Every 50 years, a time capsule is sealed in the cornerstone of Village Hall. The capsule opened this year contained items gathered in 1976 and offered residents a glimpse into the community's past.
The old metal storage box was pulled from the wall and presented to Winnetka Village President before its contents were revealed to a crowd of onlookers.
Among the artifacts were a 1976 license plate, local publications and materials from community organizations.
Quite a few residents attending the ceremony had also been present when the time capsule was sealed nearly five decades ago, including Winnetka resident Phil Hoza.
"Winnetka is a special little town, and we've stayed much the same as we were 50 years ago," Hoza said.
The box also contained historical documents and memorabilia from the era, including a League of Women Voters program and an Equal Rights Amendment button.
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One of the most personal items was an essay written by a Winnetka Public Schools student who was 12 years old at the time. The essay had been submitted as part of a writing contest.
Former Winnetka resident Barbara Brott returned to the village to read the essay she wrote 50 years ago.
"I had so few sources that I just had to go with, like, you know, an encyclopedia and maybe a library book," Brott said.
The contest asked students to write about two constitutional amendments and whether they agreed or disagreed with them. Brott chose the Fifth and Second amendments. As a 12-year-old, she wrote that she was concerned about a future with too many guns.
Carrie Hoza, board president of the Winnetka Historical Society, said hearing the essay read aloud highlighted the value of preserving the community's history.
"I loved hearing Barbara read her essay, and just kind of how she was thinking at quite a young age, and just it's interesting just to see where we were, and it's important to preserve that history," Hoza said.
The Winnetka Historical Society oversees preservation of the village's history and the time capsule tradition. According to the society, the tradition began in 1925. A capsule was opened in 1975 and then resealed in 1976 after a year of collecting items.
For some attendees, the event was also a chance to connect with the community's future. Lifelong Winnetka resident Francisco Valencia, 28, said he hopes to return in 50 years when the next capsule is opened.
"I'm like a real patriot. I love this country, and I really wanted to check it out. I wanted to see what it was all about," Valencia said.
The Winnetka Historical Society plans to assemble a committee to determine what will be included in this year's time capsule. The new capsule is expected to be sealed inside Village Hall next year.