About the Sesquicentennial
In 2017, the Village of Warwick proudly marked 150 years since its incorporation in 1867. Although the land has been home to people for over twelve thousand years, it was in 1867—one year after the Warwick Advertiser first appeared—that Warwick’s population grew large enough to form its own government, library, water works, and “firemanic company.” Soon after, the Warwick Institute, numerous churches, and the Warwick Savings Bank established themselves, and the village’s tree-lined streets became the cherished hub of commerce and community we know today.
The weeklong Centennial of 1967 had set a high bar: a pageant play, beard & mustache contest, costumes, and the burial of a time capsule at Memorial Park. For the Sesquicentennial (2017), Warwick honored that legacy with parades, picnics, contests for all ages, and the dramatic unearthing of the 1967 capsule. The entire year wove together annual traditions and special anniversary events, all shaped by community input.
📬 Explore local history: Scanned Newspapers Archive | Warwick Valley Heritage | Warwick Historical Society
The Village will celebrate its Dodranscentennial in 2042, followed by the grand Bicentennial in 2067 — continuing a proud tradition of remembrance and renewal.
The Time Capsule Story
📦 1967 → 2017: A message from the past, opened at last.
During Warwick’s Centennial celebration in 1967, a time capsule was buried and marked at the entrance of Veterans Memorial Park. The Warwick Valley Centennial Committee chose twenty young residents to serve as a special “Board of Trustees” for the year 2017. Each child received a personalized letter with a remarkable charge:
And so, as the Sesquicentennial unfolded, those twenty former students — now adults, some returning from across the country — stepped forward to fulfill their long-ago duty. In a moving ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park, the 1967 time capsule was unearthed and opened, revealing photographs, handwritten notes, newspapers, and small treasures from a vanished Warwick. The moment connected generations and reminded everyone of the village’s enduring spirit.
Following the original instruction, the Sesquicentennial Board of Trustees also appointed a new Board of Trustees and prepared a fresh time capsule filled with artifacts from 2017 — stories, photos, a local newspaper, and mementos of Warwick’s 150th year. The new capsule was buried in the same honored spot.
The capsule sealed in 2017 will be opened exactly 50 years later, during the Village of Warwick’s 200th anniversary. Mark your calendars — a new generation will gather at Veterans Memorial Park to greet the past and send their own voices forward.
✨ Already happened: The 2017 unearthing ceremony, the appointment of the new Trustees, and the burial of the 2017 capsule. Now the community looks ahead to 2067, when the next chapter of Warwick’s time capsule legacy will be revealed.
Community Sponsors & Partners
The Sesquicentennial celebration was made possible by the generosity and dedication of local organizations, businesses, and historical partners. We extend our deepest gratitude.
✨ Thank you to all community members, volunteers, and the 1967 & 2017 Boards of Trustees — your dedication made the Sesquicentennial a bridge across time. We also acknowledge the Warwick Advertiser and Warwick Valley Dispatch for documenting every moment.
🎉 Become a future sponsor for the 175th (2042) or Bicentennial (2067) — contact the Village Historian's office.