On July 26, Granby took an important step to preserve a piece of our community’s history for future generations with the burial of the Town of Granby America 250 time capsule on the main campus of the Salmon Brook Historical Society.
Created as part of the nation’s America 250 celebration, the time capsule’s contents are a snapshot of Granby as it exists in 2026. It is intended to give future Granby residents a look back to discover what life in the community was like at the time of America’s 250th anniversary.
The capsule is intended to be opened during Granby’s Tricentennial Celebration in July 2076—50 years from now.
A tremendous amount of work went into preparing the materials the box contains. Special thanks go to Archivist Sarah Langdon and Assistant Archivist Sue Oliveira for carefully cataloging more than nine single-spaced pages of items included in the capsule. Their work will help to ensure future generations understand the significance and context of the materials preserved for them.
Sincere appreciation also to Board President Howard Berg and Board Member Roland Fitzroy for their help preparing and preserving the contents and ensuring the capsule was properly protected for the next 50 years.
A special thank you goes to the Public Works Department for digging the hole and making the burial possible. Thank you to State Representative Mark Anderson, First Selectman Mark Fiorentino and Selectmen Mark Neumann and Peggy Chapple for joining us and helping to bury the time capsule.
The time capsule has been registered with the International Time Capsule Association, providing an additional record of its existence and intended opening in 2076.
An in-ground plaque will be installed at the site to mark this special piece of Granby history and identify the location for those who visit the Salmon Brook Historical Society campus in the decades ahead.
There is something particularly meaningful about placing a message from our generation into the ground for people we will never meet. We can only imagine what Granby will look like in 2076, what technologies will exist, how the community will have changed and what stories future residents will tell about their town.
We hope that when the time capsule is opened during the Granby Tricentennial Celebration in July 2076, the people gathered there will appreciate the thought and care that went into preserving this small piece of Granby’s history.
Until then, the capsule will rest beneath the grounds of the Salmon Brook Historical Society — a message from Granby 2026 to Granby 2076.