WILTON — In July of 1953, the town of Wilton assembled to bury a time capsule, not to be opened by the town until the year 2103. In the fresh new year, Wilton is approaching the halfway point of the capsule’s 150 year journey and with time, the people of yesterday and the children of tomorrow will soon metaphorical shake hands with the opening of the time capsule.

The time capsule’s inspiration came from the Westinghouse Time Capsules, specifically the first time capsule buried at the World’s Fair in 1939. Wilton resident Dr. Maynard. B. Colley was visiting New York City in April of 1953. It was at the Museum of Natural Science where Colley learned about the capsule and brought the idea back home to Wilton.

Colley headed the committee to bring the idea of the time capsule to life and have it buried in the town on July 12, 1953. The capsule was to remain sealed until the town’s tricentennial celebration in the year 2103.

When asked about why specifically 150 years was chosen, Bruce Gilbert, who wrote about the time capsule based on scraps and clippings found at the Goodspeed Memorial Library [now the Wilton Free Public Library], wrote that 50 years seemed too short and 100 years was well beyond the life span of those involved with the time capsule. Based on his research, it was decided to make it 150 years to line the time capsule up with the town’s tricentennial celebration.

He also added the capsule was filled to the brim and had no liquids stored in the capsule. An insecticide power was sprinkled on the contents of the capsule and the contents contained with an iron cover with non-rustable nuts and bolts.

The capsule is also placed in an asbestos gasket. The capsule is buried in downtown Wilton near the soldier’s monument with clear instructions on when it was buried and when it will be uncovered.

Another time capsule was placed at the same location in 2003, where it will wait to be opened in 2053.

Inside the capsules, Wilton descendants will finds photographs of important places in Wilton, sketches, speeches and letters from the sesquicentennial celebration, an assortment of magazines and newspapers, products made in Wilton, a variety of cigarette brands, a 1920s electric light bulb, historical data and other culturally significant items.

In his speech at the sesquicentennial celebration, Colley thanked his fellow committee members Katherine Armstrong, Harry Gould, Oscar Chandler and Mary Bass.

“We owe our thanks to all of you who have written up the historical accounts of our various industries, our schools, our churches, and our many organizations,” Colley said in his speech.

By the time the capsule opens and reveals the contents, the newborn children of today will be approaching their 80s and it will fall upon their children to open the capsule and dig into whatever treasures it may hold. 150 years separates them, but when that capsule opens, they will get a glimpse of the lives of the people who came before them.

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