Saturday, June 22, 2024
Loper Time Capsule Nears Half-way Mark, Part II
above copy from April 23, 2016 Saturday Shelby/Addison Times
Editor’s note: The following is the second and final part of a mini-series, originally published in 2016, on the 1976 Loper Elementary class that buried a 100-year time capsule near the school’s flag pole. Thanks to a reader tip, we re-discovered a 14-minute video on this event, posted on YouTube.
“Dear People of 2076:”
Such begins Mrs. Joan Gardner's letter, tucked away in the buried time capsule near the Loper Elementary flag pole:
“My older brother said, ‘You should have made it 50 (years),’ Gardner said.
Nevertheless, the 1976 project is set for a 2076 opening.
A $2 bill, a church bulletin from Loretta Meloy, and copies of various local history books comprise just a few of the items inside the capsule. Gardner also added a personal touch to her letter, noting that she and husband Jim were married August 4, 1945.
“He is the Guidance Director of the Junior High School here in Shelbyville,” she wrote. “He fought in World War II and was taken prisoner by the Germans. He looked very bad after six weeks of starvation. He was badly wounded and nearly lost his leg, but he finally came home safely, and in one piece.”
But for the students in 1976, the real excitement remained above ground on May 5, when Gardner's class hosted the interment ceremony. Even Pearson Elementary students trekked over to hear patriotic songs and Bruce Carpenter read his winning essay.
“That event was huge back then,” Michelle (Denison) Dillard recalled (in 2016).
Rachael (Passwater) Ackley, then in first grade, recalled wearing her Brownie uniform for the ceremony.
After Loper Boy Scouts Kevin Caplinger, Kenny McNeely, Carl Muncy, Brad Nedderman, and Ronnie Douglas gave the presentation of colors and other opening agenda items, Shelbyville Mayor Ezra Dagley commented on the optimism felt during America's bicentennial year.
“It is possible with the advances in medical science that some of you students, or at least one of you, might be present in the year 2076 when this capsule is opened,” Dagley said.
The crowd largely dispersed after the ceremony, but a few stayed behind for the burial.
“I even got to put in a shovelful of dirt,” Carpenter wrote.
A few years later, an expansion project was planned for the school. Quick to the draw, Gardner called school superintendent John Hayes with the following warning: “Don't you dare cover up my time capsule out there.” The expansion went another way, and the capsule remains.
With (then-60) years until the opening, Gardner hopes the capsule will do more than simply preserve physical items, but will also communicate advice relevant for the ages.
“Live life to the fullest, but work hard for everything you get, and you will appreciate it much more,” Gardner's buried note concludes. “Instill honesty, truthfulness, integrity, and a thirst for knowledge in your children. They'll live a much happier and fuller life.”
NOTEBOOK:
HOOSIER NEWS: Earlier this year MoviePass announced its first profitable fiscal year, and subscriptions now have a range and a cap on usage, from the $10 Basic to $30 Premium options offering between three and five movies per month. This has led to reasonable consumer behavior, rather than the fire sale of film that imploded a bunch of private equity money. It’s so reasonable that Comcast is investing in it. (Media Play News/Numlock)
The Addison Times publishes essential news and historical content to build our Shelby County community, and is free thanks to the generosity of supporters. Those who donate a minimum of $5 a month (or $45 one-time) receive the three remaining quarterly Addison Times magazines for 2024 as an appreciation gift.
Want the daily edition read to you? Struggling with your email provider filtering out your local news? The Addison Times Substack app will solve those challenges!
This Day in Shelby County History
News around Shelbyville and the surrounding area as reported on or about this date in history. Selections are curated from the Shelby County Public Library Genealogy Department.
2014: Triton Central High School graduate Makaela Hill was named Shelby County Fair Queen. Bobbi Lowes was first runner-up; Molly Madden, second runner-up; and Sydney Posz, Miss Congeniality.
2004: Following a decade-plus of negotations between Shelby County and the Indiana Department of Transportation, construction on State Road 252 from Flat Rock to State Road 9 was scheduled. The state was funding the entire $7 million cost. Commissioner Bob Wade had worked on the project in the early 1990s.
1994: The final phases of demolition on the 120-year-old Shelby County jail began. Debris from the old jail was hauled to a low-lying area along Michigan Road near the former Hubler Ford location, 2444 N. Michigan Road. The debris would serve as fill to build up the land on property belonging to Taylor Sumerford.
1984: Thies Knauf announced he would move back to West Germany, about 20 miles from the border of France. He promised, however, he would not move the factory from Shelbyville. The Knauf family owned and operated more than 20 plants worldwide. The local plant had recently hired some 50 more production plant workers, bringing the total to 650.
1974: Thieves looted the Keeton Photo Store, 214 S. Harrison St. The burglary was discovered when proprietor Robert Keeton checked the business in the evening and noticed a broken rear door.
The old “car barn” on Boggstown Road, which originally housed a power station for the interurban line, was demolished. The building, once owned by the Indianapolis and Cincinnati Traction Co., had been bought by Shelby Steel. The property would be used for warehouse expansion. The last interurban car in Shelbyville ran in 1932.
1964: Howell E. Covington, 32, father of four and a former employee of Culligan Soft Water Service, was named new city policeman assigned to patrolling the downtown area and collecting parking tickets.
1954: Earl W. Cunningham, manager of General Electric, which was to be located here, received a key to the city from Mayor Philip Banawitz.
Ground leveling work began for installation of a pistol range on the Fraternal Order of Police property on Knightstown Road. Moris VanWay had staked off the ground and laid out the course. A 12-feet high wall of earth was being constructed to stop bullets.
1944: Mayor James Pierce said the first post-war project would be a sewage disposal plant. Other projects under consideration but less of a priority were building a new bridge to connect Walkerville and removing the old bridge to the ford farther east to serve as a permanent landmark, revamping the storm sewer system and building a permanent street department building.
1934: Over 800 pounds of wool, its legal ownership not established, remained on the floor of the circuit court room. A plaintiff contended the wool had been stolen from his farm. The defendant said all 1,129 pounds of wool he had sold to Levenstein Bros. firm had been legally purchased.
The Carney Grocery store opened on Washington St., half a block east of Public Square, owned by Carney Hatcheries. The interior of the store was painted yellow and black.
1924: A local woman filed for divorce, noting her husband had pawned her wedding ring and left for Los Angeles.
A wading pool was opened at City Park. The new tennis courts under construction were nearly ready and croquet sets had been purchased for public use. New swings had also been installed.
1914: The Shelbyville Fire Department put out two fires in one day with only two buckets of water.
Otto Siefert, who was driving a car owned by Harry Sorden, struck a pedestrian on West Washington St. The man’s injuries were not serious.
OBITUARIES
None today