GERRY — This weekend is the July Fourth holiday, and America’s 250th birthday, but in the town of Gerry another special event will be afoot with the opening of a time capsule that was buried around that same day 50 years ago.

Town clerk Jodie Fehlman, said the idea for the time capsule was brought up and put together by town resident Herbert Best, who has been a resident of Gerry his whole life.

“In July of 1976 he decided to put this together and to have it opened in 2026 marking 50 years,” Fehlman said. “The time capsule was buried around July 4th, 1976. The Gerry Town Board at the time decided to have it placed where it stands currently at the Gerry Town Hall.”

Additionally, Fehlman said that the board decided to open the time capsule on July 4, 2026 as it marks the 50th year since it was buried, and also connects to an opportune time in the country’s history with America’s 250th birthday. The capsule will be unburied and opened at its location at the Gerry Town Hall at 10 a.m. Saturday. Fehlman also noted that the capsule was almost opened by someone in 2024, but they were stopped before they were able to take everything out.

Best said people should be interested in coming to see the capsule opened to see what was happening in the town 50 years ago, and out of curiosity to see what was included.

“We do not know how well things were preserved so we have no idea what condition things are in after being buried for 50 years,” Best said. “We hope to find some treasures.”