The Cook County courthouse, that majestic two-story neoclassical structure part-way up the hill in Grand Marais, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The Cook County Historical Society is planning a celebration that will include the placement of a time capsule on the courthouse grounds, to be opened 50 or 100 years from now.
Historical Society Director Carrie McHugh is collecting items “smaller than a bread box” to be included in the time capsule. I contacted her and offered copies of our special event inserts—the Wooden Boat Show, the Dragon Boat Festival, the Class of 2012 booklet and Fisherman’s Picnic supplements. These Cook County News- Herald special editions would give a good picture of our varied social activities 100 years from now. I wonder if we will still be doing the Fish Toss at Fisherman’s Picnic?
I know we need something a little more exciting than newspapers though. Especially after the disastrous time capsule opening in Otta, Norway last week.
The Norwegian town has been protecting a parcel wrapped and sealed 100 years ago, diligently following the instructions: “May be opened in 2012.”
Its contents were a mystery, but a local historian was quoted in the United Kingdom’s Daily Mail as stating, “It could be historical documents, or maybe the Blue Star Diamond from the Titanic which sank in 1912. Although the council is probably hoping it is a bunch of oil shares.”
Imagining these amazing gifts inside, someone had the bright idea to open the time capsule live on Norwegian television. Reminiscent of Geraldo Rivera’s embarrassing opening of Al Capone’s vault, the Norwegian historians did not find jewels or oil shares when they carefully unwrapped the package. They found nothing of value. According to the Daily Mail, the capsule contained only “a bunch of letters, some flags and council receipts.”
Now for a history geek like me, that is interesting. I would love to read letters written 100 years ago. It would be fun to try to figure out the significance of the council receipts. And I would want to preserve the flag that had been stored out of sight for so long.
But for people who want more of a thrill factor, we should come up with something exciting to be sealed and hidden on September 21.
What would you like to see? What represents Cook County the best? A Sven & Ole’s bumper sticker? A drink coaster from the GunFlint Tavern? A painted rock from the Joynes Ben Franklin contest? A maple bacon fudge wrapper from Gunflint Mercantile? Some fishing lures from the Beaver House? A smartphone from Radio Shack? A Cook County High School Vikings jersey? What would be the most interesting to the people who open it in the future?
The Cook County Historical Society is looking for ideas. This is your chance to make history. Contact Carrie at the historical society today at (218) 387- 2883 or e-mail history@boreal.org to give suggestions about what should be stashed in the time capsule and sealed away.
Just remember to make it interesting— it could end up on the television of the future.
As lousy as things are now, tomorrow
they will be somebody’s good old days.
Gerald Barzan
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