Wasilla officials seek community help in filling centennial time capsule

WASILLA —The City of Wasilla has declared July as “Time Capsule Month,” and city officials are asking for the public’s help in filling the vessel as part of its ongoing centennial celebration.

Wasilla City Deputy Administrator Lyn Carden said the capsule will be buried during the Centennial Old Town Autumn fest on Oct. 21. That event will be held at the historic town site at the city museum. The capsule will not be opened again until 2067.

Carden explained all donated items will be displayed through Oct. 20. Items that don’t make it into the time capsule will be displayed at the museum throughout the rest of 2017 and will become part of the Wasilla Museum collection.

“The capsule itself can hold a bit of stuff,” Carden said. “But it’s not large enough for pieces of furniture.”

According to Wasilla Department of Public Works Director Archie Giddings, the capsule itself is approximately three feet tall with a circumference of about 18 inches. The cover is made of bronze and was designed by well-known Palmer metal artist Pat Garley. Giddings said that the cover will mark the capsule’s location and the surrounding grounds will be landscaped.

Carden said so far, the city has received several photo donations.

“But we want more,” she added. “Everyone thinks we only want photos from the 1900s, which is not true. We want photos from every year. The 60s or the 70s, the 80s or the 90s would be great. Heck, something from yesterday would good.”

Carden said other sought-after photos include family members of city residents outside in the yard, and Wasilla High School graduation pictures. Other suggestions include downtown skyline or storefront, neighborhood scenes, traffic on city streets, interior-exterior home pictures, your favorite restaurant or place of business.

She offered a general list of possible items—daily documents such as a grocery store receipts, utility bill statements or paycheck stubs; brochures—general merchandise-fashion catalog, such as Sears or J.C. Penney, or a new car brochure-ad; wedding items such as cards, a cake top, or wedding planning records; baby-related items such as a first photo, baby and mom hospital identification bracelets, or baby cards-letters; audio files such as the current “Top 10”, 45 to 90 minutes of recorded radio programs or something from Audio Messages to the Future.

Suggested general items throughout the year that could be placed in the capsule include concert, movie or sporting event ticket stubs, a product packaging sample, an extended family tree, favorite restaurant menu, a favorite magazine, job or school-related items such as a business card, year-in-review issues of newspaper or magazines.

Those interested in making a donation can contact the Wasilla Museum at 907-373-9071 or email museum@ci.wasilla.ak.us; or contact Carden at 907-373-9057.

Time capsule placement is the city’s October centennial event. Aug. 8 features “Stuff the Centennial School House” with United Way of Mat-Su, Nov. 4 marks the “Centennial Brassieres to Nowhere Masquerade and Auction,” and Dec. 2 brings the year to a close with the centennial-themed 30th annual “Wasilla Community Christmas Celebration.”

Contact reporter Chris Ford at 352-2270 or chris.ford@frontiersman.com