Time capsule contents, Big Picture revealed

LACONIA — Father Time was not kind to many of the items placed in a capsule near City Hall 25 years ago as part of the city's centennial celebration.

Those items, some of which were displayed at an event at the Belknap Mill yesterday, included a copy of The Citizen newspaper, a Historical Museum guest book, various items sold during the centennial celebration and photos of a fair, parade and fireworks.

Pam Clark, who as president of Celebrate Laconia has been organizing this year's 125th anniversary of the city's founding, helped bury the time capsule in 1993. She said water got into the small stone box, which was donated by Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home.

“It did not weather well,” she said. “We have some things on display and some things were thrown out. The photos had moisture damage and some were just blobs of color. The newspaper was just put in the box, not in plastic. You just can't believe how much dampness and moisture was in there.”

Some keys, a metal key chain and some pins survived intact, while some T-shirts rotted.

One of the things that did survive was an obituary for her uncle, Bob Dearborn, who served as Santa Claus in Laconia for many years and presided over the centennial celebration.

A new time capsule will be put together, but Clark plans to laminate the items and perhaps find an above-ground placement spot. This time, items placed in the time capsule may include things common in today's society such as a cell phone. She is taking suggestions on what to include.

Also unveiled last evening was the result of the “Big Picture” project, organized by Larry Frates, artist-in-residence of the Belknap Mill.

Local photographer Joanna DeCesare took a photo of the Belknap Mill, the Busiel Mill and the nearby gazebo. That image was then recreated by 104 4- by 4-inch squares painted by people in the community, including school children.

The contents of the time capsule will be on display at the Belknap Mill through July in honor of the 125th Anniversary Celebration. The Big Picture will also be on display at the mill until it is moved to its ultimate display space at Laconia City Hall early this summer.

The celebration will continue on Saturday, July 7, when there will be a 2-mile parade, followed by a party in Opechee Park, including fireworks.