by John Derr, Publisher

This spring, the Chestnut Hill Conservancy will place in the ground a time capsule to be opened in their centennial year in 2067. A ceremony will take place on April 27 of this year at the Conservancy for the burial of the time capsule. Then, in 2067, another event will be held for its unearthing.

A lot happens in a half-century. Think about how much has changed in the world in the past five decades. It is safe to say that those of us around now when the capsule is buried and those who will be around when it is opened may have few points of reference. But two things are certain: Both groups will read about it that week in the Chestnut Hill Local, and the Conservancy’s work will ensure the area’s evolution results in a community as special in 2067 as it is today.

For the past 60 years, the Local has been a weekly time capsule of sorts – snapshots of a time and a place and a community. It has chronicled the important news and events and personalities of the day. A trip through 60 years of issues of the Local (all bound and housed, by the way, at the Conservancy) is like a time-lapse history with the shutter speed set at one week.

The burying of the time capsule is taking place during the Local’s 60th anniversary year. It provides a perfect opportunity for the Conservancy and the Local to work together with you to capture a snapshot of Chestnut Hill today.

The Conservancy would like the public to get involved and donate items that reflect what Chestnut Hill is today to place in the time capsule. The news story on page 1 of this week’s Local informs you on the types of artifacts the Conservancy suggests and other important details. More information can be found at chconservancy.org/timecapsule

We at the Local would like also like to invite you to participate in our 60th anniversary by sharing thoughts on what the Local has meant to you over the years and remembrances of people and stories from the Local over the past 60 years. We plan to produce an anniversary special edition at the end of March. Perhaps some of those contributions will appear in that section, which we plan to place in the time capsule.

We hope you will take advantage of these opportunities to memorialize this fragment of time for future generations.

Please contact Lori@chconservancy.org with any questions about the project.