Back in October, the Bostonian Society opened the 113-year old time capsule stashed in the head of the lion statue that typically sits atop the Old State House. Bostonians awaited anxiously as the time capsule was extracted cracked ajar only for the items to be removed at a later date. Because the capsule was stuffed so tightly with century-old items, the archivist didn’t want to risk damage.
But the items were eventually revealed, including several letters, photos, clips and pins, to name just a few. The Bostonian Society announced on Wednesday that on Sunday, November 23, the lion and accompanying unicorn statue will be returned to their perch overlooking Downtown Boston “with shiny new coats of real gold and palladium.” And a 2014 time capsule for posterity to enjoy will be inserted as well.
“Those attending the unveiling are urged to wear their sunglasses,” said Bostonian Society President Brian LeMay, “because the shiny new gold and silver coats on the statues will be truly dazzling.”
The dual statues will be unveiled at 10 a.m.
Included in the latest capsule will be three letters from Boston journalists, including former BostInno reporter and current Boston magazine writer Steve Annear; photographs of Mayor Walsh and his predecessor, the late Mayor Tom Menino; a 2013 Boston Marathon medal and biography of donor Gregory Soutiea; and an iPhone 5.
The full inventory of the time capsule is as follows:
- 2013 Boston Marathon medal and biography of donor Gregory Soutiea
- Letters from Boston journalists:
- Kiera Blessing, Boston Globe;
- Steve Annear, Boston Magazine;
- Brian Burns, Boston.com.
- Photograph of current Boston Mayor, Martin Walsh.
- Photograph of former Boston Mayor, Thomas Menino.
- Tickets from April 20, 2012 Fenway Park Centennial Boston Red Sox game, donated by Peter Loring.
- David Ortiz limited-edition bobblehead, donated by the Boston Red Sox.
- Apple iPhone 5, donated by Patrick LeTourneau.
- Boston Globe newspaper, October 10, 2014, with story about discovery of 1901 time capsule.
- Letter from British Consul Suzie Kitchens, on current United States/Great Britain relations.
- Photograph of Governor Deval Patrick with Prime Minister of England David Cameron, at Boston Marathon Bombing Memorial, 2013.
- Winning student essays from the 2013 Boston Duck Tour Essay contest.
- Foreign Relations of the United States 1977-1980, Volume III, (bound in red, latest in a series represented by the 1896 volume found in the 1901 time capsule), with a letter from Davita Vance-Cooks, Public Printer of the United States, Government Printing Office.
- Letter from Brian LeMay, Bostonian Society President and Executive Director.
- Facsimile of a 1901 letter from George Litchfield, Business Manager of the Boston Traveler. This letter was included in the earlier time capsule that the Bostonian Society opened in October 2014.
- Facsimile of a photograph of the team who worked on the 1901 Old State House restoration project. This photograph was included in the 1901 time capsule that the Bostonian Society recovered in 2014.
- Photograph of the current restoration work teams – Commodore Builders and Skylight Studios.
- Photograph of the current Old State Restoration Project team.
- Old State House Lion & Unicorn: An Unfolding Story, an essay written by architect Donald Tellalian.
- Box from Mike’s Pastry (with no canolis, unfortunately).
- Letters from children participating in Greenovate Boston’s Community Summit 2014, and a Greenovate Boston button.
- “Idahoan’s research uncovers time capsule,” facsimile of an article from Idaho Statesman, October 28, 2014.
- Two 18th-century hand-wrought nails removed from the Old State House tower in 2008.
- Two 19th-century cut nails removed from the tower in 2008
- Fragment of a 1713 brick removed from Old State House during the 2014 west façade restoration project.
- Menu from Legal Sea Foods restaurant, 2014.
- Photographs of Boston’s central artery 2003, and Rose Kennedy Greenway, 2013 (before and after the Big Dig).
