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Youngstown Federal Courthouse Ceremony Provides Perspective for Future Generations
By George NelsonYOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- When, a century from now, a time capsule in the courthouse that bears his name is opened, retired U.S. District Judge Nathaniel R. Jones hopes that future generations will see Youngstown as a city that continued to evolve."This is still very surreal for me," Jones said in an interview after the cornerstone was placed this morning at the Nathaniel R. Jones Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse. "As I see events centered around this courthouse, the possibilities and the potentials of it just continue to dazzle me, and I hope it will continue to be a focal point for significant events that will bring all the elements of the community together."Jones said it is his hope that the federal courthouse "will become even more of a center for positive participation by young people, older people, college students and high school students. One of the great contributions this city can make is teach the country and world how diverse groups can come together, get along and make the community even stronger, and that's what I hope this courthouse will come to represent."Completed in 2000, the courthouse was formally named last year in honor of the retired judge, who is originally from Youngstown. This morning's ceremony culminated with the placement of a time capsule behind the cornerstone.The building's primary tenant is the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Youngstown district. Other federal agencies with offices in the building include the Internal Revenue Service and the General Services Administration. "One good thing about the courtroom is it's designed to fit the requirements of the U.S. District Court in case there's future need for another district court here in Youngstown," said David Wilkinson, regional public affairs officer for GSA's Great Lakes Region.In addition to various local artifacts including city proclamations, commemorative programs and booklets about the courthouse building, the time capsule contained two reports in which Jones had a hand in preparing -- the 1959 "Report on Human Rights in Youngstown" and the 1966 "Past Neglects, Future Demands." The reports, which dealt with the state of race relations during those periods, "paint a picture of what of what the city was like at that time," Jones said. "I hope that in 2104, people can contrast the pictures painted in those reports with the other matters contributed to the capsule and find we have moved light years aheadÂ…that what we now regard as problems will be history, and that people will have shown growth and maturity and moved to an entirely new level of social interaction and human relations."The time capsule also contained essays by six students in Youngstown Public Schools who offered their reflections on Youngstown and its possible future.The ceremony featured a performance by the Youngstown Connection, a musical group of city high school students that has performed around the country. "These young people are truly the ambassadors of Youngstown, the finest of Youngstown," Jones said.The retired judge invited the Youngstown Connection to perform later this year at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, due to open in August. Jones is chairman of the Freedom Center.Contact George Nelson at [email protected]"