113-year-old time capsule opened in Boston

BOSTON, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- History buffs in Boston and around the world watched with bated breath Thursday as a 113-year-old time capsule was removed from the head of a lion statue that normally graces the roof of the Old State House.

The capsule was discovered when the gold statue was, along with its unicorn partner, being prepared for restoration.

Archivists from the Bostonian Society carefully removed the lion's crown and cut the wires holding the shoebox-sized capsule in place.

Visible inside were a red hardcover book and papers that appeared to be newsprint, in remarkably good condition.

"I was expecting a pile of newspapers," said Elizabeth Roscio, the archives manager who oversaw the unsealing. "It's a great surprise [the contents] are in such good condition. The book was surprise."

But pleasure at the unexpected and well-preserved discoveries was tinged with some disappointment: Because the copper box was so tightly packed, Roscio decided to bring the box back to the Bostonian Society's archives center to remove the contents in a safer environment starting Tuesday.

While we'll have to wait for more answers, there are clues to what the capsule contains. Roscio and Bostonian Society President Brian LeMay both said they thought the red book could have been a diary belonging to Samuel D. Rogers, a carpenter who worked on the 1901 installation of the statues.

An article from the Feb. 24, 1901, Boston Daily Globe described the expected "many interesting contributions of the day" that would be placed inside.

The work of the coppersmith is completed, and one of the last things he did was to seal a copper box, which is placed in the head of the lion, and which contains contributions from state and city officials, the Boston daily newspapers, the name of the maker of the lion and unicorn, and others, which will prove interesting when the box is opened many years hence...

The contents of the box include photographs and autographs of Gov. W. Murray Crane, Mayor Thomas Norton Hart...

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Photographs of Hon. Samuel A. Green, Hon. Nathan Matthews Jr., Hon. Edwin Upton Curtis, Hon. Josiah Quincy and Gen. Augustus P. Martin, all living ex-mayors.

Boston Globe circular and map showing the population with a radius of 30 miles of Boston...

Photograph of the Boston Journal Building, showing the passing of the 5th Massachusetts regiment on its way to Framingham to be mustered in as U.S. volunteers for service in war against Spain.

"Letter of happenings of the day," from the Boston Traveler...

A letter to posterity from the reporters of the Boston daily newspapers assigned to city hall.

Executive directory of the general court of Massachusetts, 1901.

Samuel L. Powers congressional campaign button, deposited by J.A.W. Silver.

Campaign buttons of McKinley and Roosevelt and John D. Long for vice president, deposited by Daiel A. Case...

Photographs of the present and past officers of the Massachusetts department G.A.R. with button and badge, also roster of past 200 G.A.R.

Hand-made nail from the old state house.

Photograph of the lion and unicorn by M.H. Gulesian, who built them.

The Bostonian Society earlier this week said it planned to place a new time capsule inside the lion when the statues are put back on their normal perches later this month. While just two items have been confirmed -- a photo of Boston Mayor Mary Walsh and a 2013 Boston Marathon medal donated by Gregory Soutiea -- the organization is soliciting ideas for the new box.

Items from the 2013 Marathon, the bombing of which killed four people and injured hundreds, were a popular suggestion. Also popular were objects commemorating the Red Sox 2013 World Series victory (and slugger David Ortiz's much beloved bout of profanity earlier in the season), Dunkin Donuts cups and Charlie Cards, the cards used to ride the city's subway.