By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Talk about planning ahead.
The Wood County Historical Center wants to get a spot on local citizens’ calendars, so it is sending out “Save the Date” cards – for 2075. That is when the historical center’s time capsule from this year will be opened.
The museum is asking local residents to submit items or ideas of what exactly should be placed in the time capsule.
“We’ve put a call out for people to make suggestions and provide content,” said Dana Nemeth, director of the historical center. The capsule will be filled this summer when the elevator at the museum is completed and the grand reopening is held.
To people thinking about what items they would like to share with future generations, the historical center is also offering people a chance to make their own time capsules.
Nemeth suggested the best items to enclose in the capsule may be family photos, children’s letters to themselves, predictions about people, videos, information about pets and grandparents. “The more personal the better,” she said.
Items to avoid would be favorite foods – even if they are canned since they can explode. Nemeth suggested food labels instead, such as favorite candy wrappers.
And don’t bother with general historic information such as who is president right now. That information can be found anywhere – make your time capsule personal. “Reflect on your everyday life,” she said.
During a recent visit to the historical museum, George Stossel and Vicki Knauerhase, of Bowling Green, joked about items they might put in their own time capsule.
“I could put a thumb drive in and see if they could read it,” Stossel said.
“By then, they’ll have computer bits buried in their heads,” Knauerhase said.
And what might make a safe, airtight container? Stossel suggested Tupperware. “The everyman’s time capsule,” Knauerhase joked.
Following are some suggestions for time capsules from the historical center:
- Burying time capsules can be risky. The best place may be in a closet in your house. It should be a location with a stable temperature and humidity.
- Aluminum or stainless steel containers will be the most stable, but can be expensive. A photo storage box made of acid-free paper materials would be less costly.
- Keep a record of when the capsule should be opened and label the box.
- Avoid rubber, wood, and fabrics made of wool, silk and nylon. Cotton and polyester are OK.
- Include photos of family, friends and pets. Print photos on fiber-based papers.
- Avoid newsprint. Photocopy clippings instead.
- Don’t store food.
- Have children write letters to themselves.
- Do a family questionnaire to add to the capsule.
- Don’t let items touch each other inside the capsule. Place them in conservation quality storage bags or wrap in acid-free tissue paper.
- Place coins and other metal objects in tarnish-reducing enclosures.
- Place computer equipment and electronic date media in corrosion and static-intercept enclosures.
- Place heaviest items on the bottom of the time capsule.
