Elgin High School’s 1976 Time Capsule Revealed
The time capsule from Elgin High School’s class of 1976 was opened after 50 years. The capsule, sealed on June 7, 1976, did not contain any IBM stock certificates, mood rings, or copies of ‘Frampton Comes Alive!’. Instead, it held a Pet Rock, representing the quirky nature of the 1970s.
Gale Miller, a member of the bicentennial committee, joined Principal Avelira Rodríguez González to unseal the wooden box’s contents, last seen in 1976. Miller remarked on the absence of certain items like cigarette packs, acknowledging the school’s restrictions. Nonetheless, she appreciated the artifacts chosen for the capsule.
The items included a folder of photos featuring the high school, then-Principal Richard Felicetti, students, and the staff member who sang announcements. A standout piece was imagery from the school’s bicentennial celebration, showing students in costumes and using horse-drawn wagons to educate children about 1776.
Rodríguez González found the idea of musical announcements amusing, expressing an interest to replicate the tradition. Other contents of the capsule included The Mirror, the high school newspaper, various newspaper clippings, a JCPenney catalog, an EHS yearbook, and a copy of the dress code detailing the strict hair and clothing guidelines.
The capsule also contained a yellowed letter from Principal Richard Felicetti, dated June 7, 1976, instructing on how the box should be opened.
Initially held at a bank until its closure, the time capsule was later returned to Elgin High. Miller, who graduated in 1977, reached out to Rodríguez González to locate it. The principal found the box, much to Miller’s surprise.
Mari Gathman, an alumna and longtime EHS teacher, recalled no memory of the capsule but enjoyed seeing the photos from her student days. Gathman praised Elgin High as a rewarding place to work.
Miller relayed her fond memories from high school, expressing joy in revisiting past experiences. The class of 1976 plans to celebrate its 50th reunion in August, revisiting the era when the time capsule was first sealed.