Back in time

Opening of time capsule brings back good memories

Opening of time capsule brings back good memories.

It may have been 25 years ago but according to former St. Agnes teacher Mike Kennedy, it was a whole other era.

“When we started here, we stayed here,” said the popular former physical education teacher when he spoke at the opening of the school’s 1990 time capsule on Saturday afternoon. The event was part of the school’s 100th anniversary celebrations.

Kennedy taught at the school for 33 years, retiring 11 years ago. He was just one of many teachers who spoke, and most had been with the school for 30 or more years, a feat rarely matched today. Christina Buchanan has an even longer association with the school.

“I not only taught here for 34 years but I went here, too,” said Buchanan, who credits the atmosphere of the school for its popularity. “I attended school here from Grade 1 to Grade 11 and graduated and then came back. My children all attended here and some of my grandchildren. “I’ve been here my whole life.” They were among about 200 former students and teachers who attended Saturday’s event, organized by Kris Campbell and Cara Martin of New Waterford. Both attended the school when the time capsule was put together in 1990. When Campbell learned the time capsule was supposed to be opened during the 100th anniversary of the school’s founding, he and Martin quickly organized the event in less than six weeks.

After speeches from former teachers and Campbell, who hosted the event, they opened the box, which contained photos, VHS tapes, magazines and newspapers dating back to 1990. The contents were laid on tables and everyone gathered around to see what was there. There were also notes from students who attended the school at the time.

Sarah Leudy, who attended St. Agnes in the early 1950s, was browsing through a 1990 Sears catalogue when the Post caught up with her. She said she had pleasant memories of the school.

“I didn’t mind it — I got along with them all,” she said. “I was a MacNeil back then.”

Buchanan said it’s no surprise that former students and teachers have fond memories of attending and working at St. Agnes.

“Everybody got along — no controversy really,” she said. “It was really a great place to work and bring kids up in.”

ELIZABETH PATTERSON/CAPE BRETON POST Cara Martin shows a St. Agnes Elementary School cookbook that was one of many items discovered in the St. Agnes Elementary School time capsule just after it was opened Saturday afternoon as part of the school’s 100th anniversary celebrations. Martin...

ELIZABETH PATTERSON/CAPE BRETON POST Sarah Leudy looks at a Sears catalogue that was found in a time capsule opened Saturday for the 100th anniversary of St. Agnes Elementary School in New Waterford. The capsule was made in 1990 and contained photos, videos and other memorabilia. Leudy...