Debate over time capsule found in Confederate statue at Lake Eola

ORLANDO, Fla. — Crews with the city of Orlando are waiting to open a time capsule found in a confederate statue at Lake Eola.

The 106-year-old statue, nicknamed "Johnny Reb," was moved Tuesday from Lake Eola to Greenwood Cemetery.

The statue has been at Lake Eola since 1917 after it was transferred to the park from East Central Boulevard and South Magnolia Avenue because the monument posed a traffic hazard.

It’s unclear what’s in the time capsule. But it’s a small, rusted box that’s about three pounds.

Pat Schurr, with United Daughters of the Confederacy, told Eyewitness News that she believes flags and money are in the vault, and that she believes the United Daughters of Confederacy should get the capsule. Greenwood Cemetery Sexton Don Price said the capsule hasn't been opened yet.

“I didn’t shake it, only because I wanted to make sure that everything was intact. So it was carried straight out, but it was light. It was probably photographs and letters, we don’t know,” Price said.

The capsule will be kept at the city clerk’s vault until it can be opened.

“You have to have the right conditions. It’s been sitting in a small area for 100 years at least. We think it dates back to 1911,” Price said.

A city official told Eyewitness News Thursday that they'll need to decide who owns the time capsule: the city or United Daughters of the Confederacy, as well as when to open the capsule and preserve what's inside.

A city official said they are working to set up a meeting with Schurr to discuss the next steps.

The city will build a base and reassemble the memorial in a process that is expected to last about six weeks and cost more than $120,000, which will be paid for by taxpayers.

See video of the capsule below:

Cox Media Group