On Thursday, March 3rd, 2016 Smithtown ended its 350th Anniversary Celebration. A time capsule was buried on the grounds of Town Hall. The capsule will be opened in 2065. A lot of thought went into deciding how to celebrate this important anniversary and a lot of thought went into what to put into the time capsule. The celebratory events and the contents of the capsule are a reflection of passion and pride for Smithtown. The contents of the time capsule tell a story of Smithtown, its residents and their values in 2015.
A Plaque at the Time Capsule reads:
Smithtown Remembered
by Maureen Smilow
Today our thankful community commits to the earth,
A modest time capsule that commemorates the birth,
Of our noble town founded by Richard “Bull” Smith
A man most resolute, much more than a myth.
Determined and undeterred by the obstacles faced,
Smith, quickly filled lands that Indians once embraced,
With kin and settlers seeking to plant farms and dreams,
These new comers took advantage of rich forests and streams.
In this pastoral setting, Smith’s vision quickly took root,
And soon emerged the spirit, that was freedom’s pursuit,
Seeking to end a tyrant’s control that was cruel and unfair,
Smithtowners endured hardships that may have left lesser men in despair.
Quite naturally, the people of Smithtown began to understand,
That it was iniquitous to deny freedom to any man.
So early on, the stain of slavery from our town was erased
And the march towards equality began at a slow pace.
Onward the town grew from agriculture to trade,
And achieved modernity as incremental steps were made.
Lumber and gristmills and deafening freight trains,
Made it possible for Smithtowners to enjoy economic gains.
Southward and westward our town did expand.
Providing opportunity for citizens from distant cities and lands.
Hauppauge, Nesconset, Kings Park, St. James and Commack.
All part of Smithtown, invited these folks, never turning them back.
Never free from the influences and concerns of the nation at large,
Drawn into war, the brave ones from Smithtown did charge,
Slipping from the comfort of home to preserve what they loved best,
So many young people, too soon laid to rest.
With post-war fervor, come modern settlers from lands to the west,
Who were drawn by the verdant landscape that for raising families was best,
They sought to enjoy a life that Richard Smith could not have foreseen,
And today, continue to follow that long ago dream.
Yes, we the beneficiaries of Smith’s vision can with great certainty say,
That his determination, hopes and resolved live on today.
So concluding our celebration of three-hundred and fifty years,
We like Smith must put aside our fears.
We should be confident that our town is one of which to be proud,
As evidenced by this time capsule we humbly place in the ground.
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