A time capsule almost lost to time has been unearthed in Chandler.
Discovered in a forgotten corner of the Public Works department, the capsule was presented to the City Council at its regular meeting on Dec. 9, along with a brick that said to open in 2026. Public Works Director Mike Keller didn’t know anything about it, and neither did anyone on the Council.
However, Anna Lou Cochran did. The capsule was buried in July 1976 as part of Chandler’s Bicentennial Celebrations, according ot the 88-year-old. Anna Lou was on the town’s Bicentennial Commission, along with Clara Love and Jan Vassar. The three women led a bevy of volunteers, spending two years planning the event to celebrate 200 years of the United States, including burying the capsule underneath the old fire alarm bell in front of the old City Hall.
It also included installing the flag plaza on the corner of the courthouse lawn.
“Oh, it was just wonderful. It was just a great day,” she recalled with a smile. “People were happy, and let’s see, we had a drummer out of Oklahoma City. I found a guy… he was dressed up like a bicentennial person, and he came down, and he walked up and down Main Street and drummed that drum.”
Several old polaroids posted on a social media post about the capsule revealed town dignitaries in attendance, along with Anna Lou’s daughter dressed as Betsy Ross.
Anna Lou couldn’t remember what was in the capsule, but said she put something in there, along with a class at the elementary school. She also said that it’s not meant to be opened until July, since that’s when it was buried.
The day it was buried should be somewhere on video, though it wasn’t clear where that would be. Anna Lou said Keith Schroeder took a video of the event and believed that, along with the minutes from their meetings with all the details, were given to the history museum for safekeeping.
While Anna Lou is excited to see what was put in, she is worried about water damage and whether any letters might still be legible.
In the end, the town will just have to wait and see. Mayor Kent McVey suggested opening the capsule at the first City Council meeting in 2026 on Jan. 13. The meetings are held at City Hall and are open to the public. They’re also livestreamed, and a link can be found on the City of Chandler website.