CANNON BEACH – The 30-year-old time capsule found in Cannon Beach contained everything from United States bicentennial commemorative coins to a pair of rusty nail clippers.

“Somebody surmised that people literally took things out of their pockets at the ceremony,” City Manager Rich Mays said. “We can’t figure out why a nail clipper would be in there.”

The time capsule burial was one of many events to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the United States in 1976. The discovery of the capsule comes as Cannon Beach is celebrating its 50th anniversary as an incorporated city.

Cannon Beach resident Sally Stevens was in sixth grade when the capsule was buried and was author of the message placed inside: “America. We can’t give you a better birthday gift than you’ve given us freedom!”

This message was also inscribed on the American Legion monument at City Park at 247 N. Spruce St. But no one remembered there was a time capsule underneath until city employee Paul Phillips dismantled the rock monument to move it to the Legion building, and found it.

Mays opened the capsule along with Stevens and American Legion Auxiliary President Nancy Teagle. The rusty tin container was not initially promising. “We weren’t absolutely sure it was a time capsule,” Mays said. But he was surprised by the good condition of everything inside.

His favorite items were the advertisement from Mariner Market, showing prices like $1.09 per pound for round steak, and photographs from the late 1960s. Other items are a copy of The Oregonian (with one headline reading: “Collapse in Italy hastens election; Red gains feared”), a button and a matchbook.