Time capsule adds history to Mt. Eaton Days

Mt. Eaton is the oldest village in Wayne County. It makes sense there might be a bit of history there.

Mt. Eaton Days, now in its 34th year, has a little bit of history indeed. The short festival, which will last two or three days, depending on when you start counting, will add a bit more this year.

Accompanying the annual festivities, which will include a volleyball tournament, benefit auction, all sorts of food and a prize drawing, the 2026 version of Mt. Eaton Days will coincide with the opening of a time capsule. That is scheduled for 1 p.m. June 5 at the Mt. Eaton-Paint Township Historical Society Museum, 15966 E. Main St., Mt. Eaton.

The time capsule, which is in a protective case made for an urn, was placed 25 years ago in the vault of the First National Bank of Mt. Eaton, now Farmers National Bank, where it has remained. It was not buried and has been indoors, so all contents should be safe.

Bob Masters, president of the Mt. Eaton-Paint Township Historical Society, said the time capsule may have been a creation of “Doc” Elton Lehman or Waid Spidell, two of the 18 founders of the historical society. Lehman has since died, and Spidell, Masters said, lives in the Columbus area.

So people who might have knowledge of what’s in the time capsule are not around to ask.

“The problem is most of our membership has moved on. They’ve died,” Masters said. “We don’t have much active membership anymore. I’m 70, and I’m almost the youngest one.”

The time capsule is a goldish cube, roughly 15 inches high, wide and long. It looks almost like a mini coffin. It is engraved with the following words: "Property of the Mount Eaton-Paint Township Historical Society. To be opened in 2026." Above that is the date April 16, 2001.

Masters believes it may contain a canister roughly the size and shape of a Quaker Oats box, which was protected by the miniature vault. Masters said the overall package is too heavy for one person.

So what’s in it?

“I have no idea what’s in there,” Masters said.

Find out June 5. It could be just about anything from the turn of the millennium. Items from not long ago represent a bygone era and could illustrate just how quickly technology moves.

Things that have shown up in other time capsules around the country from that time period have included floppy disks, CDs, MP3 players and flip phones, all of which were in regular use then but are obsolete now.

You might see an iPod, the original MP3 player, which was introduced in 2001. A TV Guide from that time will tell you the No. 1 show was “Friends” and has absolutely no mention of streaming services.

Want to know more about time capsules? You can look them up on Wikipedia. Or at least you could have in 2001 when the site was launched.

There may be a VHS tape in there. They were still more popular than DVDs at the time. Perhaps a copy of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” the most popular movie of the year, will be inside.

Or perhaps just some evidence of a simpler, more peaceful time. The capsule was packed shortly before 9/11, after which things changed.

One of Masters’ guesses is business cards, mostly those from businesses that have changed hands during the quarter-century since the capsule was packed and sealed.

The rest of the festival is expected to go on as usual June 5-6. It will include the annual garage sales around the area, food and other activities. Most area businesses will offer discounts throughout the two days, which will play into a prize drawing that will include $1,000 worth of Mt. Eaton Bucks (a top prize of $500 with five $100 prizes).

For every $50 spent at participating businesses, shoppers will get one ticket to the prize drawing. The drawing will be held at 2 p.m. June 6 at the hardware store.

“It’s going to be a little different,” John Miller of Mt. Eaton Hardware said. “Usually, we have a lot of different prizes. We have a lot of people outside of the town that are doing specials as well. That helps. It’s more of a community.”

Things will kick off Friday morning with the sale of breakfast sandwiches to benefit the local school. Lerch’s Donuts will be available both days. A food truck also is expected to be at the Red Tomato on Friday.

Garage sales will be in full swing both days. Some are expected to be open Thursday afternoon beginning at 4 p.m. So those looking for the best stuff should start their engines a day early.

Saturday will include a benefit auction, barbecue chicken and a volleyball tournament. One change this year is there will be no vendor show.

“My favorite part probably is Saturday with the auction and chicken barbecue,” Dave Hershberger of Precision Power Equipment said, “and just that it happens every year.”

Miller’s son Maynard has been experiencing Mt. Eaton Days for his entire life. He said he can’t imagine the town without it.

“It’s been a good event,” he said. “It’s been going on as long as I remember. It’s a way to get the locals in and save money and spend time. It’s definitely a thing where the businesses work together and make it happen. The customers are who make it a success. It’s been good success for 30-some years now.”