West Haven Burying Time Capsule To Mark Nation’s 250th Anniversary

Written by Michael P. Walsh

WEST HAVEN, CT — As part of the city’s 2026 festivities celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, Mayor Dorinda Borer will bury a time capsule on the Green at 6 p.m. Wednesday for a future generation of Westies to discover.

The burial of “West Haven’s America 250 Time Capsule,” which is about the size of a breadbox, will commemorate the official signing of the Declaration of Independence, which was inked 250 years ago last month.

The 90-minute ceremony is open to the public and will include food trucks, the singing of the national anthem by Allie Johnstone and patriotic musical performances. The rain date is Thursday.

Borer said she chose Sept. 9 for the event because of its historical significance in America’s founding. On Sept. 9, 1776, the Second Continental Congress officially changed the nation’s name from the “United Colonies” to the “United States of America.”

Using gold-painted shovels, Borer and members of the West Haven Time Capsule Committee will bury the capsule about 3 feet under a large memorial stone commemorating the American Revolution on the northwest corner of the Green, at Main Street and Savin Avenue.

On July 5, 1987, the memorial stone was dedicated by the West Haven Historical Society at the spot where British Adjutant William Campbell saved the Rev. Noah Williston of West Haven’s First Congregational Church from certain death at the hands of British soldiers and Hessian Jager mercenaries during the British invasion of New Haven on July 5, 1779.

This July, Borer and the committee requested suggestions for the time capsule, which greatly contributed to the items that will be buried. The capsule will contain everything from historical writings from the American Revolution and a flip phone to a COVID-19 face mask and toys, according to organizer Beth Sabo of the mayor’s office.

“I hope to see our community come together for this historic process,” Borer said.

Borer said that 10 West Haven High School history students have been chosen as “Student Ambassadors of History” for the capsule’s unearthing 50 years from now on America’s tricentennial, July 4, 2076.

“We have heard about time capsules being buried in the city before, but no one seems to know exactly where they are,” the mayor said. “We don’t want that to happen this time, so the students, along with a declaration that will be hung in the city clerk’s office, will be the keepers of the information so that our future generation can find and enjoy our time capsule.”

Police will close Main Street, between Savin and Campbell avenues, during the ceremony.