STAFFORD – The year 2020 has been tough on everyone throughout the world. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it’s put a toll on many communities. So, wouldn’t you like to leave 2020 behind?
Stafford officials announced that they will be burying a time capsule that will contain items representing what a year 2020 has been. It won’t be opened until 50 years from now.
Mayor Gregory Myhre and the Township Council introduced the time capsule, which was designed to look like a treasure chest, at the very end of 2020 and encouraged residents to add a small letter or item to the capsule.
“What we wanted to do was encapsulate the year 2020 that’s been hard on everyone here in Stafford Township, New Jersey and around the world,” Councilman George Williams said. “We wanted to make sure that we put some items into the time capsule to memorialize for 50 years from now and unearth it and its’s going to be held here in Stafford Township.”
The time capsule is a 130-pound solid steel treasure chest that was built by Kurt Brownell of the Stafford Township Department of Public Works. Mayor Myhre explained how Brownell used scrap metal to create this one-of-a-kind time capsule.
On December 31, 2020, Myhre and Williams made an initial deposit into the capsule. Inside, they put in: 2020 census bags; the Press of Atlantic city, 2020 in review paper; National Geographic photos of 2020; letters from the mayor and council; township calendars; Signs hung around the township in 2020 (for example wash your hands, wear masks, stop the spread of germs); masks and a current map of Stafford Township.
Students, teachers and staff from the Stafford Township school district also contributed to the capsule. Southern Regional Middle and High School English teachers had their students contribute by writing reflective essays to put into the treasure chest.
“Everything is sealed so no one knows what’s inside. Maybe it’s letters, pictures or even predictions of the future,” Myhre said.
At the moment, many residents have contributed to the time capsule, but the Township is giving individuals extra time and are still accepting submissions due to the ongoing pandemic.
“We’re very pleased with the present outcome. A lot of letters and a lot of art work were submitted,” Mayor Myhre stated. “We got contributions from about 50 to 100 people.”
“We’re continuing to take steps to make Stafford the best place it can be and help these future generations. The town and the country we live in is only great because of what people in the past have done. We want to continue on with that legacy and work for the future, so that’s what the time capsule is all about,” he said.
What are some of the things you would put in a time capsule? What are some of the things you would like to remember?
Any residents from Stafford Township who would like to contribute an item to the time capsule can send it or drop it off to the Mayor’s Office c/o Justin Riggs at 260 East Bay Avenue, Manahawkin, NJ 08050 for consideration. If you have questions, you can contact Justin Riggs at 609-597-1000 ext. 8559.
“We are encouraging everyone in the community to contribute,” Myhre said. “Any pictures, letters, artwork or small items. You can put in what you think someone in 50 years would think would be interesting and hopefully by then some of us will still be around to unearth the capsule.”
