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We often talk about the gift of time in reference to a long life. And, celebrating and commemorating 100 years is a milestone in every way, whether it be a person, historic moment or a local organization.
For our Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce – we are talking about our very own time capsule, a project undertaken by our board of directors nearly 45 years ago.
Buried on July 4, 1976 in honor of America’s Bicentennial, our chamber’s time capsule carried messages of hope and greetings to Gables’ leaders, business owners, students and residents of Coral Gables in 2076.
The chamber had turned 50 years old the year prior and named its first woman chair of the board of directors in our history. It was an incredible time in the life of our country, community and hometown.
And thus, the leaders of the chamber, led by chairwoman Margaret St. Germain and Bicentennial chairman James Withers, set about to gather items from 1976 to inform the future folk of our good work in present day Coral Gables.
Intended to be interred and undisturbed until July 4, 2076 at the Police & Fire Station on Salzedo Street, the time capsule sat in relative peace for nearly 45 years. Many, including yours truly, did not even know it was there laying in quiet repose.
Then, something happened that often happens in incredible cities like ours — progress.
That’s right, a new police and fire station was built a few blocks north of its original location on Salzedo, requiring that the chamber’s time capsule be relocated before the new owners began their renovations.
So, we set about to begin the first step of the process — removal and inspection of a time capsule that had been in the ground for nearly five decades. We engaged with members like Common Area Factor and Wellington to assess the time capsule from above ground, leaned on Connie Crowther who was the communications manager at the chamber in 1976 for a great history lesson, partnered with the City of Coral Gables Economic Development to ensure a smooth transition, and worked in tandem with the team at Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables, the site’s new owners.
All of us had one goal in mind — collaborating closely for the successful removal of the time capsule and preparation of its reinterment later this year. Everyone was simply amazing throughout the entire process, from preparatory site visits to hosting a small, socially distanced commemoration event on Wednesday, Apr. 14, ahead of the formal removal process on Friday, Apr. 16.
Then, the morning arrived. And, for the first time in 45 years, we opened a sealed vault into our past. While we were 55 years early today, we delicately and diligently worked through this moment so as to create as little disruption as possible while honoring the wishes of our 1976 leadership.
The commemorative plaque came off easily, but the slab below proved to be a challenge.
Built to last 100 years (or more), the thick concrete cap (with laced rebar in its core) held tight to its precious contents, as if saying “you are here a bit early, chamber.” But the gents of Wellington finally popped her open and there she sat 11 inches lower — our time capsule — laid to rest 45 years ago on a hot summer red, white and blue day.
With applause all around when we finally eyed the lead-lined box, there was a scary moment when we realized the time capsule was sitting in about an inch of water — as we are in fact living at sea level and contending with a modern-day phenomenon of sea level rise in 2021 (not something we ever talked about in 1976).
But, when the time capsule finally was raised from her comfortable bed, she was indeed intact. A sigh of relief.
Our goal now is to inspect the box with as little disruption as possible, determine the future place of rest (for the next 55 years — ALL of them) and the cleaning of the bronze plaque that once again will cover this time capsule in the near future.
For our chamber, we always have celebrated our past and honored our traditions.
Today was special as we thought about Margaret and James and the Bicentennial and the future of Coral Gables. All of these thoughts are very much appropriate on a day like today — no ordinary Friday in The City Beautiful.
Thank you again, Connie, for representing those who are no longer with us or could not
join us today as we did our part to preserve our history – 55 years into the future.
Today was a gift.
