Most Friday Flashbacks look back in time.
Today’s also look forward.
The other day — July 4, in fact — Mark Mathias spotted this plaque, hidden away on the broad front lawn of the Saugatuck Congregational Church:
The message is straightforward: 49 years ago — to commemorate America’s bicentennial — a time capsule was buried.
It was to be opened 50 years later, on our semiquincentennial (250th birthday).
Presumably, it’s buried underneath the plaque.
The church has a year to figure out how to dig it up, and what kind of ceremony to hold. Mark has already notified the church moderator and council.
(NOTE: The plaque refers to the Saugatuck Church as the site of the founding of Westport, in 1835. That’s true. But at the time, the church building was located diagonally across the street, where the gas station and bank are now.)
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Wow!
another example of how WSPT is always it’s own running Twilight Zone episode, this sounds like a strong start to another new episode 😉
Saugatuck Church is planning for some fun events surrounding the opening of the time capsule on or around July 4, 2026, so don’t touch that dial!