A message to the future: Georgetown County prepares to open 1976 time capsule, seal a new one

Fifty years ago, a group of Georgetown County residents made a promise to the future. On July 4, 1976, as the nation celebrated its bicentennial, they finalized plans to seal a time capsule inside the wall of the historic Georgetown County Courthouse — filling it with photographs, coins, newspaper clippings, organizational insignia, and a letter wishing peace and prosperity to “those of the Year 2026.”

That year is here. And on July 4th, Georgetown County will keep that promise.

As part of the county’s United USA 250th anniversary celebration, officials will open the 1976 time capsule at 9:30 a.m. in County Council Chambers at the historic courthouse. Members of the public are welcome to attend and observe. 

The county recognizes that July 4th is a busy day for many families, with parades and other celebrations filling the calendar. For those who can’t make it in person, the opening will be recorded for later broadcast. And for those who want a closer look, Georgetown County has scheduled a public presentation on Monday, July 20, from 3-6:30 p.m. in the Georgetown Library Auditorium. The event will give residents a chance to see and learn about the capsule’s contents firsthand — with the added benefit of time to properly prepare them. County staff plan to digitize any film or slides from the capsule and work to convert an old 16mm reel before the July 20 presentation so they can be viewed by modern means. Items from the capsule will then remain on display at the library for a period of time so residents can view them at their own pace.

A Glimpse Inside

The capsule’s contents, documented in a 1976 Georgetown Times article, paint a vivid picture of the county at its bicentennial moment. Among the items: 256 aerial slides of Georgetown County, a new $2 bill and silver dollar, a bronze South Carolina Bicentennial medallion, recordings of local news broadcasts from WGTN and WINH, copies of the Georgetown Times, and drawings by second graders in Mrs. Ashley’s class at Maryville Elementary — along with a class photo. Those students would be about 58 years old today.

  Also included were products representing three of the county’s major industries at the time: International Paper Co., Georgetown Steel and Oneita. All three are now gone. IP, which anchored Georgetown’s economy for decades, shuttered most of its remaining local operations last year and recently announced it will cease the rest. The property was recently sold to the same buyer who purchased the site of Georgetown Steel, which is currently being demolished. The presence of those industries in the capsule is a reminder of how much — and how quickly — an economy can change.

The capsule also contains a 16mm movie with a sound track of July 4, 1976 festivities in Andrews. The original newspaper article noted it would be “interesting to the advanced people of 50 years hence … provided there is an old-fashioned projector which will allow it to be shown.” County officials are still looking for one, but they have found a local business that can convert the news recordings to a modern format before the July 20 presentation. The 16mm reel will have to be mailed off for digitization.

A letter from the county’s 1976 legislative delegation — Sen. Bill Doar, Rep. Basil Barrineau and Rep. John Heinemann — is also included. According to the article, Doar’s signature carries a wish for “the peace and prosperity which prevailed in Georgetown County on July 4, 1976 to those of the Year 2026.”

Some members of the original time capsule committee are still living. Steve Candal, co-chair of the original effort, has been invited to attend the opening ceremony, and Paige Sawyer is serving on the committee for a new 50-year time capsule, which will be installed later this summer.

Sealing the Next 50 Years

The new time capsule will be installed in the same courthouse wall where the last one has resided for 50 years. This one is to be opened on July 4, 2076.

The new capsule will carry forward the same spirit: documenting life in Georgetown County as it is today, for the benefit of residents – many of whom have yet to be born.

Residents are invited to suggest items for inclusion. The county is looking for small items and objects of local significance, similar in spirit to what was included in 1976. To submit a suggestion, email [email protected].

Student Voices: The Essay Contest 

Georgetown County is also inviting local high school students to leave their mark on history. As part of the time capsule project, the county is holding an essay contest open to all current Georgetown County high school students. The contest carries a $500 first prize, plus cash prizes for runners up.

The prompt: “What do you hope has changed — or stayed the same — by 2076?”

Essays should be 500 to 800 words. The deadline is May 15. A community judging panel will select the top five essays for inclusion in the time capsule. The winning essayist will be invited to read their work at the July 20 ceremony.

For more information on the essay contest or the time capsule project, email [email protected].