Bicentennial Committee Exhumes 1976 Time Capsule
The Bicentennial Committee, along with authorized personal, exhumed the Hardeman County time capsule from the Courthouse lawn on Thursday, September 21, 2023, and relocated it to private property where it was opened and inspected. The time capsule was buried on May 28, 1976, during a large ceremony, attended by hundreds of people, celebrating our Country’s Bicentennial. The opening date was listed as October 16, 2023, and was planned to correspond with Hardeman County’s 200th birthday celebration.
The Committee members, who were appointed by Mayor Pulse and approved by the County Commission in February, decided to exhume the time capsule earlier than originally planned.
Commissioner and Committee Chairman Brad Grantham explained in a Facebook post the reasoning, “I realize a lot of folks are disappointed about bringing up the time capsule early but there were many factors considered and none were taken lightly. This is only a brief synopsis. First, the vault company could not do it the day of October 16th. Next the bicentennial committee was informed of three prior vault failures involving time capsules. Then the committee had to consider the public safety. Exhuming a vault is a tedious, time consuming and dangerous process. After calling 811, we learned of high voltage lines installed long after the time capsule was buried. The large cables were running within inches of the vault. No one except authorized personnel would have been allowed anywhere near the site while excavation occurred. The unanimous decision by the committee was made to exhume privately and safely. I am sad to report the vault was full of water and silt. The committee will start the long process over the next few weeks to try to salvage any of the contents. The salvageable items will then be displayed for public viewing.”
Before the time capsule was buried on Friday, May 28, 1976, Reverend Russell N. Gallimore, Minister at First United Methodist Church, delivered these final remarks*,
“Forasmuch as the SPIRIT OF “76 has been experienced among us here, and inasmuch as we have celebrated America’s Bicentennial joyfully, yet seriously, and since we have here this night placed our treasured mementos in this time capsule for burial, we therefore commit these carefully chosen remains to their resting place.
As an expression of our complete confidence in the future of America and of Hardeman County, we have visibly exhibited our faith tonight that there will be citizens who will gather on this cherished spot to honor our expectations that this capsule will be exhumed and that our present era may be, as it were, resurrected from its dormant existence. We believe this will be done as we have requested, 47 years hence, during Hardeman County’s Bicentennial Celebration.
Realizing that man always stands on the brink of disaster whenever his technological advances out-distance his moral and ethical standards which religion seeks to provide, we therefore request that those who succeed us note that we have by deliberate design placed our religious items in the capsule last. Thus, these religious items will be the first to be examined upon the opening of this treasure chest in the year 2023 A.D. May our act by symbolic of the place of religion which we trust our descendants will wish to claim for themselves forever!
We wish for our citizens of tomorrow a world that knows nothing of war, crime, hunger, prejudice, or injustice, since these are areas that still blot our daily existence to our shame.
May those who follow us experience peace, freedom, justice, and world unity. May the dreams of this nation’s founding fathers that ALL men have the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” be realized by the time this capsule is unearthed 47 years hence.
Now we commend the ideals of America “76 to those who come after us that they may love, cherish, and defend them forever! May GOD truly BLESS AMERICA, LAND THAT WE LOVE!!
Let us pray. Our Father’s God, Author of Liberty, to you we pray. May this land long to be bright with freedom’s holy light and may your Spirit which has so graciously guided our fathers continue to guide us and our children to the end that tomorrow may be better than today, and that the reign of your heavenly kingdom within the hearts of all men may find place above and beyond all earthly kingdoms, through Jesus Christ, the Lord of all history. Amen.”
The salvageable contents from the time capsule will be displayed at the Hardeman County Courthouse from October 16 – 28, 2023.
Time Capsule Photo Gallery
Click arrow/swipe screen to see pictures on the slideshow.
Video of the time capsule being exhumed may be viewed on the Hatchie Press YouTube Channel by clicking here. You may also see a photo album of the day on the Hatchie Press Facebook page.
*Reverend Gallimore’s remarks were reported in the June 15, 1976, edition of the Bolivar Bulletin.
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