GLADSTONE — In 1976 a time capsule was buried by staff and students of Cameron Elementary in Gladstone to commemorate the completion of the school’s construction and the country’s bicentennial. It was unearthed in 2001, 25 years later. Items were added, and the capsule was then again buried, to be opened in 2026.

Information and pictures of the time capsule were filed away and nearly forgotten. While training her replacement before retirement, Cameron Elementary’s secretary Cheryl Nelson was purging old files from the schools records and came across the file titles “Time capsule” in a drawer. Inside this folder was news articles, lists of items, a letter from the original burrial, and a notation of the intent that the capsule be opened again in May 2026.

The file was uncovered on May 28. If not for Mrs. Nelson’s keen eye, the original plan for the capsule’s 2026 retreval might have been entirely missed.

A small group of Cameron Elementary staff are going to be locating and opening the capsule on Monday, June 1. Former students and staff who were part of either — or both — of the previous burials are invited to the school to be present as the capsule is retrieved. Attendees will be the first to see the contents of the capsule in 25 years. Students will get a look at the items during a previously scheduled assembly the following day. The contents of the capsule will be displayed during the Cameron year end picnic for families to see.

Members of the general public will be invited to view the items of the capsule — and have the opportunity to tour the school — on Tuesday after students are dismissed for the day.

Information on the time capsule was submitted to the press by Paulette Pepin. In her message to the press, she stressed that these preceedings are going to be fairly informal, due to the quick turn around needed to unearth the capsule before school ends.

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Liam Houston can be reached at 906-786-2021 or lhouston@dailypress.net