Time capsule opened early to find soggy Moniteau County history

The time capsule buried by the 100th Moniteau County Fair board in 1966 was uncovered and found to be water-logged. One of the first items pulled from the time capsule was a pistol in its holster.
The time capsule buried by the 100th Moniteau County Fair board in 1966 was uncovered and found to be water-logged. One of the first items pulled from the time capsule was a pistol in its holster.

Buried 50 years ago near the entrance of the Moniteau County Fairgrounds, a time capsule was left for the 2066 celebrants.

Luckily, the 150th fair committee decided to dig up the box, which had become water-logged.

"It said 'not to be opened until 2066' but now we're really glad we did," committee member Lisa Milligan said. "In another 50 years, there could have been a lot more erased history."

The current fair committee will return the 1966 capsule to the earth, along with one from the 150th, Milligan said.

The community is invited to suggest items that might be appropriate for the present-day time capsule. Already, the fair committee has a collection of memorabilia and photos, she said.

However, the 50-year-old time capsule's contents required some TLC.

The ornate, metal box had been encased in concrete, but not a weather-proof container.

Committee members removed the chunk of concrete with a front loader and pealed away the concrete with a jackhammer.

"It was very exciting whenever we first hit it, and everybody crowded around," Milligan said. "Then we pulled the top off and realized it was full of water.

"We could see the plastic bag; I guess they thought that would help."

The paper products had swelled due to the water, and for a moment, committee members wondered if they would be able to pull anything out.

The first item out was a pistol in its holster. Other items included flags, medals, buttons, plates and bolo ties.

"Once you got started, you kind of felt like you were treasure hunting," Milligan said.

The paper items were newspapers, programs and personal letters. They also found a banner signed by those attending a picnic, many of the family names still familiar today, she said.

"It was neat to see names I recognized," Milligan said. "Their legacy lived on through this time capsule."

Milligan and other volunteers rushed the soaked papers into the Centennial Hall, where they set window screens over chairs and carefully pealed page from page to lay out to dry.

"It smelled awful because of the water and rust," she admitted.

Although the paper was salvaged, most of the ink on the personal letters was lost.

"It's a mystery; what would we have learned?" Milligan said.

Fifty years ago, the main event at the fair was the horse show. These days, it's motor-sports.

"How much will things change in another 50 years?" Milligan wondered.

The present-day fair committee is considering storing the returned time capsule, Milligan said. They are in the process of researching the best preservation techniques.

"We want to get creative so this is more well-preserved," she said.

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