SCOTCH PLAINS–TheTownship celebrated the nation’s 250th birthday last week with downtown ceremonies, a parade, fireworks—and a time capsule that tried its best not to be opened after 42 years underground.

Several hundred people crowded Park Avenue last Friday afternoon, first for a ceremony and wreath-laying at the Scotch Plains Baptist Church cemetery, where veterans of the Revolutionary War are buried. Mayor Joshua Losardo called the country’s semiquincentennial “a moment to set aside what divides us and celebrate the shared heritage that unites us—a belief in freedom, in self-government and in the dignity of every person.”

Then followed a parade from the churchdown ParkAvenue, which was lined with people, to the Municipal Building. A trio of costumed Revolutionary War heroes on horseback— Gen. GeorgeWashington, French Gen. Rochambeau, who led a contingent supporting the colonists in the war, and Gen. Stephen Moylan from the Continental Army—led the way, followed by a Fife and Drums Corps in period costumes and current-day representatives from the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution. Moylan is said to have been the first to coin the phrase “United States of America.”

The ceremonies at Town Hall were led by the Mayor, who was joined on the front steps by Deputy Mayor MattAdams, Councilwomen Elizabeth StamlerandEllenZimmermanandTom Strowe, the Township’s Director of Planning and Community Development and an American history enthusiast who spent the past few years planning Friday’s events. Two representatives from the Society of Sons of theAmerican Revolution spoke and recapped the Battle of Short Hills, which took place on Friday’s date in 1777.

Mr. Strowe told The Leader after the weekend events that he was “thrilled to see the spirit of 1776 alive and well” inTown. He said the committee planning the ceremonies and other activities “worked hard planning and coordinating the event and it really paid off.” He added that he was “proud to see the people of Scotch Plains continue to honor and celebrate our local heritage and history.”

The crowd of several hundred, including afewformerMayorsandCouncil members, stood under a massive American flag hanging from a Fire Department ladder truck on Park Avenue.

The highlight was the long-anticipated opening of a time capsule that was buried under the front steps of the municipal building in 1984 to mark the

8 300th anniversary of the Township’s establishment. After the box, slightly smaller than a box of copier paper, was pulled from the dirt, it was discovered that it was made of metal and not simple to open. The Mayor and his Council colleagues spent several long minutes first trying to pry open the container’s lid before using tools to bang on it but making little progress other than denting the box. Deputy Fire Chief Skip Paal then arrived with a large heavy-duty axe-crowbar, which eventually did the trick, to the crowd’s delight.

A number of residents in the crowd raised their hands when Mayor Losardo asked how many had been on hand when the time capsule had been buried 42 years earlier. Among the many items inside were copies of the local newspapers, a letter from Irene Schmidt, the Mayor at the time, videotapes, a letter from President Reagan congratulating the Township on its 300th anniversary, photos of local landmarks and Town Officials and various memorabilia.

A free barbecue with live music was held Friday evening on the Alan Augustine Village Green. And despite threatening weather earlier in the day, Saturday’s fireworks display was held on Saturday evening at Shady Rest Golf & Country Club.

Afterwards, Mayor Losardo spoke to The Leader about the events, saying he “felt tremendous pride seeing so many new faces, people who came to celebrate our shared heritage.” He spoke about the ceremony at the cemetery, saying he hoped those who attended will remember it for a long time. He admitted to being relieved that Friday’s activities went off without a hitch—despite the “unexpected struggle” opening the time capsule— and that the turnout was so robust. “So many residents stopped my colleagues and me afterward to share their appreciation. That meant everything.”