Tampa staff discover 1962 time capsule welded shut for over six decades: What they found inside included a telegram from former US President Herbert Hoover

In an extraordinary discovery, Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa staff discovered a 1962 time capsule while preparing for their 100th-anniversary exhibit at the Tampa Bay History Center. Tampa staff stumbled upon a copper box welded shut in one of their storage units and used a crowbar to open it. The copper box was welded shut, forcing staff to use a hammer and crowbar to open it.

ALSO READ: Why is Javier Bardem backing a petition to remove Pink as UNICEF ambassador?

What they found was a perfectly preserved time capsule from the opening of the Interbay Boys Club in 1962, according to Fox 13 News. The artifacts included a telegram from former US President Herbert Hoover. Inside the box, there was a collection of items commemorating the grand opening of the Interbay Boys Club on S. Coolidge Ave. in Tampa, a location that is no longer operated by the organization.

What were the items inside the box?

Inside the box were meticulously packed items such as paper programs from the club’s grand opening, black-and-white photos from a ceremonial dinner, a cigar, and a congratulatory telegram from former US President Herbert Hoover, who was serving as board chairman of the Boys’ Clubs of America. "Even reading these speeches, there were mentions of communism, the Cold War — you know, it’s from the 60s and that’s what their whole lives were about," said Ava Cahoon, the senior director of communications for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa Bay. "Being able to read it, it literally felt like a step back in time."

ALSO READ: Vitruvias Therapeutics thyroid tablet recall

Other documents offered staff a glimpse at what was on people’s minds in the early 1960s. The discovery came as the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa Bay prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary. The newly uncovered artifacts will now become part of that history. The time capsule is set to be featured in the organization’s centennial exhibit at the Tampa Bay History Center, which runs from Oct. 1 through Nov. 30. The organization also plans to mark the milestone by sealing a new time capsule capturing the current era.

FAQs

1. What did Tampa staff discover?

They discovered a 1962 time capsule while preparing materials for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa Bay’s 100th-anniversary exhibit.

2. Where was the time capsule found?

The copper box was found inside one of the organization’s storage units in Tampa.

3. How was the time capsule opened?

Because the copper box had been welded shut, staff used a hammer and crowbar to open it.

4. What was inside the 1962 time capsule?

It contained paper programs from the club’s grand opening, black-and-white photographs, a cigar and a congratulatory telegram from former US President Herbert Hoover, among other documents.

5. Who sent the telegram in the time capsule?

The telegram was from Herbert Hoover, who was serving as board chairman of the Boys’ Clubs of America at the time.

6. What was the time capsule commemorating?

It commemorated the 1962 opening of the Interbay Boys Club on S. Coolidge Ave. in Tampa.

7. What did the documents reveal about the 1960s?

The documents included references to communism and the Cold War, offering staff a glimpse into the concerns and interests of people during that period.

8. Where will the historic artifacts be displayed?

The artifacts will be featured in the organization’s centennial exhibit at the Tampa Bay History Center.

9. When will the exhibit run?

The exhibit is scheduled to run from October 1 through November 30.

10. Will a new time capsule be created?

Yes. The organization also plans to seal a new time capsule documenting the current era as part of its centennial celebrations.