Gloucester Township To Bury Time Capsule This Fall

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Gloucester Township turned 325 years old in 2020, but the big celebration the township had planned was one of the many events that had to be canceled amid the coronavirus pandemic.

With New Jersey continuing to reopen, and the number of deaths and new cases dropping statewide, the township can celebrate, and will do so with a big event this fall. Read more here: Another Big Reopening Day In NJ: What You Can Do Now Amid COVID

In September, a time capsule will be buried at the Historic Gabreil Daveis Tavern. Significant items will be buried in the time capsule, to be dug up by future generations. By doing this, the township hopes to allow its heritage to live on for many years to come.

“Here in Gloucester Township, we value our community organizations and the impact they have on our hometown,” township officials said in the announcement. “We would like to extend this unique opportunity to organizations in Gloucester Township to submit items deemed significant to be placed in the time capsule that will be buried in September 2021, date to be determined.”

Local groups, organizations, and institutions are welcome to submit their items to the Mayor’s Office by Aug. 2. The time capsule will be unearthed in the year 2070.

Anyone interested in participating can submit items of significance including, but not limited to photos, documents, small trophies, etc. All items must fit in a gallon-sized Ziploc bag.

In addition to the items, organizations can submit a group photo that includes the organization’s name and the names of those pictured.

Gloucester Township and Egg Harbor Township were the two towns that made up Gloucester County as of 1683, according to the township's website. Gloucester Township derived its name from the cathedral city of Gloucester on the banks of the River Severn in England.

It further subdivided into four smaller towns, and was one of New Jersey's first townships to incorporate, on June 1, 1695. It became part of Camden County in 1884.

It consists of more than 63,000 people, as of 2019. It covers 23.2 miles of land, with eight primary communities. It is home to the Chew-Powell House, the oldest house in Camden County and one of the oldest buildings in the state. It was built in 1688.

For more information on the time capsule, contact the Gloucester Township Mayor’s Office at 856-374-3514.