Wharton opens time capsule
FARMINGTON – Hundreds of area residents turned out in the rainy weather Friday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Wharton School with the opening of a time capsule planted on the 25th anniversary in 1980. Wharton alumni young and old joined the kindergarten through fifth-grade students at the elementary school in the Uniontown Area School District for the ceremony.
“We have come here to celebrate what this building has meant to this community over the years,” Wharton principal Ed Fearer said. “It has undergone many changes, including our recent renovation, but some things are still the same.”
Longtime school secretary Janet Rishel, whose husband John worked for decades as the school maintenance man, pulled the rusting canister from the ground.
John, who died a few years ago, planted the canister in 1980 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the school.
“In 1966, we had a wonderful addition to this building,” Fearer said. “Mrs. Janet Rishel is celebrating her 40th year as school secretary. Her husband John buried and sealed this capsule, so it is only fitting for her to open it now.”
“This is a great moment for each of you and for me,” Rishel said, choking back tears.
The students also released 25 green and yellow balloons in honor of the schools first 25 years when they were known as the Wharton Eagles, with school colors green and yellow. An additional 25 maroon and white balloons were released to commemorate the change to the Wharton Red Raiders and the district’s school colors.
The students then put on a 45-minute presentation with each grade performing to mark the occasion. The third-grade class dressed in 1950s poodle skirts and horn-rimmed glasses, while the fourth grade showed off 1980s fads, including bangle earrings and spiked hair.
School board directors Susan Clay and Nancy Herring, both mountain residents, were on hand to witness the historic event, along with dozens of former teachers and principals from Wharton and District Superintendent Charles Machesky.
Following the presentation, Rishel opened the canister and began reading and revealing the memories preserved for more than two decades.
Things like wrappers for Twigs Cinnamon Sticks and 33-cent cat food along with notes about friends and family, all neatly preserved in the can.
One student had taken ink handprints of her “best friends” and placed them in the canister.
Another student had pasted clippings from magazines of popular movies that year including Star Wars the Empire Strikes Back.
This is why you get on the board, to hear and watch and see this kind of stuff,” director Susan Clay said.
With the influx of visitors, the school also took the opportunity to raise money for a school in Louisiana being sponsored by the students after the damaging effects of Hurricane Katrina. In less than 20 minutes, the crowd had donated more than $350 toward the cause.