Today St Mary's College (CIC) will bury a time capsule that will remain underground for 50 years, until the school's 200th anniversary.A rare event in Trinidad, a time capsule is a container sealed away with the intention that it should be opened by a future generation.After having unearthed a time capsule buried in 1934 to mark the completion of its northern wing, school staff and pupils once again will bury a time capsule, this time to cap off celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the school's foundation by the Holy Ghost Fathers.
The last time capsule, a glass object about the size of a wine bottle, was nestled in a cavity in the wall behind a stone plaque for 79 years.The artefacts rolled up and tucked into the capsule were retrieved in a delicate condition. Paper documents were yellowed and frayed and special Vatican coins had become discoloured.
Specialists from the National Library and Information Services Authority (Nalis) were present to help safely remove copies of the T&T Guardian, the now defunct Port-of-Spain Gazette, the Catholic News and a hand-written scroll signed by the pre-independence governor of the day, Alfred Claud Hollis.
The new time capsule also will feature a copy of the T&T Guardian, along with new additions– Express and Newsday. Also to be placed in the capsule are new T&T coins and banknotes, a copy of the Catholic News, CIC school uniforms throughout the years, and a Saints football team uniform signed by the Intercol side.
The capsule is expected to remain buried for the next 50 years and Nestor Lambert, communications officer of the St Mary's College Past Students Union, described how they would ensure the artefacts would be better preserved this time around.He said: "Items this time will be buried in a specially imported container, designed specifically for this purpose."Nalis will deacidify and alkalinise the newspapers which will neutralise the harmful acids in the newspapers to prevent discoloration and fraying."
The new capsule will be buried in a cavity inside the central building, near the principal's office, and will be covered by an engraved marble plaque.There will be a Mass and a ceremony today for the event which Lambert described as "a way of preserving history."With more and more people now relying on the Internet to gather news, 50 years from now when these items are dug up from the ground, they can be very unfamiliar to a future generation.
"With the rapid advancement of technologies, people may be shocked at how we used to communicate," said Lambert.