UNADILLA — Fifty years after residents sealed away pieces of their lives during the nation’s Bicentennial celebration, two time capsules buried in 1976 will be opened during Independence Day weekend, offering a glimpse into a community’s past and a chance to preserve its future.
The first unveiling is scheduled for Saturday, July 4, on the front lawn of the Community House on Main Street. A second capsule will be opened Sunday, July 5, at the Friends Church, 747 County Route 2 in Rogers Hollow.
The events are free and are expected to draw both local residents and former community members returning to revisit memories preserved for half a century.
Saturday’s festivities will begin with a parade from Unatego Elementary School to the Community House. Organizers have planned a day of family activities, including colonial-era games, historical demonstrations, a photo booth featuring vintage clothing, a porch-side slideshow and free Stewart’s ice cream. A food truck will also be on site.
At noon, organizers will unseal a 3,000-pound vault containing memorabilia placed inside by community members in 1976. Twenty-four students from Unadilla Elementary School participated in the original project and were identified by organizers as the namesakes of this year’s planning committee. Seventeen of those former students are expected to attend the opening.
Organizers said 84 deposits were placed in the capsule, with items designated for individuals, families, organizations and other beneficiaries.
While one generation looks back, another is helping create a record for the future.
The Rotary Club of Unadilla is organizing a new Tricentennial time capsule to be opened on July 4, 2076. Six fourth-grade students have been selected to serve on that committee.
Community members are invited to contribute an item for the capsule. Contributions should be placed in a 10-by-13-inch envelope and delivered by June 30 to The Green Giraffe, 179 Main St., during business hours.
Unlike its predecessors, the new capsule will not be buried. Instead, it will be stored at the village office until its opening 50 years from now.
Additional information is available at www.unadillarotary.org/time-capsule
