By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Paris, Tenn.—For anyone who loves Paris, Tennessee, and its history, the time capsule opened today at FirstBank in Paris was a treasure trove.
Items for the time capsule were placed in the original City Hall building cornerstone in 1902 and reflected life in Paris at that time. At today’s ceremony to open the time capsule, Local Historian Ray Harding said the contents were moved when the old City Hall was torn down in 1964, then were given to former Bank President Jack Veazey Sr., and then placed in a time capsule when the current bank building was constructed in 1967.
The current FirstBank facility is its third location in its lengthy history and originally was the First Trust and Savings Bank.
Bank officials today were celebrating the remodeled branch location on Mineral Wells Ave., as well as the opening of the time capsule. Bank President Troy Buttrey, along with former official David Burden, took the items out of the time capsule and announced the contents to the crowd assembled in the bank lobby.
President for the opening were a large number of current and former bank employees, as well as employees from the other Paris banks, city and county officials, and a large number of downtown merchants. People who shared memories from the bank included Jack Veazey Jr., Burden, Harding, and Bob Neese.
Included in the time capsule is a copy of Collier’s Encyclopedia from 1884, copies of local newspapers including the former papers the Paris Press and The Parisian, as well as copies of the Paris Post-Intelligencer from the early 1900s. Other items included a handkerchief signed by Clark Looney in 1902 (Looney was a top officer in the local Masonic Lodge), lists of churches and businesses that were in Paris in 1902 that were typed on the letterheads of various downtown businesses, including Trevathans, a speech by Governor Porter of Paris; a report from the former Paris Public School (later called Lee School), lists of the bank officers, county and city officials.
Bank Officer Johnna Wade, who helped organize today’s events, said some of the items may be displayed for the public to view for a short while. “We haven’t decided the details on that yet,” she said. Contemporary items will be placed in the time capsule and will be reopened in 2067.
Photos: Troy Buttrey and David Burden display items from the time capsule; Jack Veazey Jr. tells stories while Bill Neese and John Blade look on, and County Register Pam Martin, County Trustee Randi French, and Bank Officials Darren Roberson and Scott Morrison look over items. Photos by Shannon McFarlin.
The current FirstBank facility is its third location in its lengthy history and originally was the First Trust and Savings Bank.
Bank officials today were celebrating the remodeled branch location on Mineral Wells Ave., as well as the opening of the time capsule. Bank President Troy Buttrey, along with former official David Burden, took the items out of the time capsule and announced the contents to the crowd assembled in the bank lobby.
President for the opening were a large number of current and former bank employees, as well as employees from the other Paris banks, city and county officials, and a large number of downtown merchants. People who shared memories from the bank included Jack Veazey Jr., Burden, Harding, and Bob Neese.
Included in the time capsule is a copy of Collier’s Encyclopedia from 1884, copies of local newspapers including the former papers the Paris Press and The Parisian, as well as copies of the Paris Post-Intelligencer from the early 1900s. Other items included a handkerchief signed by Clark Looney in 1902 (Looney was a top officer in the local Masonic Lodge), lists of churches and businesses that were in Paris in 1902 that were typed on the letterheads of various downtown businesses, including Trevathans, a speech by Governor Porter of Paris; a report from the former Paris Public School (later called Lee School), lists of the bank officers, county and city officials.
Bank Officer Johnna Wade, who helped organize today’s events, said some of the items may be displayed for the public to view for a short while. “We haven’t decided the details on that yet,” she said. Contemporary items will be placed in the time capsule and will be reopened in 2067.
Photos: Troy Buttrey and David Burden display items from the time capsule; Jack Veazey Jr. tells stories while Bill Neese and John Blade look on, and County Register Pam Martin, County Trustee Randi French, and Bank Officials Darren Roberson and Scott Morrison look over items. Photos by Shannon McFarlin.