Senator Witkos Joins Time Capsule Opening at Bradley International Airport

Senator Witkos stands next to the original corner stone from Bradley International Airport, Terminal B.

Loretta Dyson, niece of the late Francis S. Murphy shows off a newspaper found inside the time capsule.

Terminal B today

Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman addresses attendees at the time capsule opening ceremony. Senator Witkos (second from the right) watches with CAA Executive Director Kevin Dillon (far right) and other state and local officials.

Windsor Locks, CT – State leaders, local officials and lawmakers gathered together on Tuesday afternoon to unlock a piece of history hidden away for the past 63 years: a time capsule uncovered in Bradley International Airport’s Terminal B.

At the event, State Senator Kevin Witkos (R-Canton) joined fellow legislators, surrounding town officials, Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman, Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) Executive Director Kevin Dillon and CAA Board Chair Mary Ellen Jones to open the time capsule that was placed behind the cornerstone of “Murphy Terminal” in 1951. State leaders also discussed the changing times at the local airport as Terminal B is being demolished in anticipation for a new ground transportation center and updated terminal.

“This is an important time for advancing transportation in Connecticut,” said Witkos. “New construction plans at Bradley Airport mean big changes for the way we travel in Connecticut. The project aims to make travel to and from the airport easier for thousands of people. Demolishing the old terminal is an important step in the process and a sign of noteworthy and commendable change. As we close one chapter in history, another one opens.”

Inside the time capsule various pieces of memorabilia were discovered including a Hartford Times newspaper dated November 29, 1951, black and white photographs of what the terminal looked like during construction, official records from nearby towns, copies of laws and regulations in place at the time, and a map of the airport.

Also present to help open the time capsule was Loretta Dyson, niece of the late Francis S. Murphy – the editor and publisher of the Hartford Times, chair of the Connecticut Aeronautics Commission, and the namesake for the terminal.

Plans for the new transportation center include consolidated rental car facilities, hundreds of new public parking spaces, and a station for buses to connect to the Windsor Locks train station. Plans for a new terminal are also in the works.