I've decided to replace the entire floor structure of the kitchen.
It just makes sense. But things are kind of at a standstill waiting for the city
to approve my building permit. WTF? While I'm perfectly happy
in my temporary kitchen trying to perfect my toaster oven cassoulet,
I'd love for things to keep moving along. Hopefully soon.
In the meantime, I'm putting together a time capsule that I'll bury
between the two foundations under the kitchen. I have a few ideas
but wanted to get some suggestions from you. I'll, of course,
include a newspaper, a few blog posts about the house and a lot
of photographs of the house, the street and the neighborhood.
What items define this point in history that might
be of interest in 100 years?
I know it sounds crazy...but how about a flashdrive with info on it? I am sure it will be soo obsolete soon (like floppy discs, 8 tracks, walkmans, etc). Small but will keep them guessing 100 years from now...
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your remodeling journey. Your home is amazing!
I can definitely relate to the "hurry up and wait" portion in a reno. They'll be back working soon, just look at the process as a refresher course in patience :)
ReplyDeleteMaybe throw in an old cell phone...a month's worth of utility bills, some utilities may be obsolete when it's opened...copies of receipts for all the work you've done to the house...
am
What a great idea!
ReplyDeleteWe're in the middle of our own major re-do.
I think we'll borrow your idea + make our own time capsule!
Ours has to include a copy of the Chicago Tribune.
There probably won't BE newspapers in another 100 years.
TY for the idea!
Kay
redbirdv.wordpress.com
Do you have an old cell phone lying about? People might get a kick out of that in 100 years.
ReplyDeleteI would put in some folded flat cereal boxes. It's always fun to look old packaging. And a treasure such as an old watch or pair of earrings.
ReplyDeleteI would throw a non-working cellphone in just for the heck of it.
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of a time capsule. What a treat for someone, a hundred years from now, having the chance to see the cottages transformation. Maybe you could add a copy of a publication which you have been highlighted. Enjoy the cassoulet!
ReplyDeleteWhen we redid the floor in our kitchen we found a newspaper dated early 1900's so we put back in the floor a dollar bill, newspaper and letter and of course, my husband put an empty beer can. He worked many a long nite to restore our 1913 home.
ReplyDeleteSome suggestions ...data on the current tax rates for the state and the nation and property taxes on your property ... a bumper sticker that has political or social comment, a copy of a best selling book (maybe by Dennis Lehane?), photos of your home and yard as they look right now ... a brand new penny , a shot/nip bottle of good scotch or some other craft booze made in the Boston area, and (haha) the transcript to the Whitey Bulger trial.
ReplyDeletesuch a fun idea! what about ipod, newspaper or magazine,
ReplyDeletegreat idea. I think you mentioned a newspaper...my thought was the real estate section in your local paper. would be fun to see real estate prices from days gone by.... maybe a copy of the deed to your property?
ReplyDeletefun!
This may seem to go against the idea of preserving 2013, but how about some classic literary novels (Twain or whatever speaks to you), with a note attached to say that despite these being written X number of years ago, a classic will stand the test of time. Then perhaps add a favourite recent novel which may become a classic of its own.
ReplyDeleteHow about some coins? Sorry about the waiting on your floor.
ReplyDeleteA pix of you and your furry kids, with some basic info-why you fell in love with the house, who/how you entertain in the house, your fave room, and why--I would LOVE to have more info about the original owners/builders of this place. I've been able to find some online, but a personal note-that would be awesome.
ReplyDeleteWhen we had to replace the sill on the door to the backyard, we had to pour a new slice of concrete-and we wrote our initials with the date and the name we gave the place ( It's the Peony Palace, lol).
I like the idea of the capsule. Sorry you have to wait-but doing the floor the correct way will be so worth it later on. Since our buyers backed out, we are waiting once again as well. I'm OMing a lot these days!
Super idea! Go to those year-at-a-glance type sights and get a printout of the year 2013 and place that in there. Great ideas already shared.
ReplyDeletexo Nancy
First of all, you seem SO amazing, nice, calm, together that it was GREAT to see the WTF? remark!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBe sure to put a picture of you and the cats in there.......it would be great to put names and faces with the previous owners' back stories of your house!!!!
All the best!!!!
Rob
All great ideas, folks!
DeleteI know, Rob. My inner truck driver took over for a second.
Yes, I agree. Put a picture of you and the cats in there. And also put one here on the blog so we know who we are talking to. WTF!
ReplyDeleteI think the time capsule is a lovely idea. It should include something about Kim Kardashian.
In all seriousness, this will probably not be found for another 150 years so maybe put in an old cell phone or ipod, or a favorite music CD, maybe a razor and some lip balm or a pair of running shoes. :)
xo Terri
And put in some money. I'm sure cash and coins will be obsolete by then. Maybe some cold remedy. You know they still won't have figured out how to cure the common in 100 years.
ReplyDeleteHow about a copy of your library card and en explanation of how they work(ed). Think they'll still exist?
I could go on and on but I'll give someone else the floor.
xo J.
How about a bottle of an anxiety medication? If the owner of your cottage is ripping up floors in 100-150 years from now, he'll probably need it.
ReplyDeleteHaha! You're right; that's a great idea!
DeletePlease include mention of yourself, proud owner of the home, date of purchase and the history of the house you have accumulated thus far . . . and, perhaps, a description of your garden and add a few seeds. I know they don't last "forever."
ReplyDeleteLinda
Ahhh, the permit process. :-P I hope you are moving forward by the time you read this post. Along with the newspaper in your time capsule I would add some coins from this year, one of those local fundraising cookbooks (Little League Moms, one from a local school, whatever). They often have names of the people that submit the recipes, which could be fun. A picture of you either in or outside of the house...maybe working on the construction. A hoodie. A pair of those running shoes with individual spaces for toes. Whatever says, "2013/14" to you. I love what you are doing with your home. Thank you for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteI thought of some other treasures for your time capsule. A current city map. A picture of the houses on each side of you and across the street. Some local sports stuff. A "map" of your property, with various plant names & locations. It is fun to think of someone opening your capsule sometime in the future and their reaction to what they find. I have just been going through your previous blog posts--what a journey! Your cats are beautiful. Your Christmas trees are inspiring. Your recipes look fantastic--I have copied several and am looking forward to making them. I am delighted to find your blog. Once again, thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThe map is a great idea!
DeleteThank you for reading the old posts too!
How about a Google Maps aerial shot of the house and surrounds to go with the map?
DeleteSpud.
How about all those gadgets some people can't live without these days - tablets, ipads, ipods, smartphones, blackberries? Maybe look for your house/neighbourhood on Google and print a picture of it so people will know what your 'hood looked like 100 years earlier.
ReplyDeletePut a print out of these comments!
ReplyDeleteI have a non-working iPhone if you want to throw that in.
ReplyDeleteA current local directory! Yes, they still make them! Photo's are great, just mark sure they are dated and labeled! A newspaper, a loaf of bread wrapper! Something from Hood milk, or a local Cambridge brewer! A current outfit! At this point you'll be burying a trunk! LOL. whatever you choose, have fun!
ReplyDeleteJust thought of something else, Rookie sports cards!
DeleteA bird's eye view of your neighborhood from Google maps. Write a little blurb about each of the families around you (# of adults, # of children, in each house, occupations, pets) Some local restaurant menus?
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! I would want to see anything relating to the house and the neighborhood. Pictures of you and the cats. Your rooms. A collection of blog posts. Pictures, pictures, pictures (labeled of course).
ReplyDeleteA team picture of the Dodgers because we're gonna win the World Series this year which will be most interesting to the future Red Sox fans that may discover your buried treasure. Want me to send you one? :)
ReplyDeleteFantastic idea btw. Hope you get your permit soon. Have a great weekend!
I really like the "coin idea" since my brother just found one dated 1896 when they were tearing off the porch from "the family farm house." All the kiddos had to hold it and made up stories how surprised "this person" would be now...you'll find the perfect treasure. franki
ReplyDeleteAnd let us know what your final list of contents is...
ReplyDeletexo Terri
Money, poststamps and a bottle of the best whisky...
ReplyDelete...they can sell this and this should be their "Save-Money" to rebuild the house in 100 years.
;o)))
Nadine
Coins, paper money, credit card, cell phone less the battery, a small Lego toy, calendar, pics of your project, Boston Magazine and a small bottle of whiskey. Something for the kids and adults to say wow (and thanks!) 100 years from now.
ReplyDeleteAll in a PVC pipe capped and sealed at both ends to keep the moisture out?
I agree with all of the above and add your own personal history. How your life brought you to this home, to do this project.
ReplyDeleteI recently gave my carpenter a storage chest that had been made for the back of a covered wagon. I used it for years as a coffee table. The patina was amazing. My carpenter found the name and year of the carpenter who built this written inside. We were both touched to see handwriting of the man who built this over 100 years ago.
ps: I can't say enough good things about the Breville toaster oven! Also big thumbs up for my crockpot (Did you know it makes the perfect bean cooker? Learned that from one of Thomas Keller's books no less. Not succumbing to eating out all the time takes courage...and a great sink...with running water!)
Great idea Steve. All those before and after pictures of the house so they can see your beautifully laid out plans and detailed explanations, that way they'll know what a gem they're getting. (I too love your WTF comment, ha ha)
ReplyDeletewhen renovating our 1865 home we found blueprints, a childs shoe, a toy and a business card proclaiming couture dresses 12.95 and up!
ReplyDeletelove your spirit and idea steve!
I agree with many of the others. A photos of you and also the cats.
ReplyDeleteI have the old abstract of my house and included are a lot of court papers.
There are even 3 different divorce papers! The woman was married 4 times!
I didn't think that happened in the 40's! I would LOVE to have a photo of her, just to see this woman!
and...I think you should include a lock of hair for DNA purposes.
Just in case! LOL! Who knows, maybe they could bring you back to life!
Fun idea. I wish we had done it during our renovation. A friend found an old grocery receipt under her kitchen floor boards from the corner store. It was still in business so she took the handwritten receipt to the market and bought the same exact items: milk, a loaf of bread, a lb. of bacon and some other common staples. She then framed the receipts side by side and hung it in her new kitchen. It's always interesting to see how much a loaf of bread costs decades ago. I'd also put some of the the tiles,flooring, carpeting, wall paper, and other scraps you've found during your projects. And, maybe some paint chips for interior and exterior colors you've used. I wonder if the same "historical" colors appear in paint fan decks later. Sports and movie tickets, as well as subway fare cards, would be fun too.
ReplyDeleteHi Stevie Wonder,
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea, and who can hazard a guess at the technology we will be using when it is unearthed? If it were me doing it I would put a photographic record on both a CD and a flash drive. Along with hard copies. In particular the history you have already unearthed, before and afters of your renovating, copies of the magazines your home has featured in. And a trapdoor above so you can add to it - being silly.
But do have a little plaque made and fix it to a wall somewhere, so that a future resident can know its there. We know there is one at the school I teach at, but no-one has a clue where it was placed.
Great idea...it was fun reading through the comments...you have some great ideas listed here...I think they thought of everything!
ReplyDeleteAlong with all these other great ideas, I'd like to suggest including a copy of your post entitled "Mrs. Mastrullo's Hands." That one touched me more than anything else you've written, and I've never forgotten it. It's a vividly human connection to the history of your house - and to you - that a future owner could never get from a map or old newspaper.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about that one so thank you for mentioning it. I do love that post and I'm sure a future owner would appreciate it.
DeleteHow about a copy of the appraisal you had done recently? That might be an eye opener!
ReplyDeleteLots of great ideas--you'll need a plastic tub to hold all of them ;)
ReplyDeleteIf I could find a time capsule giving details of the people who have lived in my house in previous years I would be so delighted. A photo of you and the cats is a must, along with every scrap of information that you have of those who occupied the house before you.
ReplyDeleteWe took out an ugly tiled bedroom fireplace in our last home and walled in a time capsule of small objects and information about us before replacing the fireplace with a dainty Victorian one. Our daughters had a lot of fun deciding what to put in the box!
I really think you should add a voided personal check since hopefully no one is writing checks in 100 years!
ReplyDeleteYou have such a great idea of the time capsul. When we renovated our farm house which used to be an inn almost 100 years ago, all we found in the walls were corn cobs! It seems that they were used for insulation back in the day! What fun it would have been to find something of historic value instead! What ever you choose to put in will be a great choice I am sure know the way you are in regards to your home! Lorretta from NH
ReplyDeleteHi, Steve,
ReplyDeleteI've left several time capsules in my house, and I can tell you from experience that your neighbors will get excited — and very serious — about being included. I asked my immediate neighbors to contribute letters, and I was surprised by the neighborhood history that was revealed in those letters.
Be sure to include a complete edition of the day's newspaper, and a dollar bill. Also include a photograph of yourself and your own letter on the changes that you've personbally made to the house. I don't know what your profession is, but it would mean a lot to someone in the future if you mentioned that, and included some aspect of your livlihood.
And finally, let the future discoverer know that they are but one of a long line connected to your house, and be sure to wish them the same happiness that you have enjoyed in it.
What a cool idea! Wish we had done something similar when we renovated the house. Let's see....what would I include? Photos of us and the dogs, my garden plans, paint colors, fabric samples. I love learning about the former owners, and hope someone might be interested in learning about us.
ReplyDeleteI love this idea Steve. When we ripped out our old kitchen years ago, the childers were 7, 7, 5 and 3 so we had them graffiti and hand print and draw all over the walls to be concealed behind the cabinets and included their names and dates of birth so, in theory, they can be contacted as elderly persons of interest. A small toy, a piece of your clothing and of course your REAL photo- not David- would be delightful for the next excavator.You could include the bill for the basement reno for them to compare too!
ReplyDeleteHow about I send you all the vet bills for my dog...so they can gasp at what we crazy people spend on animals....I could probably pay for you reno:). The cell phone is a good idea cause every time I watch an old move and see a cell phone the size of a suitcase I die laughing......
ReplyDelete