Time Capsule of Candy Discovered in Bay Head

In the attic of the Barre family's Bay Head home, a "time capsule" of sweets has been found. What could have been mistaken for trash, might actually be worth as much as 100 grand. 

As a baby, Ruth Barre visited her grandmother's house in Bay Head for the first time. "I don't remember that visit, but almost every summer afterwards included time with Grandma Mary Jane and Grampa Henry," she recalls. "I used to love everything about visiting my grandparents, except the candy. For some reason they never quite figured out candy."

"Oh, Henry would laugh if he could hear you say that," says Mrs. Barre with a snicker. "He just hated to see anything go to waste. Neither of us were much for sweets; we were afraid we'd get chunky. So when the candy wasn't eaten, he would seal up the bowl and save it for next year. He insisted it wouldn't go bad, and I guess he was kind of right."

Ruth found the bowl after a marathon of cleaning the attic with her grandmother. It was behind mounds of boxes, wrapped in what seemed like 5 layers of foil. "As soon as I picked up the bowl, and heard the crunch and crackle of the foil, I knew what it was," said Ruth.

The two women decided to take 5 and unwrap the bowl. Inside they found all the original candies that Henry Barre had purchased 35 years earlier. There were Necco Wafers, Goldenbergs Peanut Chews, Charms Blow Pops, Jujubes, Tootsie Rolls, and Charleston Chews, to name just a few. 

"I immediately called my brother Clark and my sister Dove," said Ruth. "The three of us were always like the Three Musketeers as kids, so I knew they would want to hear about this." It was Clark Barre who suggested that the candy might actually be of value. He did a quick search and told Ruth that depending on its condition, there were people who would pay thousands of dollars for it.

"Grandma was shocked when I told her. She kisses me and almost dropped the bowl," said Ruth.

"I am such a butterfingers, at times," said Mary Jane. "I just never expected there could be such a payday from just cleaning my attic."

As she sat drinking tea with a bit o' honey, Mrs. Barre was asked how she felt when the bowl of candy was found. Before answering, she thought for a moment, and took a bite of a cookie with almond. "Joy," she finally said. "It brought back so many happy memories of my late husband." 

Mrs. Barre confessed that she isn't sure what she will do with the candy. She may sell it, but she is also considering donating it to the Bay Head Historical Society. "I know Ruth thinks I would be a goober to donate it," she said. "But then I wonder, what would my husband think if he was still alive? Oh, Henry would have loved the idea of his bowl on display. Then again, he was mostly nuts."