Historical Commission begins planning for 1976-2026 time capsule unveiling

The parade down on North Main Street prior to burying the time capsule.
Photo credit: East Longmeadow Historical Commision

EAST LONGMEADOW — On July 18, 1976, the East Longmeadow Rotary Club buried a time capsule in Heritage Park to celebrate the town’s bicentennial, dated to be opened in 2026.

Now, 50 years later, the East Longmeadow Historical Commission has begun early preparations for unearthing the capsule, opening it this summer and reburying another to open in 2076.

Written in a letter from 1976 written by former Chair Jeanne Goodlatte, who served from 1970 to 1984, the time capsule was directed to be opened on Independence Day. Historical Commission Chair Tom Behan said since it was buried on July 18, that’s when the commission plans to open it.

Behan led the discussion on a history of the time capsule and what might be found inside, listing a few items, such as a yearbook from 1976, 8mm film and eight track tapes. He added that they will try to reunite the items with people as best as they can. Town Manager Tom Christensen joked that he hopes there’s a Twinkie inside and School Committee Chair Greg Thompson said Christensen could take the first bite.

“They reached out to all the citizens in town,” Behan said. “Students wrote letters, people put stuff in there, buried a time capsule and it’s 50 years later so it’s time to dig it up.”

Comments left on a Facebook post about the time capsule in the East Longmeadow Town Forum detail what else might be inside, such as from Kris Morrisino, who said her grandmother left a letter inside for her. Another comment from Lori Pellegrini Potter said she remembers people throwing in credit cards from stores that were no longer in business.

Treasurer Christine Devlin has a few ideas for the events this summer and how to involve every aspect of the town in the new capsule, such as local businesses, town government, churches and photos that residents can submit of themselves or their families. General items from 2026 could also be involved, such as current grocery prices, popular technology or prominent locations in town.

Devlin also has ideas for the Historical Commission’s parade float on July 4, such as making it half 70’s theme and half modern with those on the float being dressed for the respective periods. She said it seemed the main idea would be to have both time capsules on the float itself.

The commission plans on following a similar format as the old capsule and will be taking submissions for items to go into the new one.

Behan also said they will be having students write letters to themselves, as they did in 1976. No dates or locations for drop offs are set yet, besides opening the capsule on July 18, and the commission noted that there will most likely be a screening process for what will go inside.