The Hillcrest History Guild buried the first of two time capsules on June 9 to commemorate Hillcrest’s centennial, which the neighborhood will officially celebrate on Aug. 2. The guild hopes the capsule, marked by a plaque at the south end of the Vermont Street bridge, will be exhumed 100 years from now when future Hillcrest residents celebrate the bicentennial. The burial of the second time capsule will take place later this year.

“We hope that by burying this time capsule filled with information about Hillcrest, we will let people 100 years from now know how diverse our community is and what is going on in our day, and also what has gone on here in the past 100 years,” said Nancy Moors, co-founder of the Hillcrest History Guild. “It is our hope that future Hillcrest residents will gain a great deal of respect for the history of Hillcrest, as so many people have today.”

The time capsule contains San Diego air samples from the Environmental Services Department, letters from people in the community that address future Hillcrest residents explaining what it is like to live in Hillcrest in current times, along with other items, including money, publications, menus, an iPod, a memory stick with photos and a yearbook from Florence Elementary School.

Ann Callahan, innkeeper at Hillcrest House Bed and Breakfast, said she’s excited to be included in capturing a part of Hillcrest’s history.

“It’s a huge privilege to have the motivation and stewardship to preserve this historical architectural gem that I call Hillcrest House, and hopefully, in turn, it’s going to be admired for decades,” said Callahan, who placed a coffee mug into the time capsule.

Callahan has owned Hillcrest House, which was built in 1910, since 1999. She turned it into a bed and breakfast 16 months ago and said that she hopes to preserve its rich history.

“It is sad the way that things are being taken down and modern things are replacing the rich history of the Hillcrest area. I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in leaving behind part of our history.”

The opportunity to bury the first time capsule arose when the University Heights Association approached the Hillcrest History Guild with grant monies from the city and county for repairs to the Vermont Street bridge. The first capsule was conveniently buried when construction workers were digging up the south end of the bridge.

Those who didn’t get a chance to place a memento in the first capsule will be able to do so later this year when a second capsule will be buried in a location yet to be determined, organizers said.

However, the time capsule is only part of how Hillcrest is commemorating its anniversary. “Throughout the rest of the year, the Hillcrest History Guild and Hillcrest Centennial Association, both non-profit organizations, will hold events to bring together Hillcrest’s businesses and residents of our community in celebration of the 100th birthday of one of San Diego’s first urban villages,” said Ann Garwood, co-founder of the Hillcrest History Guild. “This centennial gives the community year-long events to rally around and a unique opportunity for the Hillcrest History Guild to reach out and share our history while, at the same time, record the memories of the diverse population of Hillcrest,” she said.

“We’ve gone through a lot of changes in our community and it is certainly recognized as the root of the gay community in San Diego, and I think that is a huge segment of what Hillcrest is and what it will always be known for,” Moors added.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the repair of the bridge and the time capsule burial will take place sometime in July, and both city and county officials will be on hand.

To place your item in the time capsule, contact the Hillcrest History Guild at 619-260-1929. For more information about the Hillcrest Centennial, visit www.hillcrestcentennial.com or www.hillcresthistory.org.