help pg 1 1-19-23
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- Category: Current Issue
caption, page 3:
Getting Time Capsule Ready
The Aspinock Historical Society’s committee working on the next 25-year time capsule poses next to the previous time capsule memorabilia. From left: Terri Pearsall, Jeanne Benoit, Bill Pearsall and Joy Lizotte. Items to be included in the upcoming time capsule are due to the society by Jan. 26. Linda Lemmon photo.
Help
preserve
Putnam's
history
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Help wanted.
A lot of it
From all corners.
The Aspinock Historical Society is almost ready to close the lid on its next 25-year time capsule.
But first they need the past 25 years of Putnam’s history to put inside. Back to 1997 when the first time capsule was closed. Current entries will join the entries from before 1997 in the handmade wooden box time capsule. The society intends to lock up the time capsule the morning of Saturday, Jan. 28th.
They’d like input from citizens by Jan. 26.
Committee members Terri Pearsall, Town Historian Bill Pearsall, Jeanne Benoit and Joy Lizotte have already been gathering information on events like the construction and opening the Putnam Municipal Town Hall, events downtown, events/improvements in Rotary Park, special anniversaries like the Putnam Police Department’s 125th anniversary and the Mayotte-Viens American Legion Post 13’s 100th anniversary, the renovation and ribbon cutting of the Gertrude Chandler Warner Boxcar Museum, the renovation of the Coca-Cola mural downtown, the sheep statue now gracing Rotary Park, Cady-Copp Cottage and much more.
Aspinock intends to include local media, its newsletter, information on School Street and its new home in the Municipal Complex, IHSP and Putnam maps, photo albums and more. They intend to add information on the pandemic.
Benoit is handling predictions from elementary school children. In the 1997 time capsule, opened in January 2022, elementary students wrote what Putnam was like, what they liked about it. Kids back then said they liked all the activities and playing fields. This year students are saying they like their classes and the school and the Holiday Dazzle Light parade. Teachers helping include Allison Lundy, Christy Gervais, Chelsea Calabrese and Kate Simanski.
Terri Pearsall said the time capsule needs business cards, sports memorabilia, athletic events, programs from special events. She said they’ve asked the Putnam Arts Council for items/info on art installations including the trashe can painting campaign. The society prefers hard copies because they’re not sure if flash drives will work in 25 years when the time capsule is opened.
Benoit added “anything that in 25 years someone might not know about.”
Anyone with questions can call 860-963-6800, ext.300. The Historical Society is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in the Municipal Complex. Or items can be mailed to: Aspinock Historical Society, 200 School St., Putnam CT 06260.