Imagine 50, 100 years, or more from now, a future family member is restoring the home you built. During the restoration of the weathervane, that you lovingly had made and erected to your roof, a Time Capsule is found inside. Think of the sensation it will cause waiting to see the secret treasure. These future people will be instantly connected to you in the past as they examine the items you carefully packed and left for them to discover. They will be unwrapping your present from the distant past. A gift that only time can enhance. What story have you decided to tell them and what picture have you decided to paint of yourself or of your time? You have now left your mark in the future and have become a part of history. Picture the newspaper byline "Ancient artifacts from the beginning of the millennium found in weathervane!". This is a perfect time to initiate a Time Capsule.

In the book, Weathervane Secrets, Mabel E. Reavely brings to light the Lore and Legend of over a dozen weathervanes in New and Old England and shares the secrets found inside some of them. She writes "It's not known, however, when or where this custom of enclosing documents in half or full-bodied weathervanes began. In by gone days, the maker, restorer, or repairer tucked a dated note inside. Later when the vanes were lowered to the ground for repairs, new data, even coins, were added." Thus began a tradition that Ferro Weathervanes continues today. 

In 1999, during the restoration of a weathervane from an historical church in Connecticut, Ferro Weathervanes discovered a Time Capsule inside. Although weathervane Time Capsules can contain information from several repair-openings throughout history, this capsule had remained secret for 191 years. Like the opening of the tomb of Tutankhamen, the contents were found undisturbed. The capsule revealed copper coins dated from 1781-1806, the church's dedication sermon, and a hand inscribed copper plaque dated and signed by Henry Wadsworth himself. Mr. Wadsworth sealed the capsule with his own hands; hands that may well have shaken the hand of Thomas Jefferson who was president of the United States at the time. Ferro Weathervanes added coins and a plaque of its own and returned the weathervane with its resealed capsule to its spire, per tradition.

Since the Westinghouse Corp. coined the phrase "Time Capsule" when they buried a capsule at the 1939 New York World's Fair, Time Capsule fever has remained. Even recently, independent filmmaker Cathleen O'Connell completed a documentary on the subject. Freemasons have left them in cornerstones, scientists send them into space, and even school children around the world are allured by an unknown future and enjoy them as class projects. 

Time Capsules in weathervanes tend to be found more than buried capsules. Buried capsules have a reputation for disappearing. The Earth swallows them up or destroys them chemically. Capsules in weathervanes make good sense for four main reasons. 1.) Weathervanes are generally inaccessible so theft is not a problem. 2.) Due to their prestige, weathervanes are well maintained so the capsule's enclosure is always safe. 3.) Weathervanes are always in plain sight so a map is not needed to find the Time Capsule, and 4.) Weathervanes attract attention as they reach great age creating an automatic mechanism for the capsule to be discovered by future generations.

Another way to preserve the memory of your Time Capsule is to register it with the International Time Capsule Society (ITCS). The ITCS is an organization established in 1990 to promote the careful study of time capsules. It strives to document all types of capsules throughout the world. The group is headquartered at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia. Although Time Capsules have existed in weathervanes for at least 300 years, the idea is still fresh to the society. David Ferro alerted ITCS co-founder Paul Hudson to study this unique history. They encourage the registration of newly formed weathervane Time Capsules. Inform the ITCS of your completed Time Capsule project by submitting the registration form that comes with your capsule. The ITCS will add your mission to its database in an attempt to register all known capsules.

Preserving your time by including your 'message in a bottle' is a great way of increasing your chances of immortality. Your weathervane can house a capsule for you personally, your family, business, organization, or religious or civic group. The capsule could be the focus of a fundraiser to help pay for the weathervane or its restoration. Preserve a 'snap shot' of you and your world by using the magic of a weathervane Time Capsule. It is the ultimate way to personalize your weathervane.