Hundreds witnessed opening a century-old time capsule in Union Grove.
"I was amazed I've never been to one of these before," said Betty Bailey.
"This was absolutely the best fun in the world," said Judith Schulz.
A group chipped away at the cornerstone of the now Union Grove Municipal Building Saturday. In 1918, Racine and Kenosha County board members built a training school for teachers called Racine-Kenosha Joint County Training School for Teachers, known as the Normal School. It was later renamed Racine-Kenosha Teacher's College.
The tin box in the building cornerstone weighed less than three pounds and the contents were in good condition.
"Water can get into anything. It really can so the fact that you've got something that this is this brilliantly preserved after 100 years is outstanding," said Dawn Hourigan.
Many people in attendance had personal connections to the building. Marietta Spear went to school there.
"Sort of like coming home a little bit," said Spear.
Beulah Skewers graduated from the school in 1948.
"I just think it's marvelous," said Beulah Skewers.
Others had family ties to the capsule. Kris Herzog knew he had a family member on the building commission, but he learned something new from one of the artifacts in the box.
"I discovered that my great grandfather was elected sheriff," said Herzog.
There were four newspapers inside the time capsule. There were two from Racine, one from Kenosha and one from Union Grove. Historians also found a teaching handbook, business card and county directories inside.
The public can now make suggestions to the History Seekers about what should go in the next capsule.
