- Time Capsule “Grave” Today
Over the years, I’ve written about the unusual time capsule buried at the Mid-South Fairgrounds, close to the main entrance off East Parkway. I even mentioned it in a recent Flyer story called “Secrets of the City.”
Buried in 1956, the “capsule” was basically a large glass jar crammed with all sorts of things that fair officials thought Memphians of the future would enjoy when (or IF) they dug the thing up 100 years later — in 2056. I can’t remember the exact contents, though I’m sure it was all very interesting stufff.
But what really made this time capsule unusual was the fact that, according to newspaper accounts at the time, the jar was sealed with a “radioactive substance.”
Uh, oh.
Well, now my pal Angela Freeman Parks tells me that the time capsule has gone missing:
“Vance, THE TIME CAPSULE IS GONE!!! My husband just drove by the old fairgrounds … not only is the Pippin gone. But the time capsule buried on that site in 1956 and to be opened in 2056, containing a glimpse into the world from the opening of the fair in 1856 to 1956. All that remains is fresh concrete.”
Sure enough, as you can see from the photo I took of the area today, she’s right.
Hmmm, this just might be a problem. I don’t know who took it, or where it is right now. But I sure hope the culprits wore lead gloves and kept a geiger counter handy while they were doing it.
The picture below shows the nice monument that marked the spot until recently.
- The same spot last year
