1974 Time Capsule Opening

The Village of Berkeley is thrilled to announce the opening of the 1974 Time Capsule in a day-long celebration of The Rose Town’s Centennial. Scheduled for May 18th at the Berkeley Public Library (1675 N. Taft Ave), this momentous event marks a century of community, growth, and memories. Mayor Bob Lee will kick off the festivities with opening remarks, followed by the lifting of the marker stone to reveal the time capsule buried 50 years ago. The event promises to be a captivating journey back in time, connecting generations through the preservation of our past.

Event Schedule:

• 10:00 AM – Time Capsule Opening Ceremony: Join Mayor Bob Lee at the library as he ushers in the day’s events with a speech that reflects on our past 100 years and looks forward to our future. Witness the exciting moment as the marker stone is lifted to access the time capsule. 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM – Kids Story Time: An hour of stories celebrating the past and present, featuring special guest readers. Take-home miniature time capsules will also be available for kids. 
• 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM – Removal and Display of Contents: Guest emcee Tom Stocker will guide attendees through the unveiling of the time capsule’s contents. Discover artifacts, letters, and mementos that have been sealed away for half a century, each with its own story to tell about the people and events that have shaped our village. 
• Author of the book, “Roses to the Centennial: A History of Berkeley from 1974-2024”, Tim Griffin will be on hand to introduce the book. 
• Mayor Lee will also read a letter from 1974 Mayor Pottle to the current mayor

Events Throughout the Day:

• Century of Blooms Art Show: Explore a stunning exhibition featuring artwork created by Berkeley residents to reflect “The Rose Town”.
• Historic Photo Gallery: Walk through a visual history of Berkeley with a gallery of photographs. See the faces and places that have defined our village, offering a unique glimpse into our shared heritage.
• Suggestions for Next Time Capsule, to be opened in 2074: Have a say in what future generations will discover about us! Attendees are invited to submit suggestions for items to be included in the next time capsule, ensuring that the story of our era is preserved for centuries to come.
• Library Memories Station: Visit the Berkeley Public Library’s booth to share your favorite memories or stories about the village. 
• Meet-and-Greet with Neighbors Past and Present: A unique opportunity to connect with both longtime residents and newcomers, sharing stories and building bridges across generations. This gathering underscores the spirit of community that has always been at the heart of Berkeley.
• Special Edition Centennial Music in the Park: After the festivities at the library, join the Rob Post Band from 5-7pm in Berkeley Park. They’ll be sharing a selection of 70’s music to honor the time capsule opening. Neighborhood food trucks will be on hand with tasty options for purchase. 

The Village of Berkeley Centennial Celebration is more than just an event; it’s a testament to the enduring spirit of our community. As we reflect on our past and look forward to the future, this day promises to be a memorable milestone in our village’s history.

Tom knew in high school that broadcasting was where he wanted to spend his life. At the Proviso West Holiday Basketball Tournament. LaGrange radio WTAQ aired the games and when he saw and heard announcer Ralph Faucher, he was hooked.

Fast forward to the University of Illinois where the student-run radio station was in the basement of his dormitory. Within a year he was calling Illini Hockey Club games. That led to the owner of a small station in Tuscola, about 20 miles south of Champaign, and offered a job to broadcast the local high school games…at fifteen dollars a broadcast! That started the proverbial ball rolling on a career that has lasted more than 50 years.

His journey has had many stops. He was the sports anchor at television stations in Champaign and Memphis. That led to play-by-play jobs with the Memphis franchise in the Major Indoor Soccer league and the Memphis Showboats of the original USFL. From there he became the Voice of the Ole Miss Rebels. Those broadcasts gained the attention of the CBS/NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Network where he called first-and second round tournament games. Perhaps his most famous broadcast was in 1994 when defending national champion UCLA was eliminated in the first round by the Princeton Tigers in Indianapolis.

Tom had many free-lance opportunities. He covered state championships in five different sports for the Illinois High School Association’s television network. He did the Chicago City High School basketball championships for Superstation WGN and had assignments with the NAIA announcing national championships in football and women’s basketball.

In 1987 he started an 18-year run as the voice of professional baseball in Memphis, first for the Class AA Memphis Chicks and then at the Triple-A level for the St. Louis Cardinals’ top affiliate the Memphis Redbirds. For nine years during that stretch, he also called games for the city’s Central Hockey League franchise the RiverKings.

Tom and his wife Betsy moved to Hayward in 2005. He became the radio voice of the Hayward Hurricanes in 2009. With the exception of two years managing two radio stations in Amery, Wisconsin he has been the community’s radio voice for football, boys and girls hockey, basketball, baseball and softball.