Time capsule from 1939 reveals its secrets

Members of the community were witnesses to history when a time capsule from 1939 was opened Oct. 26 in the City of Naperville Council Chambers. Over the summer, the time capsule was found behind the DuPage Centennial Marker in Central Park when it was removed from its granite monument for cleaning and restoration purposes by the Conservation of Sculpture & Objects Studio team from Forest Park, Ill.

Mayor George Pradel had the honor of opening the lead-sealed box, assisted by Naper Settlement Research Associate Bryan Ogg, Chief Curator Louise Howard and Director of Preservation Services Debbie Grinnell. DuPage County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom, Naperville Heritage Society President Chris Birck and Naperville Heritage Society Executive Director Peggy Frank watched as the contents were revealed for the first time in 70 years. Among the items in the box were a collection of newspapers from communities throughout DuPage County, letters commemorating the Centennial, a DuPage County Centennial program, coins and other memorabilia.

The capsule is believed to have been placed behind the bronze plaque at the marker's dedication in September 1939 honoring the county's 100th anniversary. Central Park was the chosen location for the monument in 1939 as the county's first courthouse and county business were conducted there - Naperville originally served as the county seat when DuPage County was formed in 1839 in part due to Joseph Naper's efforts. In 1869, after numerous votes, Wheaton became the official county seat and has served in that capacity through today.

Although officials in 1939 expected the time capsule to be opened in 2039, Naperville Heritage Society Executive Director Peggy Frank said the timing was right to open the box that had sustained water damage.

"If we hadn't opened this now, we would have lost everything," she said. "Both Bob (Schillerstrom) and the Mayor will add letters saying we opened it today and how we came across the time capsule."

One mystery of the box was a 1946 calendar that had been placed there from Beidelman's Funeral Home and Monument Company. Beidelma's created the granite monument upon which the DuPage Centennial plaque was installed.

The original items found in the time capsule (pictured below) will be preserved in Naper Settlement's archives. Copies will be made and placed within the time capsule, which will be reinstalled within the monument at Central Park, waiting for another generation to discover its hidden treasures.

The restoration of the DuPage Centennial Marker was funded through the City of Naperville's Special Events and Cultural Amenities grant program as part of a larger project to conserve four monuments in Central Park. The other three monuments are the Civil War cannon, the Soldiers and Sailors monument and the Naperville Centennial Marker.