CANAL FULTON, Ohio - A mysterious Canal Fulton time capsule buried sometime in the 1980s is getting a lot of attention, but the problem is no one seems to know what was in it, or exactly where to find the retro keepsake.

"It's becoming an urban legend, the missing time capsule," said City Manager Mark Cozy.


The former Canal Fulton Elementary School on West Market Street was built in 1926, but it closed in 2007.

The city bought the building through a sheriff's auction last year, but decided to tear it down after determining the cost to restore it was astronomical.

Demolition is scheduled to begin on Feb. 1.

Before that happens, the city is hoping to unearth a time capsule buried by students three decades ago.

The district's superintendent notified city leaders about the time capsule after a former student reminisced about it.

Recently, a specific tip said the capsule was buried near the flag pole just outside the front door. On Monday, workers dug up a large area with a shovel and a backhoe, but it wasn't found.

"We'd like to find it because the kids took the time in the 80s to put something like that in the ground," Cozy said. "If somebody has knowledge of where it is, we'll go there and well start digging."

Cozy said the city has not received any information about whether the capsule is plastic, metal or something else. He also has no clue on the contents.

"I'm thinking it was the 1980s, maybe a Rubik's Cube in it," he laughed.

The mystery of the time capsule was featured on the police department's Facebook page, asking residents to give "an approximate location" if they remember it.

Several residents have been monitoring the search and they're hoping the piece of Canal Fulton history is eventually located.

Gail Snyder, who sent her four kids to the school after the 80s, said there's a definite buzz over the capsule.

"It's such a nice, hometown feel here that I think people always want to connect with the past," Snyder said.