Langhorne Borough opens 1976 time capsule and buries another

LANGHORNE, Pa. – On Saturday, Oct. 10, Langhorne Borough added another milestone to its 150th anniversary year with its time capsule event. The event began at 11 a.m. at the Richardson House, the borough’s historic landmark at the corner of West Maple and South Bellevue avenue. It was built by Joseph Richardson in 1738 to serve as both his home and a community general store. During the revolutionary war in 1776 and 1777, George Washington quartered some of his soldiers in the house, and Gen. Marquis de Lafayette briefly stayed there while wounded after a battle in the same year.

During this ceremony, a time capsule buried in 1976, during the community’s centennial anniversary, was dug up and opened, and a new time capsule was buried and is set to be opened in another 50 years during the community’s bicentennial celebrations. In the capsule from 1976, items such as old Langhorne Hotel tokens, a rock with Levittown’s Cub Scout Pack 19, a decorative dish featuring artwork of a Langhorne church, and a centennial anniversary book were among those that were found.

In the recently buried capsule were items such as a book written by resident Lanna Hilly, Langhorne Borough police memorabilia, specifically a patch and a hat, 150th anniversary commemorative mugs, and recent newspapers.

The burial is just one piece of a celebration that has run all year and was one of two events that day: the annual Porch Fest, a diverse music festival that took place on the porches of six participating houses, ran from noon to 5 p.m. throughout the borough. Along with the nation’s 250th birthday, other celebrations and events have been taking place throughout the year after starting in late March at the Richardson House, after being delayed twice by winter weather, and featured a red, white, and blue tree lighting, local food vendors, live music, and a 50/50 raffle.

The program is the work of the Langhorne Borough 150th Anniversary Planning Committee, made up of borough staff, boards, local groups, and residents that meet monthly, with support from other local organizations such as the Langhorne Borough Business Association (LBBA), who hosted the summer concert series and block parties; the Langhorne Rotary Club, who hosted the annual pet fair; the Langhorne Council for the Arts, who hosted the speaker series and arts events; and the Langhorne Borough Recreation Board, who hosted various community activities and egg hunts, along with various other organizations that contributed in other ways.

More festivities are ahead for the community, too. Olde Langhorne Harvest Day is set for Oct. 24. The LBBA hosts the festival, which had its 20th edition last year on Maple Avenue. Recent versions have featured vendors, local nonprofits, live music, food, and a children’s costume parade at noon.

The Historic Langhorne Association follows with a non-walking tour at the library on Oct. 25 and a program on the Revolutionary War burial site in Langhorne on Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m. Ghost Tours and the beloved Dickens Night in December round out the season. Together, Langhorne Borough’s 150th anniversary has brought the community together for several events and festivities, and another iteration of the community time capsule is set for their next milestone: their bicentennial.

Langhorne Borough opens 1976 time capsule and buries another

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