TOMS RIVER – A silent chronicle of the present now rests beneath the grand county seal at the entrance of the Ocean County Administration Building. Hidden from view, a time capsule filled with 2025 artifacts lies within a specially designed enclosed cylinder.
Ocean County Deputy Director Frank Sadeghi joined Commissioner Robert Arace in physically lowering the time capsule into its designated enclosure on February 27. The date marked the commencement of the county’s 175th-anniversary celebration, a milestone known as the demisemiseptcentennial.
At first, the county’s choice of a large metal milk can as a time capsule might appear unconventional, but it isn’t without historical precedent. Notably, in the 1990s, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., used a similar vessel to safeguard scrolls of remembrance signed by Holocaust survivors.
This time capsule will be opened in 2075. (Photo by Stephanie Faughnan)
During his remarks, Arace highlighted the rapid growth and transformation of Ocean County. “Today, we’re a county of more than 650,000 people, a number that more than doubles in the summer months. We maintain more than 1,600 county lane miles, 35,000 traffic signs, 400 traffic lights, 259 bridges, and government operations spanning 135 county buildings. We are proudly home to more than 30,000 veterans and 200,000 seniors.”
Arace emphasized the importance of the county’s educational institutions, open spaces, and community-driven initiatives. “Ocean County College was the first two-year college in New Jersey, and our vocational school programs are award-winning,” Arace continued. “We have 27 county parks, two county-run golf courses, and nearly 30,000 acres of preserved open space. Our innovative recycling programs and environmental initiatives ensure that we protect our most precious resources.”
Portraits of Joel and Mary Ann Hayward, key figures in Ocean County’s history, were prominently displayed during the opening remarks of the recent time capsule burial ceremony. Tim Hart, Division Director of the Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Commission, provided historical context for the assembled attendees.
“Joel Hayward, the gentleman depicted in this portrait, is rightly considered the founding father of Ocean County,” Hart explained. “And this is his second wife, Mary Ann. His first wife was Lydia.”
Hart also drew attention to a desk on display within the meeting room, suggesting its potential significance. “The desk over there,” he noted, “May well be the very desk at which he penned the 1849 letter advocating for the creation of Ocean County. He was a forceful and eloquent speaker.”
The county seal covered the spot where the capsule was buried. (Photo by Stephanie Faughnan)
County Committeewoman Virginia Haines, whose family has deep roots in Ocean County dating back to 1670, read a proclamation recognizing the county’s 175th anniversary.
The proclamation highlighted Ocean County’s origins, noting that in 1850, residents south of Monmouth County united to secure funding for roads, bridges, and other infrastructure. Joel Haywood of West Creek led the charge at the State House. On February 15, 1850, Governor Daniel Haines officially established Ocean County, setting its borders from the Manasquan River in the north to Little Egg Harbor in the south.
Initially, the county comprised six townships – Jackson, Dover, Stafford, Union (now Barnegat), Brick, and Lacey – each represented by two members on the Board of Chosen Freeholders.
The county’s growth surged after the opening of the Garden State Parkway in 1954, with the population expanding from approximately 53,000 in 1950 to more than 650,000 residents today. It is now home to one of the largest senior populations in New Jersey.
Contents Of The Time Capsule
The time capsule contents aren’t due to be unsealed for another fifty years – in February 2075. Commissioner Jennifer Bacchione playfully suggested that at 31, Arace might be the only commissioner to witness its grand unveiling. Surely, the step back in time will raise some eyebrows.
“I am happy to say we have collected more than 60 items from nearly 30 Ocean County departments and agencies that have been strategically placed in the time capsule along with personal notes from the Commissioners,” said Arace. “When this capsule is opened, all of this will paint a picture of what is truly one of the most incredible places anywhere – Ocean County.”
From left, Commissioner Virginia Haines, Senator Carmen Amato (R-9th), Commissioner Robert Arace, Commissioner Jennifer Bacchione, Tim Hart, Division Director of the Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Commission, and Commissioner Frank Sadeghi. (Photo by Stephanie Faughnan)
Imagine, 50 years from now, a bewildered historian gingerly pulling out a “2024 Ocean County Department of Consumer Affairs Book” from that hefty milk can. Will they marvel at the archaic art of “consumer affairs?” Or perhaps they’ll chuckle at a “Sheriff Mastronardy Fly Swatter,” wondering if it was a weapon of mass mosquito destruction or a symbol of bureaucratic swatting? And the “Oceangro Visor Cap?” Will it be a vintage fashion statement or a relic of a forgotten fertilizer initiative?
One can picture future archaeologists carefully examining a “Junior Deputy Badge,” speculating on the rituals of youth law enforcement. Or, a future resident, flipping through the “101 Things to Do in Ocean County Brochure,” bewildered by the sheer quaintness of the suggested activities. “They… walked on beaches? Without hover-shoes?”
Perhaps the most intriguing items will be the personal notes placed in the time capsule by each of the commissioners. Will they offer sage advice, express concerns about the future, or simply share a funny anecdote about their time in office? One can only speculate on the contents of those messages, sealed away for half a century, waiting to bridge the gap between two very different eras.
“I just hope that 50 years from now, when they uncover this capsule and take out whatever we’re putting in there, that they’re going to see and realize and recognize that the commissioners who are here today acted as best as they could on behalf of the community and the residents of this community” Commissioner Frank Sadeghi said.
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