Officials say time capsule reflects current spirit of Westmoreland County

When the next generation of Westmoreland County employees opens a time capsule in front of the courthouse, they’ll see photos and documents of life in 2023.

They’ll even see a covid-19 in-home test.

As snow flurries danced in the air, a small group of Westmoreland employees gathered for a quick ceremony Monday to watch officials bury the capsule in the building’s courtyard. The time capsule will be opened in 2048.

“This is is very much the spirit from our 250th anniversary,” Commissioner Sean Kertes said.

Officials spent months gathering items such as commencement announcements from the county’s colleges, primary election ballots, copies of the Tribune-Review and other collectables from local towns, festivals and county government. Items from years past also were placed in the time capsule, including a program detailing the swearing in of public officials in 1999 and the dedication of the renovated courthouse from 1979.

As part of the rebuilding of Courtyard Square that was completed this summer, officials constructed an above-ground weatherproof vault specifically designed for the time capsule project. Public works employees sealed the time capsule, which is expected to be opened in 25 years.

Westmoreland County chief clerk Vera Spina, who coordinated the time capsule effort, said the items buried for the future were selected to reflect the current times and as a gift for the next generation of county workers.

“We think there will be some employees still around in 25 years, and (we) wanted put in items that some people would remember,” Spina said. “I hope in 25 years they do this again. It would be cool.”