//BIGGIE Vessel Classmates reconnect over 30-year-old capsule
BY MADELYN CARLSON
madelyncarlson@csdecatur.net
H
ello! Greetings from 1980. Greetings from the previous teenage
generation,” then-seventh- grader Heather Johnson wrote. “Our [social studies] class has left a time capsule for you to find, unseal and analyze. We feel the artifacts enclosed in the capsule present our American culture and lifestyle and will leave a permanent record for a future generation’s discovery.”
31 years ago, Renfroe stu- dents now in their 40s created a time capsule for the graduating Renfroe class of 2010 to open 30 years later. It was a vessel of the 1980s, and it held letters to divorcing parents, predictions of the future and money. A large yellow envelope binds
BACK TOGETHER AGAIN SOON
Classmates from Renfroe’s 1980 eighth-grade class mug for the camera in their fifth period Enrichment class. Organizers hope to bring many of the now 40-somethings together during Thanksgiving break to open the time capsule and reminisce over what they find.
34 CARPE DIEM • OCTOBER 2011
a collection of papers and in- cludes a list of the artifacts buried. Inside, the instructions state that each artifact should include two copies about what’s included – “Place one in the ‘time capsule envelope,’ the other in the ‘finder’s envelope.’” The ‘finder’s envelope’ is the collection of maps, pictures, lists and letters that have been in transit from one member from the capsule project to another. Te ‘time capsule envelope’ is buried underground and has not seen the light of day since 1980. Te graduating Renfroe class of 2010 didn’t have the oppor- tunity to dig up the capsule, but participants will unveil it this coming winter. A treasure map for the cap- sule discovery leads from Ren- froe to the backyard of Tim and Bill Weber’s house, students who volunteered to house the capsule. From the renderings of the house and carport, a more
detailed map of their backyard contains small depictions of pine trees, bushes and hickory trees. It twists to form the path leading to the time capsule un- der a now run-down tree house. Te brothers thought ahead when strategizing the burial location.“Tere were three trees that we felt we would be able to remember,” Bill Weber said. “Tey were all huge and looked different from the rest. They stood in line next to the tree house that Tim and I built.” As time progresses, students of 1980 have discovered that memory fades greatly. “I don’t actually remember much of any- thing about the burial,” Weber said. “I know that it happened, but not at all about what went into it. But isn’t that the point? If we remembered what we put in it, then it wouldn’t be fun.” Over 30 years have passed,
and sophomore Sam Diffon and his mother, drama teacher Lynn Hosking, now live in the Webers’ old house. “Not many people can say that they have a time capsule in their backyard,” Diffon said. “I feel like that’s pretty special. I’m all for going back there with a weedwacker [to dig it up].” Te capsule lies in a mess of
OF THE PAST
From the “Finder’s Envelope”
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