What Will People Think of Brecksville’s Bicentennial in 50 Years?

By the year’s end, members of the Brecksville Bicentennial Committee plan to bury three time capsules, documenting the city at this point in time. The project is one of many taking place this year to commemorate the city's .

Brant Giere, the chairman of the Projects Committee, said each capsule will have a different focus. One capsule will focus specifically on the year of 2011 – this capsule is already put together and painted in red, white and blue. 

A second capsule will be up to the students of the city, Giere said. The committee plans to have it painted in Bees’ colors and marked with the Bees’ logo. The students will get to decide what types of items should be placed inside, Giere said, and added that the committee is excited to see what they come up with. After all, he said, these students will likely be around when the capsules are opened in 50 years. He remembers a similar time capsule being buried when he was a child.

The third capsule is for the general public’s input – “anybody, anything,” Giere said. The committee plans to take suggestions on both the color scheme for the capsule and for what should go inside. It has not been announced yet when any of the capsules will be officially dedicated or where they will be buried.

The bicentennial time capsule is currently on display at the . Jinny Farr, a member of the Bicentennial Committee, said that anyone who visits the center can add his or her ideas to a suggestion box near the capsule. 

Giere said the Projects Committee’s job has been to raise people’s awareness of the anniversary and find ways for them to get involved. Individuals from the community have already stepped forward to help, he said, noting that the pipe used to create the capsule was donated by one local business and painted by another. 

“It’s a whole new round of friendships,” Giere said.