Did you know that Townsend has a Time Capsule buried in front of Town Hall? Yup, we do. It was buried on July 24,1982 in celebration of the towns 250th anniversary and it has a planned opening of July 2032. How old will you be then?
The capsule supposedly contains newspapers, town reports, photographs and articles sealed in a concrete box. Ray Bolden, the Highway Superintendent, did the sealing as the Selectmen and a few townspeople looked on, but nothing marked the exact location of the Time Capsule. After about six years the Townsend Historical Society began a campaign to raise funds for a suitable marker. Townsend officials did not want the 1982 capsule to be lost in time. They knew of the situation in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania where when preparing to dig up a time capsule buried by their predecessors in 1962 they were unable to find its exact location. All the community members who probably knew of its location were long passed.
Townsend would be prepared thanks to the help of the THS and Mr and Mrs Paul Nixon of West Townsend, and Ray Bolden who sealed the capsule that day. He had saved the “measurements to the old maple tree, the cannon and perhaps a certain rock in the walk.” Mr and Mrs Nixon donated a piece of Dakota Granite and from funds raised by the THS the stone was able to be engraved. The town would no longer have to worry about where the capsule is buried.
The next time you are at Town Hall take a walk to the front, left hand side of the grass area, and look down. You will see the granite marker level with the ground. It reads:
BENEATH THIS STONE IS
TOWNSEND’S 250TH
ANNIVERSARY
TIME CAPSULE
PLACED JULY 1982
TO BE OPENED JULY 2032
Attending the plaque dedication ceremony were THS President Joyce Marinel, Directors Dorothy Pillsbury and William Frey, Selectmen Andrea Wood and Gene Dilda, Historical Society member Mary West, 250th Anniversary Committee member Dr Robert Marriott, and Paul and Barbara Nixon, who donated the stone for the plaque. (Information gathered from letters by Ed West.)
Remember the date …. July 2032 !
🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 So, now about the New Townsend Community Time Capsule ….. Drumroll Please – Hip Hip Hooray !
Townsend’s Community Time Capsule
‘Life in Townsend in 2025-2026 ‘
Create a snapshot of Townsend today with family photos, letters, drawings, keepsakes and more!
🎉The Townsend Historical Society and the Townsend MA250th Committee invite you to participate in this project.
We invite every member of our community – individuals, families, businesses, organizations, groups etc to participate in creating this special snapshot of “Life in Townsend in 2025-2026.” We want to know about your life in Townsend in 2025/2026.
Create your own Time Capsule Bag to be placed in the Community Time Capsule!
We will be including the transcriptions of the recent interviews conducted by our NMRHS students of 5 Townsend senior citizens talking about their memories of growing up in Townsend. Photographs and information from the April 19, 2025 March from the Townsend Common along the Rail Trail, in honor of Townsend’s 73 Patriots who marched to Concord, will also be placed in the Community Time Capsule. Records of events taking place in Townsend this year will be placed in the Time Capsule, and we hope you will participate and include your reflections on your life in Townsend.
The capsule will be sealed during the planned Townsend Parade and Old Home Day Celebration on June 20, 2026, and it will be opened in 50 years in July 2076 to celebrate our country’s 300th birthday. I’m sure the future citizens of Townsend in 2076 will enjoy looking back at what life was like in Townsend in 2025/2026.
Purchase your Time Capsule Bag Kit for a $10.00 Donation
Proceeds go to support the Townsend Historical Society
The Kit includes an archival quality bag, archival paper, #2 pencils for writing, Instruction Guidelines, and ideas to get you started in creating your personal time capsule with family and friends.
This is a perfect multigenerational gift to share when families gather together over the holidays.
Pick Up your Time Capsule Kit at the Townsend Public Library and Senior Center Holiday Fair on December 6th ….and later at the Townsend Public Library or Townsend Senior Center through May 2026
Drop Off your completed bag at the Library or Senior Center by May 30, 2026.
🎉 The Time Capsule will be closed at Townsend’s planned
MA250th Parade and Old Home Day Celebration on June 20, 2026. 🎉
🎉The Time Capsule will be opened in 50 years in July 2076 to celebrate our country’s 300th birthday
