West Newton to host 50-year time capsule opening on Independence Day

A celebration of West Newton’s history is set for July 4 as the community will come together with a parade, and the opening of a 50-yearold time capsule.

With the assistance of the West Newton Volunteer Fire Co., and several volunteers, there will be a patriotic parade which will proceed down Main Street leading across the bridge to the West Newton Cemetery Grove.

A photo from the time capsule burial on July 4, 1976, in West Newton is shown. Submitted

“The whole purpose is to get people excited about the Fourth of July, and our country’s birthday, but to show some patriotism, and love of country, community and really lead them to the cemetery, which is where the (time capsule) ceremony is,” West Newton Emergency Management Agency Director Paul Williams said.

Parade lineup begins at 8 a.m. at West Newton Elementary School on Vine Street, followed by the parade at 9 a.m.

The time capsule opening ceremony will start at 10 a.m. or at the conclusion of the Parade.

All marching and walking participants will line up at Vine Street Park, and all Parade participants are encouraged to have a patriotic theme displaying love of the country and community.

West Newton churches will participate by having church bells ring simultaneously at 9 a.m.

“(We are) really trying to encourage people to come out,” Williams said. “If people want to come in and be in the parade, pretty much just about anybody that wants to do it is more than welcome. It’s hopefully something patriotic, but if people want to make a float, or bring something from their business to showcase their business and their patriotism, they are welcome to.”

West Newton history

The town was first settled in 1788 and was officially incorporated as a borough on Feb. 26, 1842.

Like many pioneer towns in Western Pennsylvania, West Newton earned its early historical relevance by playing a key role in the westward expansion of the United States, according to the town’s website.

The Simerals, the first family to settle in the area, operated a small ferry on the banks of the Youghiogheny River halfway between Connellsville and McKeesport.

In 1788, a group of Revolutionary War veterans from Ipswich, Mass., spent the winter at Simeral’s Ferry, making boats in order to travel west. Those veterans went on to settle the first town in the Ohio Territory: Marietta.

A few years after the Pioneers made their trek, New Jersey native and whiskey rebel Isaac Rob officially laid out the town of West Newton.

West Newton’s fortunes changed during the mid 19th century. River commerce increased with the construction of slack water dams in the 1830s. Improvements continued with the erection of a covered toll bridge in 1834.

By 1860, the town blossomed with the establishment of numerous churches, a cemetery, and a large school building. By the late 1800s the town’s economy shifted as the U.S. Radiator Corporation of Detroit, Michigan took over the old paper mill site, expanding it to employ over 500 workers.

The town served as an important commercial corridor for the surrounding farming communities and coal patches.

Despite facing devastating fires, numerous floods, and tragic train wrecks in the 20th century, the people of West Newton persevered, continuing to develop both the infrastructure and economy of their community.

Time capsule

Williams has also been working on the parade, and the opening of the time capsule as the president of the West Newton Time Capsule Committee.

Community members and organizations placed approximately 267 items in the time capsule, and it was sealed and buried in West Newton Cemetery Grove on July 4, 1976, with it to be opened July 4, 2026, exactly 50 years later.

From 1975 to 1976, a group of community members formed a Bicentennial Committee and along with the mayor and borough council from the time, they worked with West Newton Cemetery to get the project started.

West Newton funeral directors Richard T. Dodson and J.W. McCauley Jr. donated and provided the concrete vault for the time capsule, Williams said. The cemetery provided space in the grove, and a flat grave marker was used to mark the spot and dates.

Several clergy from the West Newton Association of Churches spoke at the Vesper Service, according to Williams. The Spirit of ‘76 Singing Society, which is now called West Newton Community Singers, was formed and sang patriotic songs for the Time Capsule Vesper Service held the evening of July 4, 1976.

Williams was among the original 10 individuals, who were children at the time, that were selected in 1976 to be on the committee for the opening of the time capsule 50 years later.

Williams was 7-years-old at the time, the youngest of the group. Sadly, several members of the original 10 kids have passed away or live out of state. After starting to prepare for the ceremony a year ago, Williams reached out to the surviving members of the group, some of whom are coming for the opening of the capsule.

Committee vice president Fred Lindauer will represent his brother, who was selected in 1976, but now lives in Arizona. Lindauer was 17years-old when the time capsule was buried.

“To me, it was always cool. It’s like a treasure chest or something that we were going to open up and see what’s in it,” Lindauer said. “The element of surprise, curiosity of what’s going to be in there (is exciting). It’ll be neat to see the history that’s in there, and to share it with people now.”

Both Williams and Lindauer said there are letters from their parents, and other things inside the capsule. A woman wrote a letter to her grandchildren as a teenager in 1976, and she will be reading it to her grandchildren the day of the time capsule opening, according to Lindauer.

“Back then, my dad was the president of the fire company, so I’m sure he put some things in there. I feel very good that there’s something there,” Williams said. “I hope it’s in good shape when we open it up, and hopefully it’s not disintegrated.”

To keep the tradition going, there will be a new time capsule set to be opened in 50 more years in 2076. There will be an opportunity from churches, organizations, businesses and residents to place items in the time capsule.

Collections have been taking place at the West Newton Cemetery Office, West Newton Center for Active Adults and other locations, and T-shirts have been sold for the event to fund this time capsule. Residents have to fill out a form to submit an item into the new time capsule.

“We are encouraging everyone in the community – all churches, businesses, organizations, families and individuals – to attend the time capsule ceremony and opening to witness this historic event and receive any items that were left for them in 1976,” Williams said.

The current West Newton Time Capsule Committee is also accepting nominations for the new 2026 – 2076 time capsule project, according to Williams, so more individuals, who are possible children now, will be selected for the next committee. They hope to get 25 kids.

Williams also encouraged young people to come to the event because they can learn what life was like 50 years ago, and can hopefully contribute to the future.

“It’s rare, it’s kind of a cool thing and it’s kind of a history lesson if you will, especially for the younger people, and even myself,” Williams said. “It’s a special meaning to a lot of people, myself included, because our families, parents or whatever were involved in it back then, and a lot of people placed items there. I’m excited to just see what comes out, and I hope it’s something that’s meaningful.”