Members of the public, the press and Slatington's 150th Planning Committee gathered at 7 p.m. on Monday at Dorward's Electric, 450 West Church St., to open a time capsule placed in 1964 beneath some concrete steps there, a location many residents still call the old Acme Supermarket.

"I remember the event. It was wonderful," said Gretchen Kreitz, a lifelong resident of the borough who was 11 at the time the 1964 capsule ceremony was placed.She said "Grandma Rowlands" had made her and her sister centennial dresses for the entire 100-year celebration and that her father, who was involved with Citizen's National Bank of Slatington for over 50 years, also dressed in period clothes.The 150th planning committee, which is tasked with developing yearlong events for the borough's eight-day sesquicentennial anniversary event Aug. 9 to 16, had several times discussed opening the time capsule, which had apparently been forgotten during the borough's 1989 anniversary celebrations."Well, it wasn't very airtight," said co-chairman Christy Haydt as he, along with co-chairman Ed Bechtel, removed the metal box from beneath the outside stairwell after the outer concrete had been chipped away.When Haydt opened the box with its rusty hinges, he showed the audience it contained the somewhat crumbling remains of a Holy Bible, two issues of the "Slatington News," including an Aug. 20, 1964, 100th anniversary issue, several coins, and what appeared to be some sheet music.He said he wished everything was in better condition so they could see to whom the Bible had been dedicated and so the other papers could also be better identified."(But) that's it, folks, I think that's about what we're going to get out of it," Haydt said, adding, "We'll be doing a time capsule after this is all over for 2014 (to be revealed at 4 p.m. on Aug. 10), and we'll make sure it's sealed better than this was."Immediately after Monday's time capsule opening, the 150th planning committee held its regularly scheduled meeting, most of which centered on the upcoming celebration's parade.Parade Chairman Larry Eckert said his main concerns of the evening were to give a breakdown of the parade, share its costs and get some final approvals made.Later, Haydt said that, despite a recent Times News letter to the editor claiming applicants for the parade are being screened, no such process is taking place and that "we're still welcoming people."In addition, events committee chairman and treasurer Amanda Trelease said volunteers are still needed for the daylong youth events and old-time carnival on Aug. 14, and that Rhythm & Sole Dance Center is still looking for people of all ages to join its flash mob and other dances scheduled for Aug. 16 during the "Era Dancing in the Streets" and block party.Trelease said the public is encouraged to attend the upcoming practices, scheduled for 1-2 p.m. Saturday and from 7-8 p.m. Tuesday at 626 Main St., and go online to learn the dance moves on YouTube.She suggested that in light of so many details needing to be finalized, the committee began meeting every week.It was agreed to hold the next 150th planning committee meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at the Vigilant Fire Company.For more information, visit the 150th's Facebook page, the Slatington 150 Memorabilia Store at 647 Main St., or contact the committee at

slatington150@gmail.com or 610-767-7256.