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When the old Lakeside School structure came down in Chisago City this fall,  demolition crews uncovered a time capsule in a corner of the 1939 addition.  Last week, on the last day of school before the winter break, the items in the time capsule were freed from their copper box as students in the new Lakeside School watched on screens in classrooms and public spaces.

The original part of the old Lakeside was constructed in 1919.  Photos in the time capsule show trusses visible that would have been part of the gymnasium 1939 project.

Opening of the time capsule by district officials on Thursday was aired Friday on closed circuit in the new Lakeside School (and is on YouTube),  so that each and every student could see clearly what was happening.  

When the copper shoebox-sized time capsule was sealed inside its wall cavity it’s a safe bet nobody could have predicted its opening would be videotaped, let alone visible on technology called the Internet.

It took a drill and a pair of tin snips to get into the slightly corroded time capsule.

Items removed from the box tell of enrollment, current events through a Chisago County Press edition, and school board minutes including “Fiscal Affairs.”  There were 1939 coins, a telephone book from Chisago City and a photo of the district’s first ever football team.  Students from 1939 were allowed to sign their names on the enrollment lists and Superintendent Dean Jennissen (himself a former fourth grade teacher) remarked on their beautiful handwriting.

Supt. Jennissen said the school district understands history and its importance to people in this area. It was fun and educational to have this special day to take a look back.  

Looking forward--the new Lakeside School will get students involved in creating a 2020 time capsule, probably to be placed on the newly opened school grounds somewhere come spring.

Kids in Lakeside classes asked about the historic items as the video rolled. Older students reminisced about third grade in the old Lakeside building, which held grades 3 to 5.  (The lockers were bigger, they claimed, but they love this new school.)
 

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