Local residents can celebrate local history this year as the town of Jessup marks its 150th anniversary with many events and the opening of a time capsule.

Jessup Mayor Joseph J. Buckshon Jr. said he is “so excited to be involved” in celebrating Jessup’s 150th anniversary.

“We have a unique town,” said Buckshon. The town of Jessup is a “nice small-knit community” full of “pride and passion,” said Buckshon. “People here love it and people who move here love it,” he said.

Buckshon said he wants everyone in town to be involved in the celebration. The 150th anniversary celebration is planned with events throughout the year.

The celebration started with a kickoff dinner on April 12 at Fiorelli’s Catering, 1501 Main St., Peckville, according to Buckshon.

The family of Genie Lupini, 150th Anniversary Committee member, grew up in Jessup. She hopes the celebration will help the younger generation learn about their heritage.

With the anniversary celebration, Lupini said she is “looking forward to it because it is going to bring the community together.”

The 150th anniversary celebration is a “once-in-a-lifetime milestone event,” said JoAnne Mayer, 150th Anniversary Committee member. Mayer remembers celebrating the 100th anniversary when she was a little girl.

Mayer said she hopes the celebration will help “share history and tradition with neighboring towns and have children learn as well.”

To celebrate the history of the town, a time capsule that was buried 50 years ago in 1976 during the 100th anniversary celebration will be dug up. The time capsule is planned to be unveiled every 50 years to showcase the town’s history and add more items, according to Gregg Betti, Jessup council president.

Kristen Wolfe, president of the Jessup 21st Century Association, said the time capsule will showcase “what has gone on in the last 50 years” in Jessup and the “progress that has been made.”

“Everyone is welcome to provide us information for the time capsule,” said Buckshon.

Residents are encouraged to add paper items to the time capsule up to letter-size 8.5 inches by 11 inches, including letters to the future, photos, artwork, stories about Jessup, messages and drawings, according to Betti.

To celebrate Jessup’s 150th anniversary as well as America’s 250th anniversary, Jessup will have a Family Day on Sunday, July 5. The event is free to attend and will start with a parade at 12:30 p.m., according to Buckshon.

On Jessup Family Day, items that were previously buried in the time capsule and new items being added will be on display, according to Buckshon.

To help fund the celebration, Jessup received the American250 grant of $1,000, which was used for the anniversary banners around town and to purchase fireworks for the Jessup Family Day, according to Betti.

“It is a big day for the little town of Jessup,” said Buckshon.

Community groups, businesses, families, school clubs, organizations, sports teams and individuals are invited to take part in celebrating Jessup’s anniversary and participate in the Jessup Family Day parade, according to Betti.

Some of the many groups involved include the Jessup Ambulance Association, Jessup Hose Company 1, Jessup Hose Company 2, Knights of Columbus, Lions Club, St. Ubaldo Society, the American Legion and the Jessup 21st Century Association, according to Betti.

After the parade ends at Jessup Memorial Field on Erie Street, the time capsule will be opened for everyone to view what is inside, according to Wolfe.

Jessup Family Day will also have multiple bands playing, local food and wineries, craft vendors, activities for children and will conclude with a fireworks show, according to Wolfe.

The anniversary events will help “bring people together and make people aware of organizations and businesses in town,” said Betti.

Other events include Jessup Day at the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders at PNC Field, 235 Montage Mountain Road, Moosic, on Wednesday, July 1, where Buckshon will throw the first pitch of the game. Jessup residents can get discounted tickets prior to the game. There will also be a combined churches mass and picnic in August, according to Betti.

Jessup Giuseppe the ferret will also make appearances at Jessup Day at the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and Jessup Family Day, according to Betti. The weather-prognosticating ferret predicted an early spring at the inaugural Jessup Groundhog Day in February.

To register for the parade or to enter time capsule submissions, email jessup150parade@gmail.com.

For more information on the upcoming events and the time capsule, go to the Jessup-Winton 150 Years Facebook page or the Jessup Borough Facebook page.

More info

Among the events Jessup has planned for its 150th anniversary are Jessup Day at the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and Jessup Family Day, both in July, and the opening of a time capsule. For more information on upcoming events, visit the Jessup-Winton 150 Years Facebook page or the Jessup Borough Facebook page.