Jacksonville's future residents can look forward to a glimpse into the past after the unveiling of a time capsule buried in 1960.
Old copies of newspapers – from the Daily Mail to The Florida Times-Union – and financial documents – from city budgets to utility bonds – were among the artifacts Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and City Council President Aaron Bowman found.
Public works crews recently found the capsule in a cornerstone of the former Bay Street City Hall Annex building during some pre-demolition work. The building is set to be demolished early next year.
Former Jacksonville Mayor Haydon Burns, who died in 1987, buried the items with a letter for future mayors in 1960. Among the legacies that Burns wrote he wanted future city leaders to build upon is the political significance of Jacksonville. In the same year Burns wrote the letter, the city hosted both the Democratic and Republican presidential nominees.
Director of the Jacksonville Public Library Tim Rogers said his staff will bring the capsule’s collection back to the downtown library’s special collections department before a public display.
“For us, these objects will really help researchers moving forward to see Jacksonville as it was in 1960. I think it’s a much bigger collection than I thought it was,” said Rogers in reference to a Florida Times-Union article from the 1960s detailing what could be inside the capsule.
Rogers said he feels envious of the city officials who got to open the capsule first and find out it was a bigger collection than first thought. He said these are rare finds with the names of record keepers and organizers still left on the documents.
Some old downtown maps, historic photos, a recording of the city hall dedication ceremony and even a pack of Pall Malls cigarettes made the collection.
The library’s Special Collection Manager Lauren Minor said her department will transcribe, catalogue or digitalize some of the items for public viewing, which is projected to open next year.
Burns served as Jacksonville’s mayor from 1949 to 1965. He went on to become Florida’s 35th governor, serving from 1965 to 1967, according to our Jacksonville Daily Record partner.
