'I thought there was gold and a skull': What a Sask town found in a century-old time capsule
In the town of Kerrobert Sask., with a population of just under 1000 people, a community came out for an event a century in the making.
Two months ago, when contractors were restoring the front steps to the Kerrobert courthouse - a cornerstone of the community, a little piece of history was found. Something believed to have existed by many community members that had never been found.
“When we did our 100th birthday (in 2020), we had a rumour that we should look for a time capsule,” said the Kerrobert Courthouse Restoration Society's Jackie McNichol.
“Of course we had no success.”
The capsule was located in a cornerstone of the building.
It was built in 1920 and used as provincial court until 1996. According to the Kerrobert Museum Facebook page “the Kerrobert Courthouse held many different court cases, but one, in particular, was a murder trial in 1931, which was defended by John. G. Diefenbaker, a future prime minister of Canada."
“It’s in the middle of our town, it’s the heart of our community,” she said.
The site is commonly used for graduation and wedding photos.
Kerrobert Courthouse is a popular background for graduation and wedding photos. (Tara Neumeier)Roughly 175 people showed up see the capsule opened by Kerrobert’s Mayor Wayne Mock — the total amount of visitors the courthouse saw last summer.
“When they (contractors) got to the cornerstone they noticed that there was a copper boxinside and with all the excitement we really wanted to open it then and there but then we thought 'Nope this was a provincial building back then. This is something that should be enjoyed by as many people as possible,'” Mock said.
Mock opened the box in front of the jam-packed courthouse crowd, drawing oohs and ahhs from many. Inside the cornerstone were several artifacts were confirmed by the Restoration Society:
- A program from the Wednesday July 21st 1920 Kerrobert bar association banquet
- A stack of newspapers by the now non-existent Kerrobert Citizen
- Potentially a book
- Another item yet to be determined
Items from Kerrobert's time capsule.
Items from Kerrobert's time capsule.
Items a little different than some of the town’s kids were expecting.
“What I thought was there was lots of money in there,” said nine-year-old Jett Shepherd.
“I thought there was gold and a skull,” said twelve-year-old Austyn Zerr.
Regardless of what the box contained, there was plenty of excitement for the community and a reminder of what so many love about the old courthouse
“Everybody loves this building, it’s so beautiful and there is a feeling in here that’s very friendly, very cozy,” said long-time Kerrobert resident Bonnah Busch.
In 2020 when it celebrated the building’s centennial, it was rebranded as the Kerrobert Cultural Centre. It features the Kerropert and District Historical Museum, the Kerrobert Courtroom Art Gallery, the Wheatland Regional Library, the Kerrobert Chamber of Commerce, the town's office, counselling services and even one lawyer has an office there.
The Kerrobert Courthouse Restoration Society will contact curators in the province to get advice on properly handling the artifacts. Afterwards, they will be displayed for the public to see at the courthouse. The cornerstone will be put back into its original place — possibly with new secrets for another generation to discover.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.