Think back to 50 years ago, way before we had flying cars or peace-keeping robots patrolling the streets. Cell phone camera technology was probably way less advanced, which explains why it took more than a half-century for us as a people to nail the art of snapping pictures of our ugly mugs in front of everything and coming up with a ubiquitous cutesy name for it. Can you imagine a world without selfies? (We can; it was like 10 months ago.)
Anyway. it was a different era back then, for sure, and one we’re about to have the chance to revisit, thanks to a time capsule buried beneath City Hall Plaza in 1965.
The ultimate reveal will have to wait until the city celebrates its 250th birthday in 2015, but that doesn’t mean we can’t tease you all now. That teasing process begins June 6, when the time capsule is unearthed as part of a downtown extravaganza that officially kicks off the 250th celebration.
The Concord Historical Society is holding a time capsule unearthing ceremony at City Plaza at 6 p.m. June 6, when the capsule will be extracted for all to see – from the outside. It will then spend the next year being ogled by Concordians in advance of the big reveal.
The evening will begin at 5 p.m., with a gathering at City Plaza featuring ’60s music played by WJYY. The program will officially begin at 6, with the national anthem performed by Nathan Smith, a flag presentation from the Boy Scouts, a Concord Chorale performance, and remarks from Mayor Jim Bouley, president of the Concord Historical Society Jim Milliken and president of Concord 250 Brent Todd.
Up next is the official unearthing, followed by a procession to Merrimack County Savings Bank for a reception where the capsule will be preserved and displayed until June 2015, when it will officially be cracked open (note: there probably won’t be any actual cracking). Things we hope to find inside: candy, mostly. But also some cool ’60s memorabilia. Or any kind of abilia, if we’re being honest.
And then you can dance your faces off. There will be a Concord 250 “Dancin’ in the Street” party on Capitol Street, featuring live music by Club Soda band, a ’60s photo booth, an antique car show and the chance to participate in a sweet new community mosaic art project that will be presented to the city for the 250th anniversary.
For more information about the celebration, or anything to do with the 250th anniversary, visit facebook.com/ConcordNH250.
