The Biddeford Cultural & Heritage Center is seeking community suggestions about what to place inside a sealed time capsule that won’t be opened until 2076 — 50 years from now

By RANDY SEAVER | Editor

What will life in Biddeford look like 50 years from now?

In 2076, will there finally be flying cars, a third bridge connecting Biddeford and Saco or a new high school?

Will we still use smart phones and the internet? Will newspapers still be printed? Will laptop computers go the way of eight-track players that were popular 50 years ago?

While it’s fun to contemplate what the future may look like and about how our culture may change over the next 50 years, a group of volunteers is now working on a project to give future generations a chance to learn what Biddeford was like in 2026.

Volunteers from the Biddeford Cultural & Heritage Center (BCHC) are now seeking ideas and contributions for items that will be placed in a time capsule and not opened until 2076 – 50 years from now.

. . .

The project’s goal is to “preserve a snapshot of life in Biddeford in 2026,” said Diane Cyr, president of BCHC board of directors.

“We want to capture what life is like in Biddeford today through items that represent the community, its people, and everyday life,” Cyr said.

The ornate time capsule – measuring 20 inches in length and four inches in diameter — will be sealed and placed in a display case during a Jan. 7, 2027 ceremony at the Lincoln Hotel.

“A lot can change in 50 years,” Cyr said. “When I think back 50 years ago – to 1976 – that was the year I graduated from high school. There was no such thing as the internet. No one had cell phones.”

“A lot can change
in 50 years.”

–Diane Cyr

The time capsule project was conceived by Diane Beaupre, an active BCHC volunteer.

“We were working on the sesquicentennial celebration and brainstorming ideas about how to celebrate America’s 250^th birthday in Biddeford,” Beaupre said. “My mind was filled with all sorts of ideas.”

Beaupre, 67, said she loves learning about history, but began wondering what local history buffs in the future would want to know about 2026 life in Biddeford.

“I would want to know about the city’s past if I were alive in 2076,” Beaupre said. “I thought this project would be a great way to bring history forward.”

What to put in the 2076 Time Capsule?

. . .

Cyr said she is hoping Biddeford residents and others will come up with ideas about items that can be stored and preserved for the next 50 years.

“We want to reflect a wide cross-section of the community,” Cyr said. “It’s not a large capsule, so we need items that are small and can be easily preserved.”

Cyr said she is already reaching to several organizations and community groups for ideas, including church bulletins, a downtown walking map from the Heart of Biddeford, postage stamps and a showbill flyer from City Theater.

Because space is limited, all submissions will be reviewed and curated by the BCHC, but not every item can be included.

Cyr said her organization is looking for items “that reflect everyday life, local culture and the experiences of people living in Biddeford.”

Possible contributions include, letters, personal stories, drawings, artwork, and other paper-based creations; receipts showing everyday purchases and prices; restaurant menus and other local business materials.

Beaupre and Cyr wonder whether small, portable computer drives, CDs or DVDs should be included.

“Will they be able to easily download a CD or connect a USB device 50 years from now?” Beaupre asked rhetorically.

Spreading the word, engaging the community

. . .

The Biddeford Cultural & Heritage Center is getting a big boost for its 2076 Time Capsule project.

Damien Lewis, 21, is a senior studying business administration at the University of New England.

As part of a class requirement, Lewis is volunteering with the BCHC and will be taking point on soliciting community ideas and collecting items for the time capsule.

“It’s really a fascinating project,” he said.

A native of Fitchburg, Mass., Lewis said the Biddeford-Saco area reminds him of the symbiotic relationship between the cities of Fitchburg and Leominster, Massachusetts.

When deciding what non-profit group he wanted to help, Lewis said the name of the Biddeford Cultural & Heritage Center struck a chord and piqued his interest.

Lewis said he is seeking public ideas and suggestions for the time capsule by conducting pop-up interviews with people he meets while walking through Biddeford’s downtown area.

Lewis said some people are eager to offer suggestions while others aren’t sure they want to participate in the engagement process.

“It’s a chance to do
something bigger
than yourself.”

— Damien Lewis, UNE student

Lewis has a quick smile and a friendly demeanor. He hopes one day to play professional football. He’s a running back with the Division III UNE Nor’easters.

But despite growing up in Massachusetts and studying in Biddeford, Lewis is not a big New England Patriots fan.

“My dad was born in Baltimore,” he explains with a smile. “So, I grew up watching the Ravens.”

Lewis said he is excited to see the time capsule project come together.

“This is a great way to be more involved with the community, and help it, too,” Lewis said. “It’s a chance to do something bigger than yourself.”

More information about the 2076 Time Capsule

Cyr said she is looking forward to hearing about community suggestions for what should be placed in the cylinder.

Items that cannot be used include food or perishable items; liquids; materials that may degrade, leak, or damage other items over time; weapons or weapon replicas; and any item that may pose a safety risk or damage the capsule’s contents.

Due to the capsule’s limited size, items should be small and suitable for long-term preservation. Submitting an item does not guarantee that it will be selected for inclusion.

For more information about the project, contribution ideas, or how to submit an item, please contact Diane Cyr at the Biddeford Cultural & Heritage Center by email at bchc04005@gmail.com or by phone at 207-283-3993.

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