Snapshot Royal Oak 2011: Community Brainstorms Ideas for Time Capsule

There are no shortage of ideas of what to place in the Royal Oak time capsule – only space. But that won't get in the way of the community members planning to take a snapshot of Royal Oak and bury it to mark the 125th anniversary of the founding of the city.

With a fundraiser already planned to help support the project, a group of  local teens gathered at the to toss around ideas of what to put in the time capsule, approximately 2 feet by 3 feet and less than a foot deep.

Libary volunteer Annie Rabon, 13, and 12-year-old student Kali Beltz had plenty of ideas, including photos and mementos from the library, items from the popular art room and learning center at the , a parking meter and something from 2011 Youth of the Year Hope Pena.

Annie's brother Will, who's nearly 15, likes the idea of including Boy Scout patches, too.

"I think we should get a big piece of paper and put it up in the library and have all the kids of Royal Oak sign it," Annie said.

ROPL Youth Librarian Amy Staples helped compile the kids' ideas, which also included representation of music, pop culture, schools, local businesses, sports teams and the zoo, on six large sheets of paper during their brainstorming session.

"The next step is the kids and I will proceed to gather the items that will be most fitting – physically as well as for longevity," Staples said.

Staples plans to have some of the items that will go in the time capsule on display at the fundraiser, planned for July 21 at the Fourth Street home of Michael Chetcuti and Kyle Evans.  “The home is a unique structure and residence, with an automotive theme.  It was featured in the January 2011 issue of Hour Magazine," said Jay Dunstan, who first came up with the idea of Snapshot Royal Oak 2011. “Food and beverages will be provided at the event by Royal Oak businesses Cloverleaf Fine Wines and Pronto! restaurant.” 

Local photographer will document the fundraiser and create a book, which will then be included in the time capsule and available for purchase. "So people who go to the fundraiser will be part of the book and go into the time capsule," Dunstan pointed out.

"In celebration of years of achievement and growth, residents of Royal Oak want to leave a legacy. This legacy is a time capsule showing future residents, friends and visitors how the city stands today," Dunstan said.

Dunstan has some ideas of his own, including a school cafeteria menu ("What were kids eating 35 years ago?"), newspapers ("What were the hot issues in 2011?"), even something as simple as a pair of tennis shoes.

"This is a community thing," said Dunstan, who knows about community. Practically a professional volunteer, Dunstan – the 2008 Royal Oak Citizen of the Year – helps organize community projects such as the Royal Oak Historical Society's Memorial Day pancake breakfast and the Oak Apple Run as well as serve on the Downtown Development Authority, Boys & Girls Club, Optimist Club and Royal Oak Support Our Youth Task Force to name a few. So when he says of the time capsule project, "I've never worked with a group so dedicated and so well organized," it's high praise indeed.

The plan is to bury the time capsule at 1 p.m. on Oct. 1, 2011, at a ceremony along with the dedication of the Butterfly Garden near the main entrance to the library.  The project will include an art contest with the theme “Royal Oak as I See It – 2011.” The capsule would be opened 35 years after its burial, in 2046, to mark the 125th anniversary of the founding of Royal Oak in 1921. 

What would it be like to open a time capsule? "It'd be awesome," Annie Rabon said. "You can see how much Royal Oak has changed."

Royal Oak Snapshot 2011 fundraiser

Tickets for the 7-10 p.m. July 21 reception are $100 per person and no more than 70 tickets will be sold. “If you are interested in attending, I suggest you get your tickets now," Dunstan said. “This is a special event and the tickets will sell out quickly.” Any proceeds in excess of those used for the time capsule project will go to the Friends of the Library, a 501(c)(3) organization.

Tickets may be purchased at the Royal Oak Public Library circulation desk or by contacting Jay Dunstan (248-990-8210 or jay@dunstan.me). Checks should be payable to “Friends of the Royal Oak Public Library.”

For more information on the project contact Jay Dunstan (248-990-8210 or jay@dunstan.me), Library Director Mary Karshner (248-246-3710 or mary@ropl.org) or Mayor Jim Ellison (248-830-4876 or jim.ellison52@gmail.com).