Serving Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood Counties
It was a surprise blast from the past.
On Nov. 5, high school science teacher Keith Madaras noticed some old documents that had fallen and had become trapped behind a cabinet in his storage room. After digging them out, among the documents he found a blueprint from 1999, when construction for new segments of Eastwood High School was underway.
The room had previously belonged to former science teacher Dave Derr, who also served as the project manager for the expansion. As Eastwood staff reviewed the blueprint more closely, they noticed a handwritten note indicating that a time capsule had been placed inside the wall near the entrance to the boys varsity locker room—a detail that no current staff members were aware of.
With curiosity sparked, Guidance Counselor Andrew Hemminger and Technology Director Matt Bostdorff began investigating. Over the next several days, equipped with a drill, a borescope (an optical tool used to visually inspect hard-to-reach or hidden areas), and a lot of patience, they carefully searched the marked area—ultimately making 14 small holes in the wall before uncovering the capsule.
They found a 3-inch PVC pipe, 24 inches long, placed vertically inside the concrete block. It had been sealed since 1999 by the class of 2005, who were seventh-graders at the time. The blueprint also hinted at the possibility of a second capsule, though none was found despite extensive searching.
What was inside?
On Nov. 21, about 75 students and several teachers gathered as the contents were carefully opened and sorted. Among the artifacts from 1999 were:
“These items offer a unique snapshot of life at Eastwood in the late 1990s and provide a memorable connection between past and present Eagles,” Eastwood Superintendent Brian Hughes said in a recent update to the community.
A new time capsule planned
Motivated by this discovery, the class of 2026 is organizing the creation of a new time capsule. In the upcoming weeks, both the 1999 capsule and the newly prepared 2025 capsule will be placed together in a well-documented and clearly marked location. The scheduled opening date for both capsules is set for 2050.
