“Time capsule dedicated” from the June 21, 1977 Door County Advocate
The Fred Peterson Foundation made and gave the time capsule and marker to Sturgeon Bay. Peterson told about the project after the marker was unveiled in ceremonies Sunday.
Time capsule dedicated
Sturgeon Bay’s centennial time capsule and its pylon marker were dedicated Sunday afternoon at Peterson pool. Fred J. Peterson, who contributed the design and manufacture, dedicated it to the city and it was accepted by Mayor Orville Austad. Members of the 1976 city centennial committee, chaired by Dr. W. O. Wright, were also on the platform.
Invocation and benediction were given by the Rev. David Harsh of United Methodist church. Harsh portrayed a circuit rider in the centennial parade.
Two other parade highlights, King and Queen George Schmelzer and Peggy Haertel, were also present.
Music was provided by the Sturgeon Bay high school band under direction of Charles Mahnke. The band had already played at the Fyr Bal Festival parade in Ephraim that afternoon and today heads for performance at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Committee members Alma Vreeland and Kay Falk unveiled the pylon but needed some help from Peterson when the plastic covering proved balky. Peterson put a pole underneath and lifted the cover off.
Ms. Vreeland summarized the contents of the capsule and Dr. Wright spoke briefly on the historical significance of the day.
The crowd was not large but those who were there seemed to sense the perspective of the occasion. Among them was John Enigl, who has written several historical articles for the Advocate. He put the proceedings on tape.
Also present was the Wright family, who were pioneers with covered wagon in the centennial and other parades in ’76.
Most of the people there were probably thinking “What will they think of us in 2076 when they see what we chose to put into the capsule?” Peterson expressed hope that curiosity regarding the capsule would be stimulated by the marker as 2076 drew near.—CFH.
Courtesy of the Door County Library Newspaper Archive
Articles by Chan Harris
https://doorcounty.substack.com/t/chan-harris