With residents looking on, Erie officials buried a time capsule outside Town Hall this week, marking the end of a multi-year renovation and capturing a moment in the town’s history for future generations.
An expansion project that added a new building attached to the north side of the Town Hall began in November 2023 and wrapped up in December 2024. Interior renovations to the original portion of the building began in December 2024 and were completed in November 2025. After remarks from town leaders at the ribbon cutting event Wednesday evening, visitors wandered the building’s halls, now lined with photographs chronicling Erie’s history.
The evening concluded with the burial of the time capsule at the foot of the building’s west wall.
“We get to bury a little bit of Erie history, which is very exciting,” Police Chief Lee Mathis said.
The capsule was assembled as part of Erie’s 150th anniversary celebration in 2024, Mathis said. Town departments worked together to gather items representing Erie’s past and present, including the town’s 2024 home rule charter, notes and signatures from the 2024 town fair, historic municipal court dockets, police badges, a 150th anniversary commemorative coin, and a scrapbook from Erie’s 100th anniversary celebration donated by members of the Wise family.
“We had Erie kids draw some things that they hope to see in Erie in the future,” Mathis said. “That’s exciting.”
Erie officials and staff cut the ribbon to formally open the renovated Town Hall building. (Cliff Grassmick/Daily Camera).
During the event, town leaders and residents reflected on what they hope Erie will be remembered for in the 2020s, and what they envision the town looking like decades from now, when the time capsule is expected to be opened in the year 2076.
Councilmember Emily Baer said the current decade is defined by uncertainty and division, and she hopes the present day is remembered as a time in Erie when residents supported one another and worked to create a stronger sense of belonging.
“I feel the weight of the moment of this intersection of history that we’re in,” Baer said. “There’s a lot of divisiveness, nationally, and in the world, a lot of uncertainty. And so I feel like community is where we meet that.”
Looking ahead 50 years, Baer said Erie will likely look very different. “Maybe we have flying cars, maybe we email ourselves everywhere,” she said, adding that she hopes a “more diverse leadership,” improved transportation infrastructure and solutions to affordability challenges are all in the town’s future.
“I just hope that we have done our due diligence now to set us up for great success in the future,” Baer said.
Councilmember Anil Pesaramelli said he hopes the 2020s are remembered as a decade of thoughtful planning and inclusive growth.
“I want to see how we grow smartly and how we accommodate people,” Pesaramelli said. “I want all the infrastructure needs to be planned now.”
The Erie Town Hall on Wednesday. (Cliff Grassmick/Daily Camera).
Mayor Andrew Moore said he would like to see a future that preserves Erie’s character.
“I want Erie to recognize all the hard decisions that are going into what we’re doing. So that Erie, in 2075, still has this small town feel,” Moore said. “We’re working as hard as we can to preserve that. And we’re making long-term decisions. We’re making, I often say, 100-year decisions right now, and we’re doing the best we can.”
“I want Erie to be remembered now as a place that’s kind of defining itself as a bigger city,” resident Micah Frank said. “I hope we’re welcoming of all people.”
Ten-year-old resident Nico said she imagines Erie largely staying the same.
“I feel like Erie will be just like this,” Nico said, “but just maybe a little bit bigger.”
The Town Hall building originally served as the Lincoln School until 1966 before being converted for municipal government use. It remains listed on the National Register of Historic Places, according to the town’s website.
Councilmember Brian O’Connor said preserving historic spaces like the Town Hall will be key to maintaining Erie’s identity as the town grows.
“If you’re not growing you’re dying,” O’Connor said. “But maintaining buildings like this … that’s how we keep that small-town feel.”