SKOWHEGAN — More than a dozen children were read a story called “The Busy Building” at the Skowhegan Free Public Library on Tuesday before descending the old winding stairs to the basement, where a time capsule was being assembled.

The kids, ranging in ages from 2 to 11, each wrote on a slip of paper the name of their favorite book, their favorite place in Skowhegan and a message to people of the future. The slips were then placed into the time capsule to be “buried” in the ceiling of the renovated basement.

Additional Photos

FOR FUTURE READERS: Angie Herrick, right, the children's librarian at Skowhegan Public Library, shows local children some of the artifacts placed into the time capsule that will be sealed in to the ceiling of the basement at the library on Tuesday. The children also wrote letters and drew pictures that will be placed in the capsule. Staff photo by Michael G. Seamans

The $2 million renovation project at the library on Elm Street is expected to be completed by the end of the year, said library Director Dale Jandreau.

In 50 years, said Children’s Librarian Angie Herrick, the kids — then in their 50s and 60s — can come back and take a look inside and remember.

Emma York, 10, said she likes the idea of a time capsule with her own little piece of Skowhegan in it.

“I think it’s pretty cool because people get to know about what we did back then — back here,” she said. “I’ll probably come back when I’m older and just remember.”

As for the future, Emma wrote that she hoped every one will be safe and “everything turns out fine.”

The time capsule will contain business cards from Provencial Plumbing, which made the time capsule out of PVC tubing; Quinn Hardware, who donated the materials for the capsule; Steve Dionne, the contractor doing all the construction on the renovations; and the library’s business card and bookmark.

There also is a library medallion, a New York Times best seller list from today, a poem from Jeffrey Bowzer, a newspaper comic about libraries, a copy of the library’s monthly newsletter Library Lookout, a 2012 Summer Reading Program brochure, and a letter from Town Manager John Doucette.

Children’s Librarian Angie Herrick said she purchased some postcards of Skowhegan, a 2012 dollar bill and some current stamps to add to the capsule. Toys the children selected and photos of the current library trustees also were added.

Doug Harlow — 612-2367

dharlow@centralmaine.com

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