Grove time capsule right under our noses

As people sip their wine and enjoy the veranda at the new Glass and Vine restaurant, which will soon open at the Glass House in Peacock Park, many probably will not notice that they will be sitting just a few feet from a time capsule. It's buried in the grass near the veranda.

On June 7, 1996, the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce buried the capsule. The idea was introduced by Donna Sweeny and her late husband Allen Sweeny, who was then a past chamber president at the time.

"The capsule contains posters, restaurant menus, photographs and memorabilia. I was co-chair of the committee and it was a fun project. The plan was that it would be opened in 50 years in 2046. When it was to be buried Allen (my husband) and Commissioner J. L. Plummer donned hard hats and started the digging," says Donna.

Donna has a list of the 35 photos that are in there.

Three winning essays from all the schools on "Living in Coconut Grove in 1996," is included and  Mayor Steve Clark issued a proclamation naming June 7, 1996 "Travel through Time with the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce Day," which was included.

Donna registered the time capsule with the International Time Capsule Society at Oglethorpe University, in Atlanta, GA.

I like to remind people that there is an even older time capsule, right across, the street from this one, which is the grave of Grove pioneer Eva Amelia Munroe.