Saturday's time-capsule opening to mark Turlock at 100

TURLOCK -- Fifty years ago, a time capsule was buried in Central Park to commemorate the city's Golden Jubilee, with instructions it not be opened until the city's 100th birthday.

Well that milestone is here. And Saturday morning, almost 50 years later to the day, city crews will dig up and open the capsule and celebrate with an all-day party throughout downtown.

Saunders Sheet Metal Co. built and donated the metal capsule, engraved by Gloeckler Jewelers and marked with a stone from the Turlock Cemetery Association. Buried in the downtown park May 31, 1958, and not to be opened until 2008, plans were interrupted in 1999 when city maintenance workers accidentally dug up the time capsule while working on a water fountain. The capsule was left unopened, put back in the ground quickly and remarked.

What is in the time capsule remains a mystery.

Turlock Mayor John Lazar, centennial committee co-chairs Rob Santos and Sharon Silva, and event coordinator DJ Fransen will open the capsule after a ceremony that begins at 8:30 a.m.

A history stroll through downtown, antiques street faire, a daytime concert in the park, the "Taste of Turlock" food event and the third "Saturday Night Out" concert will follow.