The Bostonian Society is poised to reveal the contents of a copper box hidden in the head of a lion statue at the Old State House — contents that were placed there in 1901 and believed to be various letters, newspaper clips and political documents from the period.
The Old State House is located just outside the site wherein British soldiers fired at a crown of protesters in 1770, killing five and sparking uprisings, in what is now historically called the Boston Massacre. The balcony of the building also served as the point of first reading of the just-signed Declaration of Independence.
On Thursday, Boston historians say they’re going to peek inside the copper box and see what time capsule treasures it contains, The Associated Press reported.
A great-great-granddaughter of a man who worked on renovations to the Old State House first mentioned the possibility of the time capsule to Bostonian Society people, AP said.
On top of that, a 1901 article in the Boston Globe discovered by historical researchers referenced the copper box, and the contents “which will prove interesting when the box is opened many years hence,” AP said.
A Bostonian Society spokeswoman said it wasn’t likely that the public would be able to view the contents as soon as the box was opened. Heather Leet, director of the development for the group, said the contents probably will be in fragile condition, AP said.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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