Read the full bilingual release here
SANTA PAULA — The Rotary Club of Santa Paula and the City invite the community to a historic and memorable event: the unearthing and reveal of Santa Paula’s Centennial Time Capsule on Monday, June 16, 2025, at 1:00 PM in front of Santa Paula City Hall, located at 970 E. Ventura St., Santa Paula, CA 93060.
In 1975, to commemorate the city’s centennial, the Santa Paula Centennial Committee— including members of the Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce—buried a time capsule in front of City Hall. Among the known contents is a letter from then-Mayor John Melton, as published in the Santa Paula Chronicle. However, not all items were catalogued, and the reveal may hold surprises from five decades ago.
This year’s event also marks Santa Paula’s sesquicentennial (150th anniversary)—a milestone rooted in the recording of the original townsite map on June 16, 1875, by citrus pioneer Nathan W. Blanchard and E.L. Bradley. Their vision turned Rancho Santa Paula y Saticoy into the thriving community we know today.
The time capsule reveal is a unique opportunity to reflect on the city’s rich past, community spirit, and transformation over the last 150 years. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided, and local leaders will join in commemorating this significant occasion.
The Rotary Club is also seeking to reconnect with any surviving members of the 1975 Centennial Committee. If you or someone you know participated in the planning or burial of the original time capsule, please contact Mitch Stone at mitchstone@me.com as the Rotary Club would be honored to recognize and include all who were part of this historic project.
Whether you’re a lifelong resident or new to Santa Paula, we welcome you to join us for an afternoon of nostalgia, storytelling, and civic pride as we open a window into the past and celebrate 150 years of Santa Paula history.
For more information about the time capsule reveal, please contact Carlos Juarez, Vice Mayor and Rotary member at cjuarez@spcity.org
