Image

January 12, 2016

2016 will be a year of collecting memories for Petrolia Town Councillor Mary Pat Gleeson.

She’s spearheading a drive to bury a time capsule in 2017.

The idea started after Gleeson watched contractors pull up artifacts during construction on Petrolia Line last summer.

After doing some research, she found it was 1866 Lambton County approved the establishment of the Village of Petrolea to take affect in 1867. Gleeson thought the 150th anniversary of the incorporation of the village was a great reason to celebrate and start a time capsule.

Gleeson says there will be a few requirements – for example documents will need to be on museum quality paper so they will remain intact for 50 years – but she’s open to all kinds of artifacts for the capsule. Gleeson has already collected a number of items including a copy of The Independent, a pair of jeans “because they’re cool to wear now” and a copy of the Farmers’ Almanac.

Gleeson and her committee are also trying to figure out how to include technology in the project. She would like to put a DVD or a CD in the time capsule, but wonders how well they will keep and if people 50 years ago will be able to view their contents.

Gleeson says St. Philip’s School will also rally the local schools to help contribute to the project.

“I would love it if a child wrote an essay on what Petrolia will look like 50 years from now,” she says. It was a project Gleeson took on when a time capsule was created at her school when she was in Grade 8.

Gleeson says artifact will be accepted all year, then on New Year’s Day 2017, the capsule will be buried at a yet to be disclosed location.

Share This

Image
Front Page

Killer Bees’ Feasey to coach Maroons

July 12, 2025

Barry Wright/The Independent Alvinston Killer Bees star Brennan Feasey is the new head coach of the Sutherland Cup champion Chatham Maroons of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. The new job came about after Richard Santos left the Maroons this week to become the new head coach of the U16 boys prep team with Biosteel Sports Academy in Windsor and

Read More

Image
Front Page

Still standing (with some help) after 200 years

July 12, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent When Abraham Smith and his wife, Anna Hoy, arrived on the shores of the St. Clair River, there was nothing but trees which blocked out the sun. The couple landed around what we now know as the St. Clair Parkway and Smith Line in 1820, along with two children and another family, and settled in the area.

Read More

Image
Front Page

Remembering Croton

July 12, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent Harold Snary stands under a tree in the postal village of Croton. Those standing with him see a new, siding-clad school and church, a few homes and the traffic whizzing down Oakdale Road. At the corner of Oakdale and Croton Road, they might notice the building which used to be the general store. For most, this 39-person

Read More

Image
Front Page

Lambton lands part of 30×30 project

July 11, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent Almost 700 acres of land along the Sydenham River, including some in Petrolia and Wawrick, will be recognized as conservation lands in Ontario. It’s part of an international plan to protect 30 per cent of the earth’s land and sea by 2030. Tim Payne, manager of forests for the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority, was contacted by

Read More