Tricentennial time capsule dedication held in Mossyrock on Independence Day
Around two dozen Mossyrock area residents watched on Independence Day, Saturday, July 4, as Mossyrock Mayor Randall Sasser and Mossyrock Area Historical Society (MAHS) member Tom Meade held an official dedication ceremony for the city and historical society's America250 time capsule.
With MAHS donating $1,000 to fund the time capsule project, it was done as a joint celebration in conjunction with America250 - the nationwide celebration of the country's 250th birthday on July 4.
This time capsule is marked by a bronze plaque and is to be opened on America's tricentennial birthday in 2076.
The plaque reads as follows: "TIME CAPSULE, July 4, 2026, Dedicated on the 250th Birthday of our Nation, To be opened on the TriCentennial, City of Mossyrock and Mossyrock Area Historical Society."
It was sealed and buried beneath concrete back on June 22, along East State Street in front of the Mossyrock Community Center and Mossyrock City Hall. The burial was done before the holiday, as city staff were unable to find a contractor to pour concrete on July 4 and it would not have been set in time for the dedication after the city's Independence Day parade.
"For the ones that'll be here in 50 years to open it, they'll just cut it out and retrieve it. I wish I could be there, but unfortunately I won't be," Sasser said. "But my spirit will be, and I believe that the spirit of all of Mossyrock will be there with it."
Sasser also read off an official mayoral proclamation for the time capsule, marking the date as the official dedication date in the city's record.
While joking "that's going to be kind of a job to get this out, but we don't have to worry about it," Meade also shared a few words to mark the time capsule's dedication.
"The idea for the time capsule started late last fall, and I think Jim Hudson was one to bring this up at a historical (society) meeting," Meade said. "It was a great idea and we were really happy to have the city partner with us on this."
He added he hoped some of the children at Saturday's dedication would be there in 50 years to help unearth the time capsule.
Items inside the capsule included menus from local restaurants, a Cowlitz Indian Tribe challenge coin and sticker, a bag of pennies, a Mossyrock High School class of 2026 graduation ceremony program, a copy of the recently republished "Red Book" - originally published for the nation's bicentennial in 1976 and officially called "Memories from Family Albums of School District #206" - and more.
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