The Inter-Mountain photo by Katrina Duckworth Bicentennial Queen Jaiden Morris pitches in to help bury the Bicentennial time capsule on Sunday.

BUCKHANNON — The City of Buckhannon held a series of dedications on Sunday celebrating both the second annual Diversity Day, in partnership with West Virginia Wesleyan College, and the burial of a time capsule honoring the city’s Bicentennial.

At 1 p.m., residents, dignitaries, Wesleyan alumni and students gathered in front of the old Central School on Baxter Street to dedicate Diversity Rock.

“Our nation, our Buckhannon community, our West Virginia Wesleyan College campus are melting pots, patchwork quilts, rainbows,” a placard next to the rock reads. ” Our society’s greatest strength is its repeated ability to incorporate our differences for the benefit of everyone. Our City of Buckhannon and WVWC community is committed to maximizing inclusiveness and fostering an environment whereby all are valued and appreciated.”

Mayor David McCauley addressed the city’s desire to be all-inclusive.

“When we say ‘we’re all in this together’ in Buckhannon and the greater Upshur County area, we truly mean all of us,” he said. “Everyone has a seat at our table.”

WVWC Director of Intercultural Relations Robert Quarles said he is proud to work for an institution that is all-inclusive, citing the implementation of transgender-inclusive policies and the thriving of students of color.

At closing, attendees traveled down an additional block to the corner of Latham and Sedgewick Streets to the birthplace of Arnett William “Ace” Mumford. In his dedication, McCauley referred to Mumford as one of the most accomplished figures in the history of American collegiate sports.

Mumford, born in 1898, was an African American whose parents sent him to live with family in Parkerburg due to a lack of a Black school in Buckhannon. He was described as a star football player for Sumner High School, an all-black high school, which, in 1955, was integrated with Parkersburg High School. In 1924, he graduated from Wilberforce University in Ohio, the oldest Black college in the United States.

In 1924, Mumford shifted his focus coaching football. He began at Jarvis Christian College, then later at Bishop College, Texas College and Southern University. In 37 years of coaching, Mumford’s record was 233-85-23 and led his teams to six national black championships, including Texas College in 1935 and Southern University in 1948, 1949, 1950, 1954 and 1960.

A permanent placard was placed at his birthplace in his honor, and McCauley gave a duplicate placard to be presented at Southern University.

The afternoon concluded with the blessing and burial of the city’s  Bicentennial time capsule in Jawbone Park. The capsule, to be opened in 2066, contained at least 80 items, which included the logo for Bicentennial Celebration designed by The Sign Guy, a word art tree designed by Amanda Hayes, in which members of the community suggested words that came to mind when they thought of Buckhannon, The Record Delta article about a public art exhibit commemorating the city’s 200th birthday, Strawberry Festival memorabilia, The Inter-Mountain coverage of the Bicentennial Celebration, wildlife history packages, various brochures, a map of Buckhannon and Upshur County, restaurant menus, photographs, parade footage and other historical memorabilia.

City residents and organizations were invited to contribute to the capsule through the end of September. Presbyterian minister Julie Sterling was present to bless the boulder covering the capsule.