Photo by Anthony Mullin
Derby Mayor Joseph DiMartino addresses the crowd on the Derby Green May 13, 2025.
DERBY — More than 125 people gathered in celebration on the Derby Green Tuesday (May 13) to mark the 350th anniversary of Derby officially being named a township on May 13, 1675.
The event served as the official kick-off of a series of events planned by the Derby 350th Anniversary Committee – chaired by Derby Town/City Clerk Marc Garofalo – to celebrate the milestone.
“Tonight, we gather not only to reflect on our rich history but also to look forward to a bright and promising future,” Derby Mayor Joe DiMartino said. “Three and a half centuries ago, our city was founded on principles of community, resilience and innovation. From humble beginnings we have evolved into a vibrant and dynamic community, rich in culture and diversity.”
Photo by Anthony Mullin
Derby resident Jack Walsh talks about the history of the city.
Garofalo led the hour-long kick-off as emcee, welcoming guests to the party.
“For those of you who were here in 1675, you look great,” Garofalo quipped.
The evening featured an invocation from Rev. Marek Sobczak from St. Michael’s Church, singing of the National Anthem by Alderwoman Sarah Widomski, and ringing of the church bells around the Green. Derby High School’s Tri‑M Music Society provided background music as scouts from Troop 3 Derby led with the colors of the flag.
In keeping with the historical theme, Derby favorite son Jack Walsh announced the three newest inductees into Derby’s Hall of Fame: Charles L. Russell, an anti-slavery activist and colonel in the 10th Regiment CT; Albert F. Sherwood, an author, postmaster and owner of Sentinel Hill Farm and Col. Ebeneezer Johnson, Derby’s first justice of the peace, first state rep. that was elected 46 times and first militia captain.
The main event that many came to see was the opening of a time capsule that was buried on the Derby Green 50 years ago during the city’s Tercentennial anniversary. The Derby Public Works Department unearthed the 8‑ft. long, concrete funeral vault a few days ago. The vault sat in the upper portion of the Green, where the crowd gathered in anticipation to see what was inside.
Photo by Anthony Mullin
The time capsule's marker.
Photo by Anthony Mullin
The time capsule was flooded, unfortunately.
A bucket-loader pulled forward and grasped the vault’s lid, unsealing it for the first time in 50 years. As people gathered around the vault, a small sigh could be heard because the contents inside were buried under about three to four inches of water.
According to an Evening Sentinel article from 1975, the time capsule was to contain“messages of the future” that people conveyed to their descendants, including letters, photos and taped messages.
Unfortunately, upon opening, it was discovered that water had infiltrated the tomb, appearing to decimate many artifacts.
Derby 350 Committee member and Troop 3 Scoutmaster Randy Ritter, sporting rubber gloves, pulled out a Derby flag, a pin, a golf ball and a pack of Kool cigarettes. The contents were placed in plastic bins.
Garofalo said the celebration itself was about so much more than the items inside the time capsule.
“Overall, this is just one phase of our whole 350th celebration,” Garofalo said. “It certainly is disappointing (to find the items under water) but the memories are the things that you carry in your heart. It was exciting to have so much enthusiasm here tonight, and we have a lot of history in Derby that we look back upon. But our goal is to create new traditions going forward.”
DiMartino, too, was disheartened about the water-logged contents but said it didn’t dampen the community’s spirits.
“I was excited to see what was in there, and I feel bad for all the people that came here to see what people left them,” DiMartino said. “But we had a great crowd and we’re going to do a lot of good things this coming year.”
Derby native RoseMarie Sheehy, who was a member of Derby’s 300th Anniversary Committee back in 1975, was on hand for Tuesday’s festivities.
“I think it’s nice that they’re doing this,” Sheehy said. “I was one of the ones helping to get everybody to put stuff in the time capsule. I don’t recall all the things that went in there, so long as it wasn’t food.”
Derby Alderman Ron Sill recalled being a 25-year-old on the Derby Green in 1975 when the time capsule was sealed. He didn’t put anything inside the time capsule back then, but plans to next May when the city closes out its yearlong celebration.
“It’s exciting and it’s a really beautiful crowd that came out today,” Sill said.
Dan Foley, a Derby Board of Education member, was a sixth-grade teacher at the former Franklin School when the city marked its 300th anniversary. He and his wife recalled placing a note or letter into the time capsule.
“Now we’ll never know what it said,” Foley quipped.
Video of the event was carried live on the Derby 350 Facebook page:
Tuesday’s celebration concluded with a musical concert by Derby High School graduates Tony Susi and Andrew“Jr.” Palmieri.
Derby will continue to mark its 350th anniversary with many other events over the next several months, including fireworks, a formal gala, a pub crawl, all-class reunion and Derby Day 350 weekend. Check the committee’s Facebook page for updates.
Here’s a list of some of those events:
*May 20, 2025
Debut of original song composition written by Derby High School Alumnus Tony Susi and performed by Derby High School Band, 6:30 p.m., Derby High School.
*May 30, 31, and June 1, 2025 – Weekend Celebration
Musical Entertainment
Friday May 30, 2025
Lead Singers of Classic Rock, Jason Scheff — Longtime Lead Singer of Chicago and Tommy DeCarlo — Former Lead Singer of Boston, 8:30 p.m.
May 31, Fleetwood Heart, A tribute to Fleetwood Mac and Heart, 8:30 p.m.
Sunday June 1, 2025
Forjoury, a tribute to Foreigner and Journey, 5 p.m.
Food trucks, kids’ activities, transportation history, craft and merchandise vendors
Other 350th events include:
*350th Summer Concert Series – Series of weekly concerts on the Derby Green, with bands to be announced
*Thursday, July 3, fireworks
*Saturday, Aug. 30 (Labor Day Weekend) – All-Class (Derby High School) Reunion
*Saturday, Sept. 20 – Taste of Derby, Warsaw Park, Ansonia, featuring food from various Derby restaurants
*Saturday, Sept. 20 – Olde Derby Pub Crawl, featuring a party bus stopping at various Derby watering holes
*Friday, October 17 – 350th Gala Ball, THC/Grassy Hill Lodge
*Friday, November 28 – Annual Holiday Tree Lighting, Derby Green, 5 p.m.
*December – Olde Derby Colonial Tree Lighting, Academy Hill Green
*May 2026 – A new time capsule with items collected over the course of the 350th events will be filled and buried.
