Fairfield, CA - Last Tuesday, January 2, 2024, contractors working at the Fairfield-Suisun Adult School made a discovery that has added a touch of nostalgia to the ongoing construction project. While digging near the flagpole as part of the installation of solar panels, the contractors stumbled upon a time capsule dating back to 1999.
This unexpected find offers a glimpse into the past, showcasing a time capsule carefully buried by a 6th-grade elementary class from the former Bransford Elementary School. Among the items uncovered were drawings, handwritten notes, baseball cards, action figures, and news clippings, including personal belongings of Steve Patton, a teacher at Bransford Elementary School at the time and currently an 8th-grade teacher at Fairfield-Suisun Virtual Academy.
The time capsule was buried as the world anxiously awaited the impacts of Y2K.
Reflecting on the discovery, Patton shared, "In 1999, our staff, led by Larry Zulum, decided to commemorate the new millennium by collecting items of personal interest and placing them in a time capsule. Gary Diaz, our principal at the time, oversaw the process, and Don Hafich, a 6th-grade teacher, buried the capsule by the flagpole in a 4" PVC drain pipe, sealing it forever. I always wondered when it would be found, and I guess the time has come."
The time capsule was found as part of the ongoing construction project for solar parking structures, providing LED lighting and infrastructure for electric vehicle charging at the Adult School.
The anticipated completion date for the project is February 26, 2024. The Adult School is one of five sites receiving these solar parking structures, with Grange Middle School and Green Valley currently under construction, and Suisun Valley and the District Office to follow.
This unexpected journey into the past has added a delightful chapter to the ongoing improvements at the Fairfield-Suisun Adult School.