A Wonderful Event

Saturday, May 16, marked an event 50 years in the making! As we commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the United States, this is the year that was slated to retrieve the Time Capsule buried on the occasion of the American Revolution Bicentennial in 1976. The Plymouth Historical Society (PHS) and the Town of Plymouth partnered to fulfill that promise. At the peak of this year’s event, approximately 200 people stood with anticipation on the Town Hall lawn, awaiting the return of items which had been thoughtfully placed in the burial vault on Veterans Day 1976, capturing a moment in time and carrying messages to the future. The weather could not have been better, so folks were happy to gather — catching up with each other, enjoying music performed by the Baker Valley Band, and listening to the speakers who both reminisced and shared hopes for the future.

 

Promises Kept

Two of the four Plymouth-born student representatives selected in 1976 returned to fulfill their commitment to be present for the retrieval. Jill LaFontaine Hertel, who was 11 at the time, traveled from Pennsylvania and reversed her role, receiving the items she once delivered into the time capsule. Cathy Clark Owens (age 9 at that time), now resides in New Hampshire’s Seacoast region and was accompanied by her sister, Cammy, who traveled from Hawaii just to be here! Both Jill and Cathy shared fond memories of their childhoods in Plymouth, and Cathy read remarks from Terri Sencabaugh Cordle (aged 8 in 1976), the third of the four representatives, who now lives in Georgia and was unable to return for the event. PHS was unable to locate the fourth student, Stephen Ray (11). If anyone knows how to reach him, please let him — and PHS — know, as items were waiting for him in the time capsule.

 

A Disappointing Discovery

The mood was slightly dampened — pun intended — when the lid of the vault was triumphantly removed, and onlookers discovered that the vault had leaked over those many years and the contents had been compromised. The water-soaked artifacts were removed and carefully taken to the historical museum until a plan could be put in place. After some diligent research and consultation with conservators, the items were painstakingly processed and laid out to dry, in an attempt to save everything we could. Those items we were unable to save will be included in the inventory and, when possible, represented with stand-ins in the exhibit. 

 

Sending Messages to the Future 

After the vault was emptied of the past, two new time capsules were lowered into it, to begin their long slumber. Four new student representatives had been chosen — Piper Dubreuil (K), Fay Inman (Gr. 1), Jack Ringlein (Gr. 5), and Wesley Ball (Gr. 8). Each spoke about their grade’s contribution as it was placed into the new capsule. We hope these individuals will return in 2076, the year of the US Tricentennial, to witness the retrieval and pass the torch to yet another generation. These smaller time capsules each have their own water-resilient gaskets, the gasket on the vault itself was replaced, and the items submitted were placed in zip-locked bags with information connecting them to their donor. PHS did all we could to protect these new items on their journey to the future.

 

Watch it for yourself!

For those who were unable to attend, Pemi BakerTV recorded the event, and it may be viewed on YouTube . It would also be fun to share the link with those who no longer live in the area but may have been there in 1976.

 

EXHIBIT NOW OPEN — Revolution and the Spirit of '76

If you would like to get a closer look at the items from 1976, the Plymouth Historical Society’s exhibit “Revolution and the Spirit of ‘76” will be on display at the Plymouth Historical Museum & Memory House, tucked behind Town Hall. Museum hours are Saturdays, 10 AM–1 PM, May 30 through November 28, and by chance or appointment. Featured are the time capsule items, a recounting of the 1976 Bicentennial Celebration, and profiles of Plymouth Patriots who fought in the Revolution and influenced the town's evolution.

 

More US 250 Events to Come!

There are still many presentations remaining in our US 250th commemoration. On June 17, there will be a Big Watch party featuring a short segment from Ken Burns’ The American Revolution focused on the theme of Service, followed by an NH Humanities interactive discussion. On July 8, a live reading of the Declaration of Independence, synchronized with other communities across the nation, will take place on the Town Hall lawn. For further details and other presentations, view the full schedule. We hope to see you over the summer and ask that you consider supporting the historical society's work by becoming a member. Join us in saving yesterday and today for tomorrow.