Winnetka will open 1976 time capsule, more to mark America 250

The Village of Winnetka will join the festivities for America’s 250th anniversary this summer, with multiple events planned, including the opening of a 50-year-old time capsule.

The Winnetka Village Council on Tuesday, May 5, received a preview of just a few of the planned activities, alongside a unanimous vote for a resolution commemorating the Illinois America250 effort.

According to village documents, the Congress established the America250 Commission in 2016 to plan the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and encouraged all Americans to celebrate and plan commemorative events.

A local committee reportedly has been planning area celebrations for the past several months. In addition to the Village, other participating agencies include the Winnetka Park District, New Trier High School District 203, Winnetka School District 36, Winnetka-Northfield Public Library, Winnetka Historical Society, Winnetka-Northfield Chamber of Commerce, and New Trier Township.

Hannah Lipman, Winnetka’s deputy village manager, provided a brief overview of some of the planned events, starting May 16 with a 2.50K run.

“You’ll see that all the events throughout the summer are either 250 themed or they just encourage civic participation,” Lipman said.

Among the events is the opening of a time capsule that was placed inside the cornerstone at Village Hall in 1976 during the U.S. Bicentennial celebration. The current capsule replaced one that was placed there when Village Hall was first built in 1925 and opened in 1976.

While Lipman said details are still being planned, she said it will be opened on July 3.

“It’s very exciting, and the Winnetka Historical Society has been a huge help,” she said. “They have found the video of what the opening looked like prior, and we have had several residents reach out asking us when this is going to happen because either they were there, or family was there when it was opened originally the last time in 1976.”

Lipman added that another time capsule will replace the one from 1976, though details on that event are still being worked out.

The village has also created a website detailing all the events that are planned throughout the summer. Among the activities is an “event passport” that participants can download and use to track the events in which they participate. Lipman said participants will be eligible for prizes.

“I know that all the participating agencies are putting in swag and things like that, and the Village has some ideas of things that we’ll be able to provide,” she said.

Among the events for the passport include visiting the restored mural at Village Hall.

Village President Bob Dearborn said there will plenty to look forward to in Winnetka this summer.

“That’s going to be an exciting couple months we have ahead of us here,” he said.

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