SPRINGFIELD – Last week, the Springfield Chamber sealed away the contents of its time capsule for the next 25 years. No – it’s not buried or even sealed behind a protective case; it’s on display for all to see.

“We decided, like Springfield does, that we’re going to do it a little bit differently. We’re just going to keep it out until somebody says it has to be hidden away,” said Vonnie Mikkelsen, Chamber president and CEO, during the celebratory time capsule sealing event on Jan. 22.
Guests admired dozens of capsule items before selecting one to place in the capsule themselves.







Longtime Springfield resident Ken Eilers donated archive local newspapers for the capsule. A 1959 Springfield High alumnus, Eilers recalls being a delivery boy for The Springfield News, a gig that kicked off his love for local newspapers.

Eilers said that in 1956, The Springfield News experimented with home delivery by hiring 10 kids to test and fine-tune a carrier system. He recalled having route No. 10. Not long after, Eiliers went on to work at Gerlach’s Drugs and Camera Center – where the Emerald Art Center at 500 Main St. stands today – and took up photography, having even worked as a forensic photographer for the Springfield Police at one point.
Other items included traffic congestion maps for the grand opening of Chick-fil-A on Gateway in 2024, a map of all “The Simpsons” murals by local artist Bayne Gardner, and a book entitled “Springfield Between Two Rivers: An Illustrated History,” which is coauthored by Dorothy Velasco.


Above, Dorothy Velasco discusses items in the time capsule at left, while Mayor Sean VanGordon browses another table, right. BOB WILLIAMS / CHRONICLE PHOTOS
A CD entitled “Sony Disc Manufacturing’s Grand Opening” on Sept. 28, 1995, was also sealed away. The manufacturing plant at 123 International Way closed in April 2003, reportedly laying off 275 people. PeaceHealth RiverBend stands today on the site of the plant.
A document signed by Frank Lloyd Wright was stowed away in the capsule.

BOB WILLIAMS / CHRONICLE PHOTOS
Submitted by Springfield city councilor Steve Moe, the cover letter signed by Wright – considered among many as the world’s greatest architect – was addressed to Moe’s mother, Kay. He said that Moe’s mother had worked with Wright as “sort of an intern in Arizona” in the 1930s after she attended the University of Oregon School of Architecture.
When she relocated to Springfield with Moe’s father, they purchased property on what is now known as “Moe Mountain,” which can be seen on the left from 42nd Street and Marcola Road.
Looking to build a house, Kay wrote to Wright asking him if he would be interested in drafting something up for her. He responded: “Kay, your site sounds irresistible. Terms enclosed. Sincerely Yours, Frank Lloyd Wright,” dated Aug. 23, 1947.
The second page was nondescript boilerplate language about his services:
“The fee is the same for a $1 million building or a $5,000 dwelling: divided into three parts as follows: 3% of proposed costs of the building … 5% for the working drawings … 2% to complete the fee of 10% for the architect’s supervision …” the letter stated.
Moe said the plans fell through after his father decided it’d be too expensive.
The variety of contributions “speaks to how special Springfield is because it’s not really about objects, right? It’s about that place that brings us all to Springfield,” said Mayor Sean VanGordon. “There’s just something about this place that we live in, this community, and how special we find it.”


Rather than stowing it away underground or sealing it behind a wall to risk being forgotten or lost to time, the Chamber board keeps the capsule on display at 101 S. A St., where folks can admire it. Community members can also stop by and place stickers on the capsule.


Mikkelson said that the time capsule project was a labor of love and has helped inspire a “personal connection between now and the future” in Springfield.
This reporting is supported by the Catalyst Journalism Project at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication.