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(Columbus) According to an excerpt taken from the minutes of Commissioner’s Court, Colorado County, Texas, regular meeting on February 12, 1973, a group of sixth-grade students at Columbus Elementary School students, along with their teacher Mrs. Peggy Justice, appeared before the Commissioner’s Court of Colorado County and made the following presentation to the court: Bobby Estrada – “The reading classes at Columbus Elementary School are asking your permission to bury a “Time Capsule” here on the Courthouse lawn. We would like for it to belong to the elementary school children of the year 2023 and that it be unearthed when Columbus celebrates 200 years.”
Karl Valenta – “The contents are to be 2 scrapbooks, 2 picture albums, newspapers, and things about our 150th celebration. Pictures of the elementary children and our activities are to be in the scrapbooks and albums.”
Willnora Toliver – “We have already begun taking pictures and gathering interesting things. Here is a copy of one of the letters we sent Mrs. Johnson when the President died. (Willnora exhibited a copy of her own letter.) And here is Mrs. Johnson’s answer.” (Willnora also exhibited a signed letter of thanks from Lady Bird Johnson.
Michael Williams – “We are using 2 cameras like this to take our pictures.” (Michael exhibited a Kodak Instamatic Camera.)
Rickey Conner – “The container will be steel and will be dipped in plastic to protect it for 50 years. We would like to bury it on the east side in the middle of the island circled by the drive.”
Roy Wilson – “We need your help in these ways: 1. Permission 2. Surveyor’s exact location 3. Permission to have a burial ceremony 4. Digging of the hole 5. Permission to place a marker and legal record here in the Courthouse.”
It was moved by Commissioner Walter J. Henicke of Precinct No. 1, and seconded by Commissioner Crockett Leyendecker of Precinct No. 3, that permission be granted to the sixth- grade students at Columbus Elementary School to bury a “Time Capsule” on the Courthouse Square with the understanding that the court will determine the location of the burial of said “Time Capsule”. The motion carried and it was so ordered.
Other members of the Commissioners Court that were in attendance that day were Lester J. Cranek, County Judge, Alfred J. Kainer, Commissioner of Precinct No. 2, L. W. Stiles, Jr., Commissioner of Precinct 4, and Lester Schneider, County Clerk.
Fifty years later, on January 13, 2023, at 2 in the afternoon, the 1973 Time Capsule will be opened on the Courthouse Square. The Columbus Bicentennial Committee would like to extend a special invitation to the members of the sixth-grade class of 1973 to attend the ceremony and help the committee reveal the items that were buried 50 years ago.
The current fifth-grade classes of Columbus Elementary School and St. Anthony Catholic School will be in attendance to see what is revealed in the Time Capsule. These students will be working on items to be placed in a “Time Capsule” that will be buried in May of 2023 for the Columbus Elementary and St. Anthony School students to open in the year 2073 during Columbus’ 250th Birthday.
The Bicentennial Committee invites the community to join them on the Square in celebration of Columbus’ 200th Birthday as the “Time Capsule” is revealed. A reception will follow immediately at the Stafford Opera House at which time the items in the capsule will be on display.
