ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Peabody Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt Jr. and Administrative Assistant to the Mayor Mary Bellavance look at an aerial map of Peabody from the 1881 time capsule they opened at City Hall.
BY ADAM SWIFT
PEABODY — It’s hard to escape the impact late Mayor Peter Torigian had on Peabody.
Torgian’s successors, Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt Jr. and former mayor Michael Bonfanti, opened up a pair of time capsules at City Hall on Wednesday.
Torigian’s presence was predictably heavy with a 1989 capsule featuring a number of photos of him and copies of his inaugural speeches.
But there was also a reminder of the late mayor’s tenure as Bettencourt exposed the 1881 capsule, which was opened and resealed in 1989, and extracted a “Torigian for Mayor” bumper sticker.
“I remember when these used to be on a lot of cars back in the day,” said Bettencourt.
As was the case that year, the reopening was prompted by the move of the city’s Civil War monument, where the memories are stored. The monument is being shifted closer to the courthouse as part of Peabody Square’s reconstruction.
The 1881 time capsule was heavy on documents listing Peabody soldiers and sailors who served during the Civil War, or the “Rebellion of 1861-1865,” as it was referred to on one of the troop listings.
“I see a lot of names here that are honored with streets and intersections in this city,” said Bettencourt.
In addition to the bumper sticker, a number of maps were added to the 1881 capsule that showed the city’s growth from the 19th to late 20th centuries.
While the time capsule from 1989 is only 27 years old, Bettencourt said it offered a snapshot of Peabody’s place in the world.
Topping the stack of mementos was a letter from Torigian.
“Take pride in your city, as its history offers much that has come before you and will offer much to those who come after you,” he wrote.
Also in the most recent time capsule were letters from the Welch Elementary School and several newspapers from 1989, including The Daily Item.
“Being in this position with people who know the city so well, I’ve grown to appreciate the city’s history and the impact it has had on Massachusetts and the United States,” said Bettencourt.
Bonfanti, who served as mayor from 2002-2012, said he was happy to join an event that jolted his memory and reminded him of an earlier time.
“It’s nice to be a part of history,” he said.
Bill Toomey, who was a city councilor in 1989, said he was also happy to be part of reopening the time capsules.
“Obviously, I love it,” said Toomey. “I was in it 26 years ago and I try to keep my fingers in there now.”
All the keepsakes from the time capsules will be on display at the library on Main Street for the next several weeks. Later this summer, there will be a rededication of the Civil War monument and the items will be resealed in the capsules and returned to the monument.
The city is soliciting items to include in a 2016 time capsule that will be added at the time of the rededication. Anyone with donations or suggestions is encouraged to contact the mayor’s office at City Hall.
Adam Swift can be reached at aswift @itemlive.com.
