Photos: Jac-Cen-Del Elementary opens time capsule that was buried in 1990

Time capsule buried within wall

(Osgood, Ind.) ー Jac-Cen-Del Elementary is reflecting on its founding through items in a time capsule.

Current and former faculty members were joined by fifth and sixth graders to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the school by opening a time capsule that was buried in 1990. 

The purpose of creating Jac-Cen-Del Elementary was to combine Napoleon and Osgood elementary schools. 

The first principal of the school was Michael Stephens who was on hand for Monday’s event. 

He described the combination of the schools as “bringing two cultures together, two different towns.” 

The time capsule contained a variety of memorabilia ranging from napkins to cassette tapes to yearbooks. These items represent the uniting of Napoleon and Osgood schools into one Jac-Cen-Del Elementary and serve to preserve student and community life during 1990.  The pictures and lists provide a glimpse of the school’s character at its opening.

When asked, Stephens concluded that he found the class lists and yearbooks to be the most interesting items within the time capsule. 

He reminisced, “I was the first principal here, and that first 16 years, that group of students I would have got to know very well.”

At the time of creation, those involved hoped that the time capsule would allow current students and faculty members to reflect on how things were. Stephens hopes current students can look back, especially at the letters, and relate to and find comfort in them.

“I hope that they will see that things haven’t changed a whole lot. In other words, probably some of their feelings that they had, if they even wrote that much, would be similar to feelings that these guys have now,” he said.

This event served as a reminder of all the work that went into starting the elementary school. 

“There were a lot of people who put a lot of time and effort into the building before it was here. And I can remember walking through the hallway when it was just gravel and some of the concrete blocks were being put up,” Stephens added. 

The creation of Jac-Cen-Del Elementary allotted the community many opportunities that they had not before had and continues to do the same. 

“I know they’ve done a lot of things since I was here. Replaced some furniture and new carpeting and things. But just looking back at, as far as you know, when it was a new building, we weren’t used to carpeting, and we weren’t used to some of the things here. And it was nice to have some new things and opportunities for the kids too,” he said. 

During the opening of the time capsule, spectators commented on those who put items in the capsule and were still around to see its opening.

“That’s one thing over the years I’ve really been happy to see is all the people that stayed in the community and wanted to make it a better community,” and that “It’s always good to come back,” he said. 

Current students and faculty are working to create a new time capsule to continue to commemorate Jac-Cen-Del Elementary in the future.

Here are some items that were inside the time capsule:

Here is a letter from a student. It was addressed to the Class of 2015 as the capsule was initially intended to be opened a decade ago:

"You probably don't know Paula Abdul but she is very popular right now."

This story was written by The 812's Valerie Weston who is a reporter this summer. Read more about Weston here.