Among them was a letter from then Mayor-Commissioner Haydon Burns addressed to “the mayor of the City of Jacksonville at the time of the opening of this cornerstone.” Mayor-Commissioner Burns stated -
 
“It is our hope that you, on the day of the opening of this cornerstone, will reflect favorably and with a degree of appreciation on the efforts of those citizens present on this day of dedication of this City Hall whose endeavors have been directed toward making our city, and now your city, a better place to reside in all respects, just as we, in turn, with grateful hearts reflect on those who have passed this way before us.”
 
The time capsule, while including items specified in an October 1960 news article written at the time of the dedication, also offered a few surprises including a 1907 newspaper, WJAX recording of the City Hall dedication, pristinely kept portraits of each commissioner, photographs of City Hall chambers, as well as a pack of Pall Mall cigarettes. The artifacts were securely sealed in a copper box to ensure they maintained their integrity in the decades to follow.
 
Discovered during pre-demolition work at the former 16-story City Hall building located on Bay Street, the time capsule was sealed in a cornerstone of the building decades ago by then-mayor Burns following a dedication for the building in October 1960.
 
The items contained in the time capsule will be displayed at the Jacksonville Main Library following a preservation process.
 
About the City of Jacksonville
The City of Jacksonville is the largest city by land mass in the continental United States, serving approximately 850,000 residents. Located in Duval County, City of Jacksonville leadership includes the mayor and a 19-member City Council.