Time capsule project invites public to help capture this moment in history

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift — and this gift can be shared by the citizens of Asheville and Buncombe County  in the 2115 Asheville Buncombe Time Capsule Project!

The public has less than 30 days to contribute items to the time capsule, which is to be opened in 100 years in 2115.

What objects should go in the capsule? If you have any ideas or want to comment on suggestions, you can go to the the City of Asheville website at ashevillenc.gov under City Projects to give your input.

What else can you give to the project? How about your John Hancock? Citizens can stop by any branch of the Asheville Buncombe Library, or any City of Asheville recreation center to sign the Citizen Roll Call, the citizen signature page which will be placed inside the time capsule.

Want to do both? Well you can stop by the Time Capsule Booth to sign the Citizen Roll Call and make time capsule recommendations during Movies in the Park, 6:30 p.m., Pack Square Park on July 10.

The Asheville Buncombe Time Capsule Selection Panel will make the final selection of the time capsule contents – public contribution will constitute 50 percent of the selection process – and will consider content on the suitability, size, and compatibility of materials to survive for 100 years.

The time capsule will be installed under the cornerstone of the Vance Monument in Pack Square Park at 6:30 p.m. September 18, as part of the final Movies in the Park of the season.

Press Release from  Debbie Ivester, assistant director of the Parks & Recreation Department:

30 DAYS TO INPUT ASHEVILLE BUNCOMBE TIME CAPSULE

Asheville, NC – Don’t miss out on a once in a life time opportunity. Come participate in the 2115 Asheville Buncombe Time Capsule Project. The people of Asheville and Buncombe County have less than 30 days to get involved in the time capsule to be opened in 100 years in 2115.

Opportunities for public input into the time capsule project will continue to be offered between now and July 30, 2015.
Citizen Roll Call:  Stop by any branch of the Asheville Buncombe Library, or any City of Asheville recreation center to sign the citizen signature page and become a part of Asheville history. All signatures will be placed inside the time capsule.
Time Capsule Content:  Make comments on what should go in the time capsule. Go to the City of Asheville website at ashevillenc.gov under City Projects to make time capsule content recommendations.
Movies in the Park:  Stop by the Time Capsule Booth to sign the Citizen Roll Call and make time capsule recommendations during Movies in the Park, 6:30 p.m., Pack Square Park on July 10.

The Asheville Buncombe Time Capsule Selection Panel will make the final selection of the time capsule contents. Public input on the time capsule content will constitute 50% of the selection process. The Selection Panel will consider content on the suitability, size, and compatibility of materials to survive for 100 years.

Time Capsule Selection Panel Members
John Boyle, Asheville Citizen Times
Kit Cramer, Asheville Chamber of Commerce
Dr. Kevan Frazier, Asheville Masonic Temple, Mt. Hermon Lodge
Charlie Glazener, Asheville City Schools
Kathy Hughes, Buncombe County
James Lee, UNCA Center for Diversity
Beth Maczka, YWCA
Polly McDaniels, City of Asheville
Williams Eakins, Historic Resources Commission
Sasha Mitchell, African American Heritage Commission
Donald Porter, Buncombe County Schools
Melissa Pennscott, YMCA
Constance Richards, Pubic Art & Cultural Commission
Jack Thomson, Preservation Society of Asheville & Buncombe County
Ann Wright, Asheville Buncombe Library
Heather South, Advisor, State Archives of North Carolina, Western Region Archives

The time capsule container will be fabricated locally in Asheville. The stainless steel box, the size of a large shoe box, is designed to be air and water tight so its contents will hold up for the next 100 years, and be intact when opened in 2115. The time capsule design and guidelines on how to best preserve contents follow recommendations from such sources as the Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute.

The 2115 Asheville Buncombe Time Capsule will be installed under the cornerstone of the Vance Monument in Pack Square Park at 6:30 p.m. September 18 as part of the final Movies in the Park of the season.

Asheville’s 1897 time capsule was unearthed from this same location as part of the recent restoration of the Vance Monument. The time capsule was placed in the Vance Monument by the Asheville Masonic Temple and local Asheville leaders of the day. The contents including such items as newspapers, a bible and coins are archived with the Western Regional Archives of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. The coins will carry forward to the 2115 time capsule.

Stay up to date on the 2115 Asheville Buncombe Time Capsule Project at the City of Asheville website at asheville.gov under City Projects. For information, contact Debbie Ivester at 828-259-5804, divester@ashevillenc.gov.

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About Jane Morrell
My name is Jane Morrell and I am a student from Troy University in Alabama. I am working as an intern for the Mountain Xpress over the summer. Follow me on Twitter @JaneMorrell2 Follow me @JaneMorrell2

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