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Un ive r sity Tim e s ! C A MP US ! A pril 2 5 , 2 0 1 4
History in a Potato Barrel Katie York STAFF WRITER
The UMPI library was packed on March 16 with well over 100 people. The atmosphere was light with curiosity and excitement. The ground floor sported a wide range of display tables and a buffet table. Students, senior citizens, kids, families, faculty and staff…everyone had arrived to see the time capsule after 25 years in storage. It was time to add to its contents in honor of Aroostook County’s 175th incorporation anniversary. The turnout was incredible— there were so many people in attendance that there wasn’t enough room in the conference
the opening ceremony included introductions and greetings from members of the university and library, as well as a photo slideshow presentation of the County’s history. Everyone was encouraged to come into the conference room after the opening ceremony to watch volunteers remove items from the time capsule. The hosts of the event also said that they were adding a copy of a book, “Where Aroostook Begins,” to the time capsule and that they had limited numbers for sale. As the event progressed, voices rose and people mingled. Looking at our history gave Aroostook County residents old and new a chance to remember
Items from inside the time capsule from 25 years display. room for the opening ceremony. Anyone who couldn’t fit in the conference room milled about looking at the display tables, enjoying the buffet and talking among themselves. Meanwhile,
and appreciate. There were several exhibitions—including displays for county historical societies, TAMC, Husson University, Paul Cyr, Ted Shapiro, UMFK, UMPI and county quilts
made by Diana Rauch. Rauch explained that each quilt on display had a story. She pointed out a moose, truck and potato barrels on the smaller quilt and explained, “We used to have this crane that lifted potato barrels onto the back of the truck. Everything was done by hand back then.” Quilting was her way of remembering stories and recording history. The second, larger quilt had a patch in the corner that she dedicated to her children. Folk music performed live by local musicians Cathy Cowett, Larry Parks and Bruce Wilkins periodically seasoned the celebration. With a wide range of musical experience, Cowett admitted that many of her county memories were intertwined with music. “I started playing guitar when I was 8,” she said. “(My siblings and I) probably all started when we were young. Our mother played the guitar…we would have a jam session every Saturday night in the summer. People showed up from all over….” This particular opening of the time capsule was particuago on larly special for some groups. Individuals and organizations came forward to put new materials into the time capsule, one of these groups being the Aroostook Band of Micmacs. Band representative John Dennis explained that the last
time the capsule was opened was in ’89, prior to the Aroostook Band of Micmacs being formed. “We wanted to put a basket in the capsule, but were asked to add something smaller. So we’re bringing sweet grass for the time capsule.” The braided New items going inside the time sweet grass was capsule on display. blessed with a meIn 25 years, the time capsule morial hymn and added to the time capsule. People also added will be opened again. This items such as commemorative year’s attendants might be prespamphlets and brochures and a ent to see it, along with new legislative sentiment read out residents with new stories to loud to the audience. The event tell. They’ll come to see the concluded with the cover placed history and share with each back on the time capsule in other. They’ll come to see the preparation for storage in the li- potato barrel time capsule and brary’s special collections room. remember.
Time capsule barrel.