On March 12th, 1870, the village of Manitowoc officially chartered as a city, 200 years after the first Europeans made their way through this area. Now, 150 years later, the City of Manitowoc is celebrating 150 years on the lakeshore by asking the public to take part in a time capsule.
Mayor Justin Nickels spoke with SeehaferNews.com and said that the City is asking for residents to write letters, which will be placed in a time capsule. Mayor Nickels said anyone can participate, and also gave some ideas for what you could write in these letters to the future residents of the city. He suggested that business owners include how many employees they have, or what the average pay is because “it will be interesting to see how that changes in 50 years.” Gas prices would be a great topic as well. Really anything that speaks to how life in Manitowoc is in the year 2020 would be acceptable.
As for how you can get involved, there is special letterhead that you can download at www.Manitowoc.org which can be printed out, then simply write your letter. The special letterhead can also be picked up at the Clerk’s Office in Manitowoc City Hall or the Manitowoc County Historical Society. The letters, as mentioned, will be sealed in a time capsule at the Historical Society in March, and it will be reopened in 2070 when the City celebrates its 200th year of existence.
You’re even allowed to include photographs as long as your letter will fit within the dimensions of a closed letter (approx. 5 ½” x 8 ½”).
Completed letters can be returned to the Manitowoc County Historical Society at 924 Pinecrest Road, Manitowoc, WI 54220. The last day letters will be accepted for placement in the Manitowoc 150th Anniversary Time Capsule is March 16, 2020, the day the capsule will be sealed.
The City has also been posting different facts about the storied history of the “Clipper City”, including a biography of the third Mayor of Manitowoc, Alonzo D. Jones. Jones served as the Mayor from 1873 to 1878 and is the 11th longest-serving mayor in the City’s history. Follow the City of Manitowoc on Facebook for more details about the history of the city and any upcoming events.
