40-Year-Old Time Capsule Set To Be Opened In Union County

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ — A time capsule sealed more than four decades ago is set to be opened this month in Scotch Plains as part of a two-day community celebration marking America’s 250th anniversary, township officials said.

The capsule was originally buried on Oct. 14, 1984, during Scotch Plains’ 300th anniversary celebration, and is scheduled to be opened on Friday, June 26 at Town Hall.

The opening will follow a series of commemorative events tied to both the township’s local history and the anniversary of the 1777 Battle of Short Hills.

Festivities begin at 4:30 p.m. with a wreath-laying ceremony at Scotch Plains Baptist Church on Park Avenue, honoring Revolutionary War soldiers buried at the site. Members of the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution are expected to participate.

After the ceremony, a parade featuring a George Washington reenactor on horseback will travel down Park Avenue to Town Hall, where the time capsule will be opened.

Following the unveiling, residents can gather at the Alan M. Augustine Village Green from 6 to 7:30 p.m. for additional programming. Organizers say the evening will include food donated by Stage House Tavern, live music from the Nettingham Middle School Jazz Ensemble, and historical exhibits from local organizations including the Frazee House, Preserve Shady Rest, and the Scotch Plains and Fanwood Historical Society.

A second day of events is planned for Saturday, June 27 at Shady Rest Country Club, featuring live music and the township’s annual fireworks display.

Officials say the celebration is part of a broader effort across Scotch Plains to highlight local history during the America 250 commemoration.