In a captivating venture to the past, a city in South Florida has unearthed a relic of its history. This unexpected discovery came as the City of Hollywood recognizes its 100-year milestone. Deep within the fortress-like walls of the city hall, an enduring surprise lay hidden – a time capsule from the later part of the infamous decade of revolution and change – the 1960s.
In commemoration of the city’s centennial anniversary, the walls were penetrated to reveal this historic artifact. Held within a carefully soldered copper box was a collection of tangible memories, chronicling Hollywood’s past. Thursday marked the remarkable exposure of this portal to the city’s history, timed perfectly with the 100th birthday of the City of Hollywood.
Within the copper box was a wealth of knowledge about Hollywood’s past dating back to the mid-20th century. The moment of revelation was highly anticipated, and upon meticulous incision and opening of the box, it didn’t disappoint. Eager officials were greeted by a cornucopia of significant relics that once formed part of daily life in Hollywood.
The former times were represented by an array of treasures, among which were old newspaper articles from now non-existent local releases. Pieces from the Hollywood Sun-Tattler and South Broward News were included, giving readers a glance back to stories that once made headlines locally.
One intriguing inclusion was a guidebook detailing the design and protocol of the Hollywood Police Department. A few newspapers from older times, a religious text, and various promotional literature painted a vivid picture of the city’s prior engagements. A primary focus of this promotional material was an aspect which has remained a key attraction of Hollywood – tourism.
A revealing portrayal of destination marketing strategies of the past was encapsulated in messages positioning Hollywood as ‘Florida’s golfingest city’. Such charming historical linguistic styles aren’t commonly encountered today, serving to emphasize the passage of time since the capsule’s sealing.
An additionally interesting piece was a charted path for tourists, illustrating a self-guided tour around Hollywood. Notably, it depicted a different layout of Hollywood, including areas like Dania and Davie which do not form part of the city today.
Also held within the historic container was an insightful financial document – a budget book from the year 1968. Particularly noteworthy was the capital budget figure, listed at slightly over $100,000. A sum that might seem sizable for the time, but today would account for ordinary, everyday expenses in the city’s operating budget.
The time capsule offers a striking contrast to our digital era, suggesting a slower and differing mode of information circulation before the advent of modern technologies. Hollywood employees of yesteryears got their updates from a distinctive pink newsletter, affectionately titled ‘Employee News’.
Beyond these pieces of the city’s past, the capsule also held a message of anticipation. Some employees could not yet become part of City Hall and were keenly waiting for their opportunity to do so. As the city has grown, so too have the chances for individuals to play their part.
Indeed, an enduring aspect of Hollywood has been its continued growth and expansion. A telling testament to this is the demographic change that took place in just four years, from 1963 to 1967, during which the population saw a two-fold increase.
This growth spurt in the 1960s underscores the attractiveness of Hollywood as a destination. Even in its formative years, Hollywood was a place where people wanted to migrate, and it has succeeded in sustaining this allure over the subsequent decades.
The City of Hollywood, celebrating its centennial throughout the year, will continue to commemorate this landmark year in various other ways. This weekend, for instance, it will host a substantial St. Patrick’s Day parade – an event sure to provide both residents and visitors with a festive atmosphere and a taste of the city’s vibrant community life.