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'We waited 25 years to open village mystery chest'

Niall McCracken
BBC News NI Mid Ulster Reporter
BBC Picture of a brown box with a padlock on it and a plaque at the top reading "Caledon Millennium Chest - donated by JA Allen Main St Caledon, to be opened in the year 2025"BBC
The Caledon Millennium Chest had been kept under lock and key for 25 years

In the basement of an old County Tyrone court house a large wooden chest has been gathering dust for a quarter of a century, on top of it was a plaque with just one instruction - "To be opened in the year 2025".

Pam Morrow was part of a community group in Caledon that came up with the idea of a time capsule filled with items that had a special connection to the residents.

Twenty five years later the Caledon Millennium Chest was brought back above ground and Pam had the pleasure of opening the lock.

"I honestly didn't think I'd still be around to open it all these years later, but here I am, and I got to do it with my grandchildren beside me, which was special," she said.

A picture of a lady with grey hair and glasses, with a blue scar and a green jacket. She is holding a letter that has been taken from the millennium chest. In the background her two grandsons, wearing white hoodies, inspect some of the items in the chest also.
Pam Morrow was given the honour of opening the chest alongside her grandchildren

The Caledon Regeneration Partnership organised an event for the official opening of the capsule.

Now in her late 80s, Pam is the oldest surviving member of the group that helped stash away the mysterious chest.

"It was really interesting to see all these items and memories come flooding back, I had a good chuckle when I saw an old blouse and skirt I had put into it," she told BBC News NI.

A picture of two women and two children looking at an old school photograph
The millennium chest included a variety of items such as old photographs

The box included everything from old photos and clothing, to handwritten letters.

One letter was a personalised prediction list from a then 10-year-old Vicky Robb.

More than two decades on, Vicky was in the room when the letter addressed to her future-self was taken from the box.

"I have to be honest, I have no memory of writing it at all, I only came along tonight for a bit of craic and out of curiosity, so it's been a lovely surprise," she said.

A picture of a woman with blonde hair and glasses on top her head staring at the camera. She is wearing a blue hoodie.
Vicky Robb discovered a letter written by her 10-year-old self that she had forgotten about

She added: "The letter said I wanted two children, and I currently have three, so I've overachieved on that front.

"It also said I wanted lots of pets. I don't have any pets, but I run the local day care and we have a wee rabbit, so technically a pet, but I think three children is plenty to keep me busy."

Caledon native Ann Henderson also received a pleasant surprise when she discovered a letter from her then 10-year-old son in the chest.

A picture of a hand written letter on a wooden desk. At the bottom of the letter is a hand drawn picture of a footballer wearing a red top kicking a ball into a football net while a goalkeeper in a green top tries to save it.
The chest included personalised letters from children making predictions of what their life would be like in 2025

"We've had a good laugh at this letter from my son, who was in P6 at the time, and he described what he thought his life would be in 2025", she said.

"He said he will be 35 years old, that he'll be playing full back for Manchester United and the Republic of Ireland, and that he's a multimillionaire.

"He got his age right and that's about it, but at least his maths was spot on."

A picture of a woman with glasses and short brown hair staring at the camera. She is wearing a white knitted blouse.
Ann Henderson spotted a surprise letter from her son in the chest

Robin Frizelle used to run a shop in the middle of the village at the time the chest was sealed away.

"I remember getting the box prepared to be hidden away and I put in some of the brochures from my old shop," he said.

"The first thing that hit me when we opened the box was the difference in prices 25 years on and how much dearer things are now, but it's really interesting to look back on."

A picture of two men carrying a wooden box with a plaque on top. The man on the left has blonde hair, a yellow shirt, with a stripped tie and a black suit. The man on the right has brown hair, glasses and is wearing all black.
Robin Frizzle, on the right, with the chest in 2000 before it was locked away

While the event provoked a lot of nostalgia for the community, it was also bittersweet for some attending.

Local resident Eileen Gallogly said: "Obviously there's a lot of happy memories in the chest, but it also reminds you of friends who have passed on, but in a way it's like their memory has almost been frozen in time in the box.

"But mostly the millenium chest has brought people back together who haven't seen each other in so long, so that's been lovely."

"There's talk of getting another chest together and maybe in another 25 years some of the young people here tonight can come together to open it."

Some of the items from the millennium chest will remain on show in Caledon Courthouse throughout the summer.