On this day, October 4, 2014, while geocaching in the area, we learned that the Centralia (founded 1866) centennial time capsule (buried 1966) was formally opened 48 years later. There were apparent disagreements about its final resting place.... We learned of this by a fortunate encounter with a former resident and his two sons along the graffiti-painted closed-highway mere minutes after the ceremony.
A time capsule containing materials placed by Centralians in 1966 was opened at the American Legion, Post 608, Wilburton
Source < http://newsitem.com/news/centralia-to-open-time-capsule-saturday-1.1762327>
The capsule was buried on American Legion property near St. Ignatius Cemetery before the town was forever changed by a growing underground mine fire. It was to be opened during the July 4 weekend in 2016.
Items were "floating in water" when Legion members opened the capsule for inspection in June after it had been tampered with between May 24 and 31. Ed Lawler, commander of the Legion, said the person responsible for the tampering was unable to break the locks of the large metal vault. He said he knows who did it, but has declined to press charges.
He said the water damage occurred because the vault was buried for 48 years and the materials inside were not properly protected. Upon entering the vault, the contents were not enclosed in the capsule and the items were saturated.
"Due to circumstances beyond our control, namely, the tampering with and the excavation of the Legion's time capsule, we were forced to remove it in order to secure and protect its contents," Lawler said last week. "Although it was untimely and premature of the much anticipated 2016 date, it was ultimately necessary.
This cache is located across the main road from the American Legion. It is a lock and lock 15-20 feet off the path which is itself only about 30 feet from the main road. There is a pole nearby the cache.