones in the future, but the rest is a mystery.”

Once the fiberglass time capsule was removed from the ground in front of what is now the city’s pavilion, it was sawed open by city employees so access could be gained to its contents. A look inside revealed some water had collected inside the shell, but the contents appeared to be protected by a heavy plastic liner.

The items found within the time capsule have been taken to an offsite freezer to help destroy any destructive agents which might be on the items. Once the contents have been there for about six weeks, they will be transferred back to the Heritage Collection for further cleaning, documentation, scanning and digitizing, in order to preserve the history of the time capsule.

“Once the items have been cleaned and documented, they will be on display for public viewing in the Nappanee Center, in time for the Apple Festival in September,” said Owen. “The items will also have a permanent home in the Heritage Collection as it is the keeper of Nappanee history.”

Anyone who has inquiries regarding an item in the time capsule is encouraged to contact Owen at (574) 773-7929, or by email at [email protected].