ANDOVER – The town recently celebrated its bicentennial during a weekend of skydivers, hot air balloons and a little taste from the past.

The 200th birthday celebration kicked off on Friday night with a carnival and street dance, while Saturday saw the majority of the bigger events. On Saturday the town of about 800 was overrun with wagon rides, parades, tractor pulls, live music and fireworks.

Perhaps the most memorable event that took place was the unearthing of a time capsule from 1954. Townspeople both young and old gathered in the center of town and got a chance to dig up some bits of town and personal histories.

The capsule was buried about 2 to 3 feet underground and with the aid of an electric saw, townspeople pulled out various letters and pictures from the past. A copy of the Rumford Falls Times dated back to July 29, 1954, was also discovered and anything that went unclaimed would be placed on display at the Historical Society.

Former residents Mike Stowell and Steve Hall traveled all the way from Florida and Georgia to join in the celebration and witness the unveiling of the capsule. “We made a pact that we’d all return,” said Stowell.

Once all of the memorabilia was handed out, residents took turns filling up the new time capsule set to be dug up 25 years from now in 2029.

Pastor Jane Rich gave a quick speech about the once “wild and untamed territory” of Andover and its early inhabitants. While also pointing out the drastic differences between time periods and culture, Rich made sure to mention the “connective-ness” the town portrays.

“I’m so lucky to have found my true home in the beautiful western mountains of Maine,” said Rich.

Selectmen Joan Carney also greeted the crowd with small personal reflections and anecdotes about the town. “There are no strangers in Andover, only neighbors,” said Carney.

For more than two years, a group of volunteers, including many Andover Historical Society members, has met regularly to plan the celebration. Roger Mills Jr. chaired the committee, just as his father chaired the town’s sesquicentennial in 1954.

“This was a community wide effort,” said Mills Jr.