Demolition workers discover mysterious 100-year-old time capsule as they tear down a school – and its contents are perfectly preserved

A centuries-old time capsule was discovered during the demolition of a Minnesota high school, and its perfectly preserved contents were revealed for the first time this week.

The capsule was recovered when construction workers tore down the front pillars and doors of the former Owatonna High School, which was built in 1920.

Bob Olson, the director of facilities, infrastructure and safety, had instructed workers to carefully remove a cornerstone as the district planned to keep it in their office or at the new high school.

But inside that cornerstone, which was laid more than a century ago, workers found a surprise: a 104-year-old time capsule.

The contents of the torn white box were announced during a press conference on Monday.

The capsule was tucked into a cornerstone laid in 1920, when the old high school was built.

Facilities Director Bob Olson (left) directed demolition workers to carefully remove the cornerstone, as the district planned to preserve it

Director Cory Kath was one of several administrators who spoke before the unveiling.

“I think what’s really important is that Owatonna High School has a rich history, and that history includes multiple buildings, multiple learning spaces, many different faces, and so I think tonight it’s going to be very exciting to see some of to see those faces. emerge,” he said.

Olson put on a pair of latex gloves before carefully pulling out the items and announcing them all to the audience.

The capsule was full of papers with historical information about the high school and local community.

Among the items were one of the first editions of the OHS Magnet, the school’s student-run newspaper, and a report from the district’s finance committee.

There were also copies of three local newspapers: The Daily People’s Press, The Blooming Prairie Time and Owatonna Journal-Chronicle. Only the People’s Press has continued printing to this day.

There was also information about the city itself, including a list of mayors and city reporters and a written history of Owatonna.

The most surprising finds were several items belonging to the Minnesota Freemasons and a booklet written entirely in Czech.

The torn white box was full of documents about the school’s history

Olson wore a pair of latex gloves at Monday’s press conference, where he pulled out the items and described them all to the crowd

Among the items were copies of three local newspapers, including two that were out of print

Among the most surprising discoveries were artifacts belonging to the Minnesota Freemasons and a booklet written in Czech

The district plans to display some items on the school grounds, while others will go to the Steele County Historical Society

Some documents contain information about OHS at the time, including a 1920-21 Board of Education roster and school staff.

Papers containing enrollment information showed a striking contrast. In 1920 there were only 327 students at the school, a fraction of the current student body of 1,500.

The items will be preserved, with the hope that some of them can be displayed on the school grounds.

The OHS Museum Committee works with the Steele County Historical Society to determine which items are directly related to the county.

The Historical Society plans to adopt some of the items for preservation and display.