Former Eldred students, teachers gather to open elementary school time capsule
RIGHT: Kathleen Kilker, a former first-grade teacher at Eldred Elementary School, looks over the articles that were retrieved from the time capsule. The time capsule was buried at the building on the last day of classes when the school was shut down in 2010. TERRY AHNER/TIMES NEWS
ABOVE: Pleasant Valley High School senior D.J. Greenzweig holds up one of her old classwork assignments. Scan this photo with the Prindeo app for a video. TERRY AHNER/TIMES NEWS
Pleasant Valley High School senior Nicholas Wawrzynski reacts upon finding a school uniform from the last year at the school. TERRY AHNER/TIMES NEWS
Pleasant Valley High School seniors, from left, D.J. Greenzweig, Natalie Zakiewicz and Autumn Bender, review contents from a time capsule that were opened Monday morning at the former Eldred Elementary School. The time capsule was buried at the building on the last day of classes when the school was shut down in 2010. TERRY AHNER/TIMES NEWS
This school yearbook was among the items found inside the time capsule. TERRY AHNER/TIMES NEWS
The hallways weren’t quite as noisy as they once were inside the former Eldred Elementary School.
But for those who revisited the building for one day to relive a bygone era, it was assured the relationships and memories that were forged at the building will live on.
Former students, teachers and others gathered at the site Monday morning to witness the opening of a time capsule that was buried at the building on the last day of classes eight years ago.
One by one, former students dug inside a plastic Tupperware, where they unveiled items such as stuffed animals, favorite books, along with items from their field days and any special events.
The event was organized by high school senior Hailey Zotynia, who was a fourth-grade student when the time capsule was buried.
“That’s when we put this together,” Zotynia said. “We were happy to get everyone together.”
Zotynia added, “This is what sparked our time capsule,” she said.
D.J. Greenzweig, a senior at Pleasant Valley High School, said she was grateful for the chance to reunite with former classmates.
“Eldred was like a small little family,” Greenzweig said. “We all grew up together, so seeing each other is a really great experience, and connecting with everyone.”
The school closed in 2010.
The township purchased the building for a $1 in 2014.
The building is now the Eldred Township Community Center.
