Woodridge recovers time capsule items, announces digital archive for Fourth of July
Woodridge officials have announced that more than 500 items from the village’s 1976 time capsule have been successfully recovered and will be digitally archived in time for the Fourth of July celebrations next week, following significant water damage discovered when the capsule was unearthed last month.
Mayor Gina Cunningham reported that the Village of Woodridge Public Works and Administration team has been working to clean, dry, and recover as many items as possible from the capsule, which had been underground for 50 years. According to Cunningham, "Since the time capsule was unearthed, our dedicated Village of Woodridge Public Works and Administration team has been working diligently to carefully clean, dry, and recover as many items as possible. This process has required tremendous patience and care, as much of the contents were extremely fragile after decades of exposure to moisture and mold. Unfortunately, not every item could be preserved. Some materials deteriorated upon handling, while others were too heavily damaged by mold to be safely recovered. Despite these challenges, I am happy to share that more than 500 items have been successfully recovered and are now being digitally scanned. This is great news! Most of these items are letters written by 1976 Jefferson Jr. High students. I vividly remember writing a letter for the time capsule myself in 1976, and while mine was not among those preserved, I can only imagine how meaningful it would be to read those words again today. I hope others who have contributed will take the opportunity to revisit their thoughts from 1976 and experience that same sense of reflection, pride, and community connection. As we continue this work, it is important to set realistic expectations about what can be preserved and shared. Many of the recovered materials remain extremely fragile and were exposed to decades of moisture, mold, and deterioration. Due to item conditions, the physical materials are not suitable for public display, handling, or distribution. While we understand some may hope to view or retrieve their original items, that will not be possible. Instead, our focus is on preserving the information and stories they contain through a digital archive that can be safely shared with everyone. Our intention is to share this digital archive with everyone in time for our Fourth of July celebrations next week! Thank you so much for your continued interest, support, and enthusiasm as we work to bring these special moments of Woodridge history back to life. We look forward to sharing more with you very soon! Honoring Our Past as We Celebrate Together!"
The digital archive will feature the preserved items, most of which are letters written by Jefferson Junior High students in 1976. Due to the fragile condition of the materials, the original items will not be available for public display or handling. The village’s focus is on making the contents accessible through digital means.
In addition to the time capsule update, the Village of Woodridge announced several upcoming events, including the Woodridge–Downers Grove Fourth of July Fireworks Show at 9:30 p.m. along 75th Street and Lemont Road, and the annual Woodridge Fourth of July Picnic at Castaldo Park. The village also highlighted ongoing initiatives such as the school supply drive for District 68 students, the acceptance of entry-level police officer applications, and the release of the 2026 Woodridge Water Quality Report, which contains drinking water testing results by the Village of Woodridge and the City of Chicago, the source of Woodridge drinking water. Residents can view the report on the Village’s website, according to the Village of Woodridge.
Other community updates include the unveiling of a new logo for the Village Greens of Woodridge golf course, the retirement of Woodridge Park District Superintendent of Recreation Don Ritter, and the 35th anniversary celebration of Seven Bridges Golf Club. The village also encouraged participation in the America250 photo contest and promoted free community CPR and emergency response training offered by the DuPage Health Coalition.
Village offices will be closed on July 3 in observance of Independence Day. Additional information about village meetings, events, and services is available on the Village of Woodridge website.