When the leaders of tomorrow open a Duval County Courthouse time capsule in 50 years, they’ll find a mix of photos, trinkets and voices from today.
Most common might be the many letters to family members and successors, telling them of the world in 2014 and wishing them the best in 2064.
There will be pictures of Jacksonville, of courtrooms, of staffs and of families, along with technology and books telling the history from years past.
Dozens lined up Thursday to explain their offerings to the time capsule, a ceremony attended by close to 200 people in the lobby of the new courthouse at 501 W. Adams St.
Mark Lamping, Jacksonville Jaguars team president, submitted a helmet sporting the look from this season along with a message from owner Shad Khan to fans 50 years from now.
Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland provided a ballot with “hanging chads,” a now humorous ode to the 2000 presidential election that put Florida in a critical spotlight.
Public Defender Matt Shirk left the Bible he was sworn in on upon taking his leadership position.
And among City Council President Bill Gulliford’s offerings was a Clark bar — the chocolate and peanut butter candy bar abundantly found in council member Richard Clark’s office.
“This time capsule, we hope, will show our children’s children and their children the kind of people we were,” said attorney Thomas Bishop, a member of The Jacksonville Bar Association who helped organize the event.
Arriving to the day in that courthouse wasn’t an easy endeavor — a story told through Chief Circuit Judge Don Moran and former Mayors John Delaney and John Peyton.
The $350 million courthouse projected started under Delaney’s Better Jacksonville Plan and continued through Peyton’s eight years in office.
All three described the difficulties the project had from its outset. Funding overages, criticism and the behind-closed-doors discussion that could become heated were talked about, now with a softer edge and smiles instead of anger.
Both mayors said Thursday the project accomplished its goal of having a facility that taxpayers could be proud of and will be around for a long time.
“I think this did that,” Delaney said.
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