A copper box filled with emblems of Calgary’s history had been at rest in the Historical City Hall for the past 110 years — that is, until it was opened by present-day Mayor Naheed Nenshi.
The box had been placed under a cornerstone in 1908 by the then-mayor Arthur L. Cameron, with the assistance of former mayors George King and George Murdock, according to a release from the City of Calgary.
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The time capsule was retrieved as part of the rehabilitation project that is currently ongoing for the 110-year-old Historic City Hall, which is expected to be completed by July 2020.
“I am honoured to have been called upon to retrieve this time capsule placed here by Mayor Cameron in 1908,” said Mayor Naheed Nenshi in the release. “The time capsule is a piece of history that belongs to all Calgarians and I am privileged to be able to retrieve it on their behalf.”
The sealed copper box revealed 27 items when opened, including copies of newspapers from the time the box was sealed, the city’s bylaws, a police department medal, coins, and an album of the Dominion Exhibition, which Calgarians may recognize as the precursor to the now-world-famous Calgary Stampede.
Here’s a list of everything that was found in the time capsule:
- New Testament
- Bylaws, the City of Calgary
- Financial report, City of Calgary, 1907
- Voters’ list, City of Calgary, 1907
- Album of dominion exhibition, Calgary, 1908
- Report of Grand Lodge of Masons of Alberta, 1908
- Report of Grand Lodge of Oddfellows of Alberta, 1908
- Report of General hospital, 1907
- Report of school board, Calgary, 1907
- Tercentenary stamps, Canada, 1908.
- Coins, 50 cent, 25 cent, 10 cent, and 5 cent, Dominion of Canada.
- Copy of history of Roman Catholic church, Calgary, 1907.
- Medal of Chairman of Police department.
- Medal of city comptroller
- Members of fire department
- Report of Knox church, Calgary
- Members of police department
- Proceedings of synod of Church of England for western Canada
- Minutes of Alberta conference of Methodist church
- Yearbook of the Central Methodist church
- Report of Baptist church.
- Copy of Daily Herald
- Copy of Morning Albertans
- Copy of special edition of Albertan
- Copy of Daily News
- Copy of Eye Opener
A new time capsule is planned to replace the one that was just opened once the rehabilitation of Historic City Hall is completed.
“Historic City Hall has been a part of the changing fabric of Calgary,” said Darrel Bell, acting director of Facility Management with the city, in the release.
“We are excited to be able to preserve the contents of this time capsule, as well as this historic building, for many years to come.”
Calgarians will be able to have a say in what goes into the new time capsule at public engagement meetings in 2019.
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