OLDS — On May 25, Mountain View Museum & Archives staff and volunteers held a time capsule opening as part of Spring Fling and to celebrate the 50th year of the Olds Historical Society, which runs the museum.
Items were placed in the capsule, shaped like a big bullet, back in 1984.
“In 1974, a group of citizens, much like any of you, went to town council and asked if it would be possible to start a museum,” Olds Historical Society chair Donna Erdman told the roughly 30 people in attendance.
She noted that originally the museum was just “a very small display in the corner of the town offices.”
In the early 1980s, the Alberta Government Telephones building became vacant and the town offered it to the society as a place to house the museum.
That’s when board members created the time capsule.
Thanks to a great deal of fundraising, the building was renovated and an addition put on.
“Fast forward 50 years and here we are today,” Erdman said. “We are a vibrant, community-led, community-based museum. We represent you, the citizens of Olds.”
Museum manager and program coordinator Chantal Marchildon told the crowd that the capsule was closed pretty tightly. So much so that treasurer, Ernie Johnson had to create a special tool to open it.
Deputy mayor Wanda Blatz had the honour of being the first to open the time capsule. She pulled out a 1984 Olds Community Service Directory.
“On behalf of town council and staff of the Town of Olds, I’m really delighted to be here today, attending Spring Fling,” Blatz said.
“This event holds special significance as we celebrate the museum’s 50th anniversary.”
Blatz said she and town officials are proud of the society and museum staff and volunteers for “preserving and sharing our community’s rich history.”
Representatives of the IODE, Olds Hospice Society, Olds Masons as well as the Coonfer, Thompson and Whitehair families took turns removing remaining items from the capsule.
The more items that were taken out, the further people had to reach in to remove things.
In addition to the 1984 Olds Community Service Directory, items removed included several photos, a copy of the Olds Optimist, a copy of an Olds Grizzlys magazine, and a tie belonging to the mayor at that time.
Afterward, attendees ate hot dogs and pieces of the museum's 50th anniversary cake.
The time capsule’s contents will be on temporary display until June 15.
