Time capsule in Highland will be relocated Oct. 22

A lot can happen in 50 years. Just imagine how the world will have changed by 2039 — especially when compared with how things were in 1989, which is when Highland Township first buried its time capsule.

Much has changed in the 22 years since the capsule was buried — and not just going from cassette tapes to CDs to MP3s. The land the capsule was buried in has since changed ownership and may do so again soon.

On Oct. 21, 1989, the capsule was buried in a small pocket park owned by the township on the corner of Milford and Livingston roads.

However, for the past decade the land has been owned by a private citizen who has now put the property up for sale.

That’s why the township has opted to move the capsule into a more permanently-owned piece of township property near the township library.

Yet, the items that have been buried in the time capsule will remain a mystery — at least for the next 28 years.

“We’re not going to be opening the vault. We are just moving the capsule from one location to another,” said Township Supervisor Triscia Pilchowski.

According to Treasurer Judy Kiley, who is serving on a committee that deals with the time capsule, she hasn’t seen a list of what may be in the capsule, although some things that are said to be inside include newspaper clippings and a book about Oakland County.

“We’re just moving it and at the same time making sure people are aware that the time capsule is here in Highland,” she said.

There will be a small ceremony held on Saturday, Oct. 22 at the library to move the capsule to its new location. Although the program hasn’t been finalized, coffee, donuts, and cider will be a part of the event.

“Both the committee and the library saw this as an opportunity to take advantage of the situation to inspire people to learn about the history of the township in general,” Pilchowski said.

“We want to get everybody who is interested to be there,” Kiley added.

The library is located at 444 Beach Farm Circle, north of M-59 and east of Milford Road.