Bicentennial time capsule discovered by accident in Champaign

CHAMPAIGN — Jason James was looking for some electrical wiring.

He knew it had to be there, in a concrete base next to a flagpole at the building at 303 W. Kirby Ave., C. He was going to install a light fixture so the new headquarters of the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce could have a flag illuminated at night.

There, on that concrete base, were four bolts in a rectangular pattern. To James, that meant he might find an electrical box beneath the concrete.

James, project coordinator for maintenance and development for Ramshaw Real Estate (which manages the property), chipped a hole in the concrete and found a copper enclosure Thursday morning.

He peeled back the copper lid and did not find a wiring box.

"A time capsule from 1976," the nation's 200th birthday. "It was supposed to be opened in 2076," James said.

The building was home to City Bank of Champaign in 1976, as the nation celebrated its 200th birthday.

Ten years later, City Bank was purchased by First Busey Corp.

It may be that the four bolts James found once held a plaque, and that it was removed when the bank changed hands. No one was sure; there's no registry of time capsules.

"Time capsules were sort of a movement that was popular, especially tied in with significant events" like the bicentennial, said Eric Fair, archive librarian for the Champaign County Historical Archives at the Urbana Free Library.

The tailgate of James' truck became an inspection table Thursday for the materials, which were in, shall we say, uneven condition.

Water had gotten into the space, James said, though the copper lid had been tarred shut.

Still, two out of three Tupperware containers held up. All three looked as though they had been caulked.

James took the materials to the archives, where, Fair said, "a number of the items were in good condition."

It looks as though they'll wind up at the Champaign County Historical Museum. Among the documents that are well-preserved is a deed from the bank, granting everything in the capsule to the museum.

A flag that had flown at the bank was presented by American Legion Post 24, whose color guard members signed a slip of paper citing its origin. The flag was soaked. The paper was just fine.

Water probably ruined the videotape of the WCIA recording of ceremonies of July 4, 1976.

There was a key to the city of Urbana, a little rusty but sharp in its details. A copy of then-Mayor Hiram Paley's Urbana city budget had been soaked for a long time and looked like it. A bicentennial license plate — JMC 40 — was given by Julie M. Casper, one of the documents notes.

City of Urbana Votes 7-0 to Approve WRFU Tower Permit | Urbana ...

 

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Tonight, WRFU has passed the biggest legislative hurdle to date. In a unanimous 7-0 vote, the City of Urbana voted in favor of granting the IMC a Special Use building permit to construct WRFU's new 100' tower. This is a tremenous moment for the IMC and WRFU, five years in the making. Special thanks must be given to the volunteers who have worked so hard on creating a fantastic proposal -and- for their unwavering support to stay motivated for months and years. To the overwhelming show of supporters who attended the Urbana City Council meeting, the Historic Preservation and Planning Commission meetings:

THANK YOU!!!

So what's next? We need to send our amendments to the IL Historic Preservation. As the IMC is a historically registered building, we need to run any exterior structural changes by them before we can break ground. There might be a survey or two. And then, the building can begin! That tower will be up in no time.

How you can help

Attend a WRFU meeting. We meet on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 8pm at the IMC. Meetings are open to the public, and you don't have to be a member to help (although we'd love to have you if you'd like to join). Join the conversation. We are looking to bring in more volunteers to weigh in on the final planning stages of tower approval and construction. Whatever your skills and knowledge of radio may be, we are open to teaching and the only requirement you need is to suit up and show up! Finally... DONATE! Click that beautiful green at the top right of this page and support local media. WRFU is funded almost entirely by WRFU membership fees and donations. Towers cost money and so does the process of building one. Volunteers have already spent hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in donated time and energy (and probably a little sanity, too) to bring the tower this far. A question of whether there's enough money in the bank should not be the biggest concern on our minds. Consider a donation in the amount you think is appropriate. It will be money well spent and you can know with confidence that your money will be invested directly into YOUR community.

If you have an interest in getting involved, but don't know how to start, you can also always email RFU at rfu[at]lists[dot]chambana[dot]net and we'll send you in the right direction. Again, thank you everyone who has supported the tower, both past and present. We are this much closer to actualizing the original dream of what WRFU is to be for Chambana (and all the surrounding communities, too!).

just about everyday in RF/Urbana. Ran the 1500 against some of the cross guy in the city last weekend.

we in the city of urbana

Already did. They said call City of Urbana. City of Urbana said they cannot test my tap water.

Revised Ordinances of the City of Urbana Illinois

Sixteen years at the University of Illinois, a statistical study of the administration of President Edmund J. James

S of NW corner of Lot 2 in WM Goodwin's Second Addition to the City of Urbana, thence E 2 chains, thence S 95.76 ft., thence W 2 chains, and from thence N ...

Ordinances of city of Urbana, Illinois, of 1916, containing all the general ordinances of the city, in force October 2, 1916, together with an appendix ... Adopted by the City Council ... and approved by the mayor, October 2, 1916

Report of the Board of Trustees

The city is, as your Committee- believes, making good progress toward the end desired. It has received encouragement from the city of Urbana that permission ...

Revised Ordinances of City of Urbana Illinois; Published by Authority of the City Council of the City of Urbana, Illinois, December