Seward, Neb. – The 1975 treasures, sealed within what the World Record Academy once called the “largest time capsule in the world”, was exhibited on Friday, attracting hundreds throughout the country to take a look at the relics of the past.
Thousands of letters, pet rocks, works of art, a Groovy bluish green suit and even a Yellow Chevy Vega had preserved inside the capsule, one portal to another era, for half a century.
“This is the culmination of 50 years of planning by my father,” said Trish Davisson Fisher.
“My father, Harold Davisson, wanted to wait for his grandchildren to remember life in 1975. He was a great defender of life. He did everything big,” he told NBC News.
At that time, the sealing of the elements was a logistics feat. Fisher said his father created a ventilation system in an attempt to keep moisture outside.
In 1983, after learning that they had lost the world record of the World Record Academy, the family added a pyramid on the capsule to recover the title.
“There were packages of, I will say, 3,000 people, letters and packages, letters for themselves, letters to the grandchildren, letters to their heirs,” said Davisson.
But inside, some articles were better than others.
“Many of the other packages that were wrapped in plastic have come out very, very well, but we have a layer of mold -type items outside the entire paper and cardboard. But, again, I would say that about 80% of people can recover their items, and 20% will be disappointed,” said Davisson.
Stephanie Fisher, who is not related to Trish, traveled Colorado with her parents to recover her artifact, a cassette tape that contains voice messages from her family members.
“My parents did not think they would be here 50 years later to recover it with us. So it is quite special to know that their voices [are] There I have not heard in a long time, ”said Fisher, full of emotion.
Chris Galen made the trip from Virginia.
“I made a mental note that in 50 years if I was still alive, because I would be in my 60 years then, I would like to return here and be part of the opening,” News told NBC.
Despite the thousands of letters that must be classified, Galen was able to find one of his mother.
“I hope you had a good education, a happy and successful life, rich in many ways,” he read of the letter.
“I hope she looks at us from somewhere that can inform her that many of the things she wanted for me and my brother came true,” Galen said.
Clark Kolterman, who was there in 1975, put his wedding invitation in the capsule.
“I can’t believe they found him,” he said, surrounded by his children.
“I have to thank Mr. Davisson for his vision. And you know, his idea was not perfect, but it worked, and as a result he has been very successful,” Kolternman said.
Trish said he believes that his father would be very proud of Friday’s celebration and that he learned a lot in the 50 years since the capsule was sealed.
“Life is too short. You will reach an age when you want more time and you know you don’t have it,” he said.
She said she plans to create a permanent exhibition for the capsule to help future generations to remember the year 1975.
Galen said the message is deeper than artifacts.
“It’s not about what is inside that. It’s about what is within us and who we were in 75, and who we are today,” he said.
