History resurfaced on Sept. 26 as West Essex administrators dug out and opened a 50 year old time capsule from the walls of West Essex Middle School, revealing a trove of letters, newspaper clippings and other objects that gave a glimpse into the lives of students from 1974.
The unveiling took place at the entrance to the Middle School gymnasium, where a large opening in the wall revealed a wooden box containing the half-century-old memories. Among the items inside the capsule were letters to the future principal, blueprints for renovations, the local newspaper, and invitations for what was to be the upcoming school dance.
“I thought it was extremely interesting to see what took place in 1976 at the middle school that the children were all excited about to put away as comparison to now, you know, what was in there,” Deborah Sacco-Calderone said.
While browsing the picture of the monthly student spotlight, an alumni noticed a plaque in the background and recalled that behind it was the old time capsule buried by her classmates, said Debbie Holinstat.
The blueprints outlined an ambitious plan for what originally would have been a $3 million renovation, now estimated to cost closer to around $20 million, one of its more promising features being a full-sized swimming pool.
Invitations for the school dance advertised the enticing offer of “pizza and punch” with tickets available for purchase during both school hours or at the door.
The front page of the enclosed local newspaper dated May, 1974 featured an editorial against allowing teenagers to ride their bikes along a specific path and stories about a local heist turned shooting.
The letter was written to the “gentlemen” responsible for the school today to express their gratitude for providing the education they do. Now, however, it was the gentlewoman and principal of the middle school, Dr. Donlevie, who read and posed with the letter.
Superintendent Damion Macioci said the contents of the time capsule represent West Essex in the bigger picture.
“It shows the culture that we’ve created, and other things that are going on here, started way back,” Maccoici said. “We have been able to carry on those traditions and continue to do all the great things that were going on here back then.”
