Former librarian Karen Gillikin shares memories ahead of community event this Sunday
HUNTSVILLE, Texas – A piece of Huntsville’s educational history will be unearthed this Sunday, April 27, 2025, as a 25-year-old time capsule buried at Scott Johnson Elementary School is set to be opened in a public ceremony. The event will occur from 2 to 4 p.m. at the original school campus on Highway 190, next to the current Scott Johnson Elementary location.
A Career Rooted in the Library
Karen Gillikin, who served as the school’s librarian from 1990 to 2012, reflected on her years at Scott Johnson and the legacy of the time capsule.
“That was my one and only career job,” Gillikin said. “I spent a great deal of time there and loved all the time I enjoyed with the kids.”
Her connection to the school remains strong. “I still have grown people now at this point who say, ‘Oh, I remember the library and the treasure chest and I loved reading,’” she said. Some of those former students now have children attending the same school.
The Capsule That No One Remembers
The time capsule was buried in 2000, following the turn of the millennium. Each class contributed an item meant to reflect the era, but even those who participated aren’t sure what’s inside.
“We don’t remember what’s in it,” Gillikin admitted. “Nobody who put things in it remembers what they put in there… It’s going to be a surprise for all of us.”
The container is believed to be just slightly larger than a shoebox, around 18 by 12 inches. It lies beneath a marked spot in the school’s old parking lot.
Community-Wide Invitation
The event is open to the public, and organizers hope to attract a vast crowd, including former students, teachers, and families.
“You don’t have to have been there in 2000,” Gillikin said. “It’ll be just kind of like a reunion for all of us to get together.”
Punch and cookies will be served, and visitors will have the opportunity to view class photos from 2000. A hover camera will also be in place to capture the moment the capsule is opened.
Staff, Students, and Surprises
Former principal Barbara Skeeters, who served more than a decade at the school and initially helped organize the capsule project, will be in attendance. Many other staff members and alumni are expected to return.
“We’ve been in contact with several people who are coming from around the state,” Gillikin noted. “Some of their kids are in school now, and their families still live around here.”
The man who buried the capsule, Ronnie Nicks, is also expected to return to dig it up.
A Living Legacy
Though much has changed in technology and education since 2000, Gillikin’s passion for learning has not waned. She recalled her shift from the Dewey Decimal card catalog system to modern library software during her years at the school.
“It was pretty scary and it was a learning curve,” she said. “But it was neat to show the kids, ‘Look what this will do.’”
From the Past to the Present
Gillikin hopes the event will stir memories and inspire attendees. “We just look forward to seeing as many people as we can,” she said. “Let us see what’s inside—it’ll bring back memories, I’m sure.”
The time capsule opening will occur on Sunday, April 27, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the original Scott Johnson Elementary School campus on Highway 190, just west of SHSU. The new school sits directly across the street.
For those connected to Scott Johnson or curious about the past, the event promises a special walk down memory lane.
