Jacksonville residents on Wednesday gathered at Hazel Tilton Park downtown for first of many celebrations for the City’s 150th birthday.

JACKSONVILLE — A letter written in 1972 by Jacksonville’s then-mayor was read Wednesday as part of the city’s 150th birthday, and it showed that though things have changed they’ve also stayed the same.

City officials gathered at Hazel Tilton Park along with native son and country music star Neal McCoy, residents and others to unearth a time capsule buried 50 years ago as part of Jacksonville’s ongoing sesquicentennial celebration.

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