NEWFANE – Officials will be digging up the past for the next part of the town’s bicentennial celebrations.
On Sunday, a time capsule will be opened at the town historical society’s 46th annual Apple Blossom Festival at 1 p.m.
“We believe there’s stuff in there that goes back to the 1800s,” town historian Bill Clark said.
The time capsule, a large metallic cylinder, was placed in a crypt at the site of the former town hall at the corner of McKee Street and Transit Road, which currently houses the town courts and highway department during the town’s sesquicentennial celebrations in 1974.
After the time capsule is unearthed, it will be delivered by horse and carriage to the site of the Apple Blossom Festival grounds at the historical society’s Country Village, 2685 West Creek Road.
Kathy O’Keefe, owner of the Windsor Village Shoppes in Lockport, said that her father, Larry helped construct and engrave the time capsule and recalled it being buried as a part of the town’s sesquicentennial celebrations when she was growing up in Newfane.
While O’Keefe said she did not remember what was in the time capsule, she will be looking forward to seeing what’s been inside it for the past 50 years.
“I’m excited and I’m hoping maybe there’s a picture in there. It would also be nice to take a look back and see the prominent people and what was going on at that time,” she said.
The annual event will also feature its regular programming of historical demonstrations and activities, food and vendors on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.