By Shannon Lukens.
The 100-year-old time capsule built into the corner of the historic Routt County Courthouse was opened Saturday by the local freemasons.
It was full of documents and papers. The newspapers were from this week, 100 years ago, with some from 101 years before when construction started on the courthouse.
The papers inside included the Steamboat Pilot, the Routt County Republican, and the Routt County Sentinal.
A copy of the Oak Creek Times was in the time capsule, date Sept. 9, 1922. The masthead said, “Oak Creek is the Livest and Most Prosperous Town in Colorado.” It said The Oak Creek Times is “A Live Newspaper – Published in the heart of the best Agricultural land in Colorado.” The headline from the Oak Creek Times that day was about a flying circus that was to be featured at the upcoming Routt County Fair.
Other newspapers and media publications included the Denver Post, the American Legion Weekly, and the Rocky Mountain News. And there was a high school yearbook called the “Honor Roll” from 1917, 1918, and 1919.
Routt County Commissioners hosted the presentation. Commissioner Tim Redmond welcomed the crowd and said how honored he was to be there for the opening, and how 100 years ago, he probably wouldn’t be in the situation of being a Routt County Commissioner.
Commissioner Tim Corrigan said, “this building would withstand an earthquake.” He said he was happy it has been preserved by the previous commissioners over the past 100 years, and he hopes there will be 100 more years to come.
Commissioner Sonja Macys spoke of the past county seat which was in Hahns Peak. Then when the railroad came to town in the early 1900s, Steamboat Springs became the county seat of Routt County. She said, “While we embrace the past, we look forward to the future.” Macys is hoping to get passenger railroad trains back to the Yampa Valley. Macys also thanked the Elk Mountain Masonic Lodge, which was formed in 1904.
People lined up that afternoon to see the contents of the time capsule, while will eventually be on display in the Routt County Courthouse.