Tulsa World: Tulsans bury a new car

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Tulsans bury a new car

By Tulsa Tribune
Published: 5/7/2007 12:17 PM
Last Modified: 5/7/2007 12:17 PM

From the June 15, 1957, Tulsa Tribune

A 1957 automobile was buried in the courthouse lawn today - with a bottle of tranquilizer pills in the glove compartment.

Into the hole with the new Plymouth hardtop went a steel ``time capsule'' containing assorted documents and artifacts of Oklahoma's semi-centennial year.

The car, mounted on a steel skid and swathed in a plastic and paper wrapping, was lowered into the concrete-lined well no the southeast corner of the lawn during dedicatory ceremonies marking the observance of Golden Jubilee Week here.

"This is the sort of thing that could happen only in Tulsa,'' commented Chairman Lewis Roberts Sr. "We have been amazed - although I guess we shouldn't have been - by the cooperation of every one concerned in making this event possible.

"Although the cost of the automobile is a major item, of course, Tulsans have contributed time, machinery and materials and services far beyond the initial cost.''

The vault will be opened in 2007. The automobile will be awarded then to the person who guessed nearest to the city's population figure at that time. If he or she is not living, the award goes to the heirs, along with the proceeds from a $100 trust fund. Guesses have been microfilmed and are sealed in the steel capsule.

The tranquilizer pills got into the act when the committee decided to make the auto typical by stocking the glove compartment with the contents of a woman's handbag.

The pills showed up along with 14

bobby pins, a compact, cigarettes and matches, two combs, an unpaid parking ticket, a tube of lipstick, a package of gum, a plastic rain hat, pocket facial tissues and $2.73 in bills and coins.

McMichael Concrete Co., which dug the rectangular hole used a new crane to lower the car into the vault. The steel capsule, painted white and welded shut, was placed beside it.

Patterson Steel Co. fabricated the steel skid onto which the car was bolted, and Flint Steel Co, furnished a spreader girder to which the lowering harness was secured. Dewey Portland Cement Co. gave the concrete for the job and it was applied to the walls by True Gun1all Equipment Co. Top of the vault was covered with concrete beams and sealed by True's sprayers.

Earl Davenport of Memorial Cemetery will donate a bronze marker to be set flush with the sod over the vault, marking the site for posterity.

"No one refused what we asked,'' Roberts said. "We had intended just to bury the little capsule, but it kept growing and growing until Plymouth Division of Chrysler up and gave us the car. Then we knew we had a major job on our hands.''

Roberts officiated at the ceremony after the Rev. Guy C. Tetirick, secretary of the Tulsa Council of Churches, delivered the invocation.

The capsule contained these items:

A flag which has been flown over the U.S. Capitol, the State Capitol and the County Courthouse. A prayer written by the Rev. Charles E. Wilcox, president of the council of churches. A history of churches in Tulsa written by Bethyl Macklin, and a church directory.

A letter from Committeeman Dale Watt to his children, Civic records of Mayor George E. Norvell, former Mayors George H. Stoner, Dan Patton, Olney F. Flynn and Lee Price.

By Tulsa Tribune

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	Report Comment WAArnold, Fort Wayne (6/9/2007 10:40:12 AM) Man, I would love to be there. What about the fact the plymouth internals have rusted. Did they pickle that also? Man, you'll have to doctor the today's gas to run in that thing. The diluted gas today will eat the fuel system up in fairly short order.
	Report Comment Lindsey Ashworth, Norman (6/11/2007 10:32:27 AM) Can someone let me know what time they are planning to do this on June 15? I live in tulsa from age 3 to 18 when I left to go to college at OU in Norman. I'll be driving up from Norman that morning and I dont want to be late so if anyone knows and approximate time, please please please let me know!! Thanks! Lindsey
	Report Comment Tony, Mobile AL (6/12/2007 11:31:00 AM) Will happen 12pm Tulsa time I read.
	Report Comment Nicke H, Mariestad,Sweden (6/13/2007 2:47:26 PM) I waited for this day since i heard about it in the late 80;s. My wife has birthday same day as an bonus:-)
	Report Comment Chuck, (6/13/2007 9:22:13 PM) The car comes up at noon on Friday.
	Report Comment Johnathen, (6/14/2007 10:20:54 AM) Too bad the car was found sitting in a pool of water.
	Report Comment Richard, Tulsa (6/14/2007 1:09:06 PM) Too bad about the water, but after 50 years I think the car is a goner. What next? I suggest that we do it again. Get another car and this time bury it in the center court of the new arena being built a few block away. It will be indoors and protected and in 2057 it can be dug up and they can sell 18,000 tickets to fill the arena. Wel the original idea was great and it was a good PR thing for Tulsa. We'll tomorrow what comes out of the unwrapping. Richard
	Report Comment Jim, Tulsa (6/14/2007 5:00:03 PM) We know what today's population is but what was it in 1957?
	Report Comment Brian, Sapulpa (6/15/2007 1:46:51 AM) Richard, Been there done that!! 1998 Plymouth Prowler prototype, buried at central park in 1998 with a heap of other stuff.
	Report Comment Peggy, (6/16/2007 11:15:46 AM) I guess I am confused as to why the car was buried in the first place - other than the time capsule concept, etc., etc. Did anyone really think it would actually start and that it wouldn't be encased in rust? It wasn't buried with oil and gasoline in it, I hope?? Hoping there is a story behind it all and would love to know what that story is????????
	Report Comment Cyd , Tulsa (6/16/2007 1:21:56 PM) Peggy, I believe the car was burried for the states 50th birthday. Do YOU honestly believe people new what would happen over time? I don't. First of all they didn't have near the technology we have today.
	Report Comment E van der Kleij, Monster ( The Netherlands ) (6/18/2007 12:19:46 PM) I was reading an article in our local newspaper. And was wondering howe it lookslike. On frickr foto site I was shocked. The winner can maybe sell it on ebay for a good price ; - )
	Report Comment Kristi H, (6/19/2007 5:20:44 PM) I saw the unveiling live on TV. I knew it would be a rust bucket before they ever opened the vault...the materials of the 1950's are NOT what they are now...even something as simple as vault construction, so I can't believe people would hope that the car would come out in pristine shape. It was not buried with oil and gasoline in the engine...the car was hauled to the location completely dry of all fluids. They did put gasoline and oil in the trunk, but those items were also destroyed. The time capsule, though extremely rusty on the outside, was waterproof and the contents came out almost as good as the day they were buried...so at least there was a bright light shining on some of it. If the winner has passed on and there are no heirs, OR if the heirs do not claim the car, it will remain in trust for 5 years. After such time, it's anyone's guess who will get it, though at the unveiling the Tulsa Historical Society mentioned maybe "they'd get to keep her". I just hope whoever does get the car appreciates the historical value of it, and being it's a rust bucket anyway, let's it become the property of a museum here in Tulsa.
	Report Comment Amy , Tulsa (6/20/2007 10:21:35 AM) WHO EVER WINS THE CAR DON'T GIVE IT TO SHARON KING.

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