Tim Thompson, kneeling, and Key Blair with Columbus Marble Works remove the marble top of the time capsule at Leigh Mall in Columbus on Wednesday while city public information officer Joe Dillon watches. The capsule was buried in 1972 and was opened during a ceremony Wednesday. Chris McDill/Special to The Dispatch

The marble cover over the time capsule at Leigh Mall. Chris McDill/Special to The Dispatch

Water filled the case that housed the time capsule. Chris McDill/Special to The Dispatch

The time capsule was in a concrete case that had filled with water. Chris McDill/Special to The Dispatch

A view of the submerged time capsule. Chris McDill/Special to The Dispatch

Water being pumped from the case that held the time capsule. Chris McDill/Special to The Dispatch

Councilman Pierre Beard shines a flashlight on the time capsule while water is being pumped out. Chris McDill/Special to The Dispatch

The time capsule after removal. It was in a wooden case with locks that fell off when it was sat down. Inside the wooden case was a galvanized metal box that held the contents. Chris McDill/Special to The Dispatch

The locks that were on the time capsule. Both were Craftsman locks. Chris McDill/Special to The Dispatch

Up close shot of one of the locks. Chris McDill/Special to The Dispatch

Tim McBunch, left, and Joe Dillon lift the contents of the time capsule onto a table. Chris McDill/Special to The Dispatch

Tim McBunch, left, and Earl Martin inspect one of the items from the time capsule. Martin, who was in charge of opening Sears stores in 1972 and was one of the men that helped organize the time capsule effort, had placed a business card in the time capsule and it was there with the Sears Catalog from 1972. Chris McDill/Special to The Dispatch

Aundrea Self with WCBI and local historian Rufus Ward inspect items from the 1972 Leigh Mall time capsule Wednesday. Various items were put into the capsule 49 years ago, and the capsule was opened Wednesday to celebrate Columbus’ bicentennial. Tyler B. Jones/Dispatch Staff

Local historian Rufus Ward holds up a S.D. Lee High School Yearbook from 1972. Chris McDill/Special to The Dispatch

Items found in the time capsule included: Top left, The Commercial Dispatch from Tuesday, August 22, 1972. Top right, the Meh Lady 1972 yearbook for MSCW which is now Mississippi University for Women. Middle left, the Sears Fall and Winter Catalog of 1972. Middle right, the 1972 Maroon and White Yearbook from S.D. Lee High School. Bottom left, the 1972 Excalibur yearbook for Caldwell High School. Bottom right, the 1972 phonebook for Columbus. Chris McDill/Special to The Dispatch

Mayor Keith Gaskin speaks to the crowd. Chris McDill/Special to The Dispatch

Earl Martin was in charge of opening Sears stores in 1972 was one of the men that helped organize the time capsule effort in 1972. Chris McDill/Special to The Dispatch

Hull Property Group founder James Hull speaks during the ceremony.