GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – A ceremony at the Brown County Courthouse on Tuesday attempted to preserve a little piece of Brown County and save it for future generations.
The burying of a time capsule comes as part of the 200th-anniversary celebration for Brown County.
“I felt it was important not just to collect some highlights from our past and present and utilize them in a ceremonial way,” says Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach. “But also to write to the future residents of Brown County about what life was like here and now, while also communicating our wishes for what the next 100 years look like.”
The capsule was filled with momentous from all over the county and even the capsule itself was local.
“That stainless steel tank is actually from our highway shop,” explains Brown County Public Works Director Paul Fontecchio. “That’s an old air cylinder from one of our dump trucks.”
The capsule will be unearthed in 100 years and some of the items inside include an autographed football from the Packers, 2018 collectible coins, and drone photos of the county, which were captured by Fox 11 News.
Other items making the list include letters from officials and area students, memorable news stories from area papers, movie posters, a board game, and more.
“There’s a lot more stuff in there than you would think,” says Fontecchio. “It’s packed tight, it’s heavy.”
One of the included letters was from 11-year-old Violet Blake of De Pere. She had an opportunity to read her message to future generations aloud on the front steps of the Brown County Courthouse.
“Everybody plays Fortnight on their XBox,” says Blake. “And when I say everybody, I’m not exaggerating believe me.”
Blake attempted to describe what life is like in 2018 for people 100 years in the future.
“Toy-wise we have stuffed animals [and] hoverboards,” she says. “They don’t even hover, they have wheels.”
Lastly, she had one request for the future people of Brown County.
“P.S. I’m 110 [years old] so I’m probably dead, visit my gravestone,” says Blake.
The Brown County 200th-anniversary celebration wraps up on Thursday night with the Old Glory Honor Flight at Austin Straubel Airport.
