WHATELY — In celebration of the town’s 250th anniversary, residents left two gifts for future generations at the S. White Dickinson Memorial Library on Monday night.
The first gift, a granite bench adorned with the phrase, “The One and Only Whately,” was placed overlooking the valley. Susan Baron and Keith Bardwell, the 250th Committee co-chairs, are hopeful people will enjoy it for years to come.
The second gift is a time capsule, which will be buried at a later date because Baron and Bardwell didn’t want heavy machinery operating while children were running around the library grounds.
“We wanted to have an opportunity to leave something to the town and to future generations that could take in the beautiful view of the valley,” Bardwell said to the crowd of 100 people. “We came up with something that we know will last for generations to come.”
The time capsule, set to be opened in 50 years, was designed and built by Franklin County Technical School senior Emily Whitney and sophomore Patrick Gray, along with their instructor John Passiglia. The capsule will join one that was buried in 1971. Both will be opened in 2071 for the town’s tricentennial celebration.
Among the items included in the capsule are a copy of the Whately Scoop, the town’s quarterly newsletter; menus from the Whately Inn and Whately Diner; a list of residents; the 2021 town report; a Whately 250th candle created by Yankee Candle; Greenfield Recorder clippings from Frontier Regional School’s graduation; a list of the most circulated books from the library; a mask adorned with the Whately 250th logo; and letters from Whately Elementary School students.
Bardwell said the 1971 time capsule also included letters from Whately Elementary students and he wanted to continue that tradition.
“In 1971, there were about 168 letters that were put in that time capsule and most of us were students. I myself, in 1971, remember putting a letter in there,” he said. “We went back to the elementary school this year and asked the principal to get participation from the students. … The students in Whately Elementary have also contributed to it, so that 50 years from now they can all come back.”
State Rep. Natalie Blais, D-Sunderland, also stopped by the celebration to present the town with an official recognition from the state Legislature. She presented the certificate by Zoom last year.
“The entire membership extends its very best wishes and expresses the hope for future good fortune and continued success in all endeavors,” Blais said. “Congratulations Whately on your 250th anniversary.”
Folks were treated to live swing music from the Bad News Jazz and Blues Orchestra and were also given an opportunity to see the valley from a new angle with a tethered hot air balloon ride.
“I can’t think of anything better than going up in a balloon with swing music playing,” said West Whately resident Julia Mines. “This is fabulous. It’s like the gods conspired with the weather — it’s gorgeous.”
Baron said the celebration went great, and she is grateful so many people showed up and had a good time.
“It was a huge success,” she said. “Everyone had a fabulous time.”
Whately’s 10 days of 250th anniversary festivities will continue through Sunday. Details about events can be found at whately250.com.