Fox Hills Time Capsule Unearthed After Nearly 50 Years

In 1976, the bicentennial year of our nation’s birth, Fox Hills Elementary School buried a time capsule to be opened in 2001. However, 2001 came and went, and no one retrieved the then-25-year old artifact. 

Fox Hills, established in 1969, operated as an elementary school until its closure in the early 1980s. The building re-opened as Bloomin’ Preschool in 1985. With the recent move of the preschool to the former Eastover Elementary School site, the Fox Hills building is slated to be demolished beginning in mid-to-late November 2024. During preparations for this demolition, the long-lost time capsule was discovered.

Among the capsule’s treasures was a 1976 yearbook featuring Scott Sugg, then a 5th grader at Fox Hills. Today, Sugg is an 8th grade American history teacher at South Hills Middle School and has taught in Bloomfield Hills Schools for 31 years. Though his own class didn’t create a capsule, he remembers the 6th-grade project and fondly recalls his time at Fox Hills. “My favorite memory was Field Day, racing with Mr. Campana,” Sugg shared. “In Mr. McGuire’s 5th grade class, we played a math game at the start of every class, and I won a lot.” He also cherishes the friendships formed at Fox Hills, many of which have endured. “The bulk of our Lahser football team came from Fox Hills. Good times.”

Sugg reflected on how the district has evolved. “When I was at Fox Hills, there were 10 elementary schools. It was always a K-6 building, junior highs were 7th-9th grades, and high schools were 10th-12th grades.”

The time capsule provides a snapshot of these changes. Inside were 137 photographic slides, a 30-page set of carbon-copied slide descriptions, and a cassette tape. The slides highlight U.S. history and government, Colonial-era life, and predictions for the future. One slide predicted that two to three new states would be formed within 25 years - a forecast that remains unfulfilled.

The slideshow also captures Fox Hills’ history, noting, “The name of Fox Hills came from the location of the school. Foxes used to live in this area before the school and subdivision were built.” The cassette tape, featuring a Cat Stevens song and Class 6A students narrating slide descriptions, adds a nostalgic touch.

Nearly five decades after its burial, the capsule reflects the dedication to education that continues to define Bloomfield Hills Schools. While buildings and times have changed, the commitment to learning and community remains steadfast.