Turner-Turner Opens 1923 Century Box

Turner Opens 1923 Century Box

The town of Turner, originally called the Proprietary of Sylvester-Canada in 1765, was officially incorporated into Massachusetts in 1786 with the name Turner. In 1820 the Province of Maine became the 23rd state. [Information from history book: Turner by Rufus Prince –2000]

In 1923 the town’s people, under the leadership of the highly active Grange Hall, decided to honor the veterans of World War I by creating a time capsule, or Century Box. The large copper covered box would be filled with items of the time for future generations to get a glimpse of life in a rural Maine town around the 1920s.

This past November a Century Box Jubilee was held at Leavitt Area High School to open the 1923 box and display its contents. At the same November 10 Jubilee, a similar box from 1973 (fifty years) was also opened. This box was of particular interest to this writer as I had just moved to Turner in 1972 to teach elementary school. It was great to see a photo of my 1973 sixth graders. Many of the familiar, last names are still prevalent in Turner today: Twitchell, Bates, Emerson, Decoster, Hammond, and Richardson. There was much in both boxes to interest the two post- 1923 generations that have remained in Turner.

The 1923 box contained newspaper clippings, coins, photographs, small magazines, and other unique items. A Leavitt Institute graduating class of 1923 was pictured on the Institute steps. A special item was an interest-bearing fund that was funded by about 600 Turner residents at the time for $1800. It is now worth over $117,000. It was announced by the Jubilee emcee, Leavitt teacher Isaiah Davis that the interest would help pay for roof repair and other needs of the Institute building that houses the Turner Public Library and Historical Society rooms.

The 1973 box held similar general items to those in the older box. Comic books of Archie and Woodie Woodpecker, a Sears Christmas Catalogue and brochure from Martin Stream Campsites.  November 6, 1972, Time Magazine featuring a cover photo and press on the Vietnam War was on display. A quite different type of content was a disposable diaper and a unique style baby bottle. Media star, Patrick Dempsey, who schooled in Turner for six years, had one of his second-grade artworks in the 1973 box.

The November 12 event was co-hosted by Isaiah Davis and News Center’s Amanda Hill. On the auditorium stage with these two Leavitt Graduates for the evening were the Turner Town Manager and Selectmen, along with representatives from American Legion Post 11 and Cub and Boy Scout troops who led the Pledge.

Retired Leavitt teacher Margot Dudley spoke on all things Turner related as did a recent Leavitt graduate Iris Petrin. Both shared what living in Turner has meant to their lives. Petrin noted some of the positive reasons people move to the town. State Senator Jeff Timberlake (eight generations in Turner) spoke of his attachment to the town and read letters from the Legislature and the Governor.

The organizers of the Jubilee got Turner’s young people involved. Student Abby Terreri read the 1923 prophecy letter from the Century Box to the audience. Ten-year old, homeschooled Nola Van

Tassel did not speak but authored the winning essay from 2023 that will go into the new Century Box. She shared her favorite school subjects and how she is enjoying family life in Turner.

The items from two boxes were displayed in the History Club rooms of the Leavitt Institute on the following Tuesday and Thursday. They were put away again on Sunday, November 19 with some new items from the community for 2023. The 2023 Century Box is covered with copper from the Maine State House dome of the mid-1800s. (The original 1923 box had a cover made from copper taken from the U.S.S. Maine of 1898 fame.)

PHOTOS:

Time magazine – A November 6, 1973, issue of TIME magazine focused on the controversial War in Vietnam that was still about 18 months away from its ending. Someone in Turner had the forethought of putting it in the Century Box.

Turner open century box – Emcees Isaiah Davis (left) and Amanda Hill (right) border the Turner Selectmen and Town Manager who are examining the items in the newly opened 1923 Century Box. The opening “Jubilee” was held at Leavitt High School.

L institute class of 1923 – The graduating class of 1923 photographed in front of their school, the Leavitt Institute in Turner.  Though the calendar says January 1923, the absence of snow in the Century Box photo tells us that it was taken at the year’s end.

TES class of 1973 – Mr. Van Tassel’s sixth grade class of 1973 poses on the bleachers in the Turner Junior High School gymnasium. Many of the families represented here in this Century Box document still live in Turner.

(Photos by Bill Van Tassel)