Detroit Century Box

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The Detroit City Hall in 1900. It was demolished in 1961.

The Detroit Century Box is a time capsule that was created in the U.S. city of Detroit, Michigan on December 31, 1900. Mayor William C. Maybury organized the capsule which consists of a copper box filled with photos and letters containing the then current state of affairs in Detroit along with predictions for the future. Mayor Dennis Archer presided over the opening of the capsule on December 31, 2000.[1][2]

Detroit in 1900[]

Our buildings of today are equipped with fast running elevators, heating, lighting, power plants...

— John M. Donaldson, Rise of Architecture in Detroit[3]

In the diocese there 218 priests - 44 Regulars - 174 Seculars. 198 Churches and missions...

— John Samuel Foley, Letter to William C. Maybury[4]

We travel by railroad and with steam power from Detroit to Chicago in less than eight hours...

— William C. Maybury, Letter of William C. Maybury[5]

Of the 44 United States, 25 have limited suffrage, 4 have full suffrage, limited suffrage is granted in many foreign countries and full suffrage in New Zealand, South and West Australia, and in Isle of Man.

— Sara M. Philleo Skinner, Woman's Suffrage - Retrospect and Prophecy[6]

Predictions for the future[]

In AD 2000, I think it not improbable that Detroit will enjoy a population of fully four millions.

— James E. Scripps, Letter to William C. Maybury[7]

I predict further that Sandwich, Windsor and Walkerville now in Canada will be a part of the City of Detroit and that Ontario will be a state of the United States of America.

— Orrin R. Baldwin, Letter to William C. Maybury[8]

That prisoners instead of being conveyed to the several police stations in Automobile patrol wagons will be sent through pneumatic tubes, flying machines, or some similar process.

— Commissioners of the Metropolitan Police Commission, Letter to William C. Maybury[9]

Notable letter writers[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Andrea Cecil, "100-year-old time capsule opened in Detroit" Archived 2013-06-19 at the Wayback Machine Republished from the Kalamazoo Gazette (January 2, 2001). Retrieved August 13, 2013
  2. ^ "Future Friday: Century Box Prophecies" Detroit Historical Society. Retrieved August 13, 2013
  3. ^ a b "Rise of Architecture in Detroit". Detroit Historical Society.
  4. ^ a b "Letter written by John Samuel Foley". Detroit Historical Society.
  5. ^ a b "Letter written by William C. Maybury". Detroit Historical Society.
  6. ^ "Woman's Suffrage - Retrospect and Prophecy". Detroit Historical Society.
  7. ^ a b "Letter written by James E. Scripps". Detroit Historical Society.
  8. ^ "Letter written by Orrin R. Baldwin". Detroit Historical Society.
  9. ^ "Metropolitan Police Commission". Detroit Historical Society.
  10. ^ "Letter written by Annie M. Knott". Detroit Historical Society.
  11. ^ "Letter written by Charles L. Freer". Detroit Historical Society.
  12. ^ "Real Estate Titles in Detroit, Past, Present and Future". Detroit Historical Society.
  13. ^ "The Past, Present and Future of the Colored Race in Detroit". Detroit Historical Society.
  14. ^ "The Growth of Manufacturing in Detroit During the Nineteenth Century". Detroit Historical Society.
  15. ^ "Progress of Journalism in the Last Century". Detroit Historical Society.

External links[]

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