110-year-old time capsule retrieved from Historic City Hall

CALGARY (660 NEWS) – After being locked away behind a cornerstone in 1908, a time capsule finally saw the light of day again on Thursday morning.

Originally placed by Calgary Mayor Arthur L. Cameron just over 110 years ago inside Historic City Hall, the dusty copper box was pulled out by current Mayor Naheed Nenshi and opened up.

The box was removed as part of the rehabilitation of the building, which is the only surviving city hall of its period in Western Canada.

There are 27 items inside, including copies of newspapers, reports from local churches and buildings, a voter’s list from 1907, bylaws, medals of the police department, a New Testament, and an album of the Dominion Exhibition — now known as the Calgary Stampede.

Some of the items show the affects of time, so the City is working on a treatment plan to preserve them so they can be displayed at a later date.

They are also working on a new time capsule to be placed in Historic City Hall once the renovations are complete, and Calgarians will be able to provide input in 2019 on what should be included.

Here’s a complete list of what is inside the capsule:

New Testament.

Bylaws, The City of Calgary,

Financial report, The City of Calgary A.D. 1907.

Voters’ list, The City of Calgary, A.D. 1907.

Album of dominion exhibition. Calgary. A.S. 1908

Report of Grand Lodge of Masona of Alberta. A.D. 1908.

Report of Grand Lodge of Oddfellows of Alberta, A.D. 1908.

Report of General hospital, A.D. 1907

Report of school board, Calgary, A.D 1907

Tercentenary stamps, Canada, A.D. 1908

Coins, 50c, 25c, 10c, and 5c, Dominion of Canada.

Copy of history of Roman Catholic church, Calgary. A.D. 1907.

Medal of Chairman of Police department

Medal of city comptroller.

Members of fire department.

Report of Knox church, Calgary,

Members of police deparment.

Proceedings of synod of Church of England for western Canada.

Minutes of Alberta conference of Methodist church.

Year book 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.