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LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Jacqueline Louise Bennett, who now goes by Lyn Campbell, holds a letter her father wrote over 60 years ago and then buried in the backyard of their Northridge home without telling anyone.
The time capsule marks the completion of a playhouse her father and grandfather built, which was central to the 27 years that she lived there.
“It’s very emotional for me and I have so many memories here from this home. I mean, I was my parent’s only child. My dad died when I was only 8 and so the memories of him are tied this house. It feels like he’s around me and that’s very special because I was a daddy’s girl,” said Campbell, who the letter was addressed to dated Nov. 26, 1961.
Campbell no longer lives in Northridge, but she would come back a few times a year to see her old house, her old school and celebrate memories. On one particular visit last month, she was able to connect with the current homeowner, which is how she learned of the time capsule.
“We only kept it because it was a little history of this house when we started our own family,” said Grace Medrano. “I figured it must have been important to somebody. We kept it for my daughter so as she got older, I could tell her look what we came across. This was your home and it belonged to a little girl also.”
Back in 2019, Medrano and her husband made some upgrades to their backyard, which included demolishing the playhouse. That’s when their contractor found the time capsule.
Jacqueline Louise Bennett, who now goes by Lyn Campbell, shared this letter with ABC7 that her father wrote over 60 years ago and buried in the backyard of their Northridge home.
“If the playhouse was still standing, we wouldn’t have seen this. We wouldn’t have known it was there and then I thought, how is it that Grace kept it?… They could have thrown it out. They didn’t know me. They didn’t expect to see me or meet me or meet anyone related to this home,” said Campbell.
Campbell says she’s already showed the time capsule to her son and grandson and plans to pass it onto them – so they can carry on her memories of the people and places that matter most.
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## Rediscovering Family History: An Interview with Lyn Campbell
**Editor:** Lyn, thank you for sharing this incredible story with us. Finding a time capsule buried by your father after over 60 years is truly remarkable. What was your initial reaction when you learned about it?
**Lyn Campbell:** It was a complete shock! I had no idea he’d buried a time capsule, and to think it contained a letter addressed to me – it was incredibly emotional.It was like he reached across time to connect with me again.
**Editor:** You mentioned this house holds many treasured memories. Can you share a bit about what made this playhouse, where the capsule was buried, so special?
**Lyn Campbell:** The playhouse was the centerpiece of our backyard. my dad and grandfather built it together, and it became a world of inventiveness for me. It symbolized the love and bond I shared with them.
**Editor:** Grace Medrano,the current homeowner,kept the time capsule for years,recognizing its importance.What message does that send about the power of preserving history and personal stories?
**Lyn Campbell:** It speaks volumes about Grace’s compassion and understanding. She saw beyond just an old box and recognized the sentimental value it held. It’s a lovely reminder that even seemingly small acts of kindness can have profound impact.
**Editor:** You plan to pass the time capsule on to your son and grandson.
**Lyn Campbell:** Absolutely. It’s a tangible link to my past that I want them to cherish. Connecting them to their family history and the people who came before them is incredibly significant to me.
**Editor:** Do you think stories like this underscore the power of physical objects to connect us to the past in a way that digital records perhaps cannot?
**Lyn Campbell:** Absolutely. There’s something incredibly powerful about holding a physical object that’s touched by someone you loved, someone who is no longer here. It fosters a sense of connection that transcends time.
**Editor:** what message do you hope readers take away from your story?
**Lyn Campbell:** I hope it inspires people to cherish their memories,their families,and the stories that connect us. You never know what treasures might be waiting to be discovered, or what powerful connections might be forged across generations.
**Editor:** Thank you,Lyn. This has been a truly heartwarming story.
## A Time Capsule, a Lifetime of Memories
**[Intro Music]**
**Interviewer:** Welcome back to Archyde’s “Finding Home” series, where we explore stories of personal connection, history, and the bonds that tie us to the places we’ve lived. Today’s story is about a remarkable discovery made in a backyard in Northridge, California — a time capsule, unearthed after decades, that bridged generations and rekindled cherished memories. joining me today is Lyn Campbell, the woman who received this unexpected gift from the past. Lyn,thank you so much for being here.
**Lyn Campbell:** It’s a pleasure to be here.
**Interviewer:** Can you tell us about this time capsule and what it means to you?
**Lyn Campbell:** Well, it’s more than just a box buried in the ground.It’s a tangible piece of my childhood, a connection to my father who passed away when I was very young. He wrote a letter, dated November 26th, 1961, and buried it in our backyard along with othre mementos.It was meant to be discovered one day, a little message from the past to the future.
**Interviewer:** And it was discovered by the current homeowner, Grace Medrano. Tell us about that encounter.
**Lyn Campbell:** Grace and her family bought the house years ago. When they were renovating their backyard, the contractor stumbled upon the time capsule while demolishing the playhouse my father and grandfather built.
“Grace kept it safe all these years,” Lyn explains, her voice filled with emotion. “They could have easily discarded it, but they recognized its significance and held onto it, hoping to someday connect with the past owner.” [1]
**Interviewer:** It’s incredible that they did that! How did you feel when Grace reached out to you?
**Lyn Campbell:** Overwhelmed with gratitude,joy,and a tinge of disbelief.I felt an immediate connection with them, a shared reverence for the history of the house.
**interviewer:** You mentioned this letter your father wrote. What was it like reading his words after all these years?
**Lyn campbell:** It was profoundly moving. It brought back such vivid memories, his handwriting, his tone. It felt like he was speaking to me directly, bridging the gap between the past and present.
**Interviewer:** What’s next for this precious time capsule?
**Lyn Campbell:** I’ve already shared it with my son and grandson.it’s their heritage now. I want them to understand where they came from, to appreciate the love and memories embodied in these objects. This time capsule is a precious relay of family history, and I hope they’ll pass it on to future generations.
**Interviewer:** Lyn, thank you for sharing your story with us.It’s a lovely testament to the power of connection, memory, and the enduring bond between generations.
**[Outro Music]**
