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1948 Chicago Railroad Fair time capsule
Posted by:
barbchri
()
Date: January 30, 2013 05:23PM
I recently came across a picture of the 1948 dedication of the Chicago and North Western time capsule during the Chicago Railroad Fair:
The location was at Kinzie and Canal Streets near the Cassidy Tire building, the location of Chicago's first railroad station. That area is highly developed and I don't see any traces of where the capsule might be buried. Does anyone know if the capsule remains buried and what side of the street it was buried on?
The location was at Kinzie and Canal Streets near the Cassidy Tire building, the location of Chicago's first railroad station. That area is highly developed and I don't see any traces of where the capsule might be buried. Does anyone know if the capsule remains buried and what side of the street it was buried on?
Re: 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair time capsule
Posted by:
nordsider
()
Date: January 30, 2013 07:34PM
The the general location:
Chicago's first railroad depot, the Galena & Chicago Union, stood on Kinzie Street just north of the Chicago River.
http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/6376.html
See also the upper right-hand map insert:
http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/collections/maps/chi1890/G4104-C6P3-1899-R3.html
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/30/2013 07:52PM by nordsider.
Chicago's first railroad depot, the Galena & Chicago Union, stood on Kinzie Street just north of the Chicago River.
http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/6376.html
See also the upper right-hand map insert:
http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/collections/maps/chi1890/G4104-C6P3-1899-R3.html
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/30/2013 07:52PM by nordsider.
Re: 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair time capsule
Posted by:
daveg
()
Date: January 30, 2013 08:15PM
An Art Institute photo described the location as the SW corner of Canal and Kinzie.
http://digital-libraries.saic.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/mqc/id/25558/rec/6
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/30/2013 08:17PM by daveg.
http://digital-libraries.saic.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/mqc/id/25558/rec/6
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/30/2013 08:17PM by daveg.
Re: 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair time capsule
Posted by:
nordsider
()
Date: January 30, 2013 09:17PM
This 1892 map shows the "Kinzie St Station" at the NE corner of Kinzie and Canal, next to the north branch of the river.
http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/collections/maps/chi1890/G4104-C6-1892-R3-NE.html
http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/collections/maps/chi1890/G4104-C6-1892-R3-NE.html
Re: 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair time capsule
Posted by:
WayOutWardell
()
Date: January 30, 2013 11:39PM
How about a FC archaeological dig? I'm in!
Re: 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair time capsule
Posted by:
Richard Stachowski
()
Date: January 31, 2013 12:14AM
[b]where is it now?[/b]
Re: 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair time capsule
Posted by:
nordsider
()
Date: January 31, 2013 12:25AM
WayOutWardell Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How about a FC archaeological dig? I'm in!
Great idea. My guess it's within those clump of trees on the NE corner . . . looking at the Google street view.
See:
Robinson's Atlas of the City of Chicago, 1886
Volume 3, plate 6
Within the area bounded by the River NB, Kinzie Street, Water Street and W.Indiana Street, shown on the map.
http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/11064.html
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/31/2013 01:17AM by nordsider.
-------------------------------------------------------
> How about a FC archaeological dig? I'm in!
Great idea. My guess it's within those clump of trees on the NE corner . . . looking at the Google street view.
See:
Robinson's Atlas of the City of Chicago, 1886
Volume 3, plate 6
Within the area bounded by the River NB, Kinzie Street, Water Street and W.Indiana Street, shown on the map.
http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/11064.html
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/31/2013 01:17AM by nordsider.
Re: 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair time capsule
Posted by:
WayOutWardell
()
Date: January 31, 2013 02:22AM
Check it out, I think I found another vantage point of the above photo!
[url=http://www.lib.niu.edu/2008/iht081501-34-1.jpg]Time Capsule Gathering?[/url]
So, it looks like they're on the southwest corner, and this photo is looking west across Canal. The track that's on the left would appear to be the one that continues east across the bridge and heads under Merchandise Mart. Historic Aerials doesn't show anything being built on that corner in subsequent years, so assuming it hasn't already been moved, it's probably still down there.
[url=http://www.lib.niu.edu/2008/iht081501-34-1.jpg]Time Capsule Gathering?[/url]
So, it looks like they're on the southwest corner, and this photo is looking west across Canal. The track that's on the left would appear to be the one that continues east across the bridge and heads under Merchandise Mart. Historic Aerials doesn't show anything being built on that corner in subsequent years, so assuming it hasn't already been moved, it's probably still down there.
Re: 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair time capsule
Posted by:
nordsider
()
Date: January 31, 2013 09:26AM
Historic Aerials
1938 and 1955 photographs
http://www.historicaerials.com/
1938 and 1955 photographs
http://www.historicaerials.com/
Re: 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair time capsule
Posted by:
222psm
()
Date: January 31, 2013 09:43AM
WayOutWardell Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How about a FC archaeological dig? I'm in!
I'm in to for a dig, but it's not 2048 yet! LOL
-------------------------------------------------------
> How about a FC archaeological dig? I'm in!
I'm in to for a dig, but it's not 2048 yet! LOL
Re: 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair time capsule
Posted by:
nordsider
()
Date: January 31, 2013 10:16AM
What items do you imagine are in the time capsule?
Re: 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair time capsule
Posted by:
barbchri
()
Date: January 31, 2013 12:42PM
Great find WayOutWardell! I'm totally in for a FC archaeological dig. Someone should at least put a plaque there so they don't forget where it is in 2048. Who technically owns the contents since the C&NW R.R. doesn't really exist anymore.
Here's an article from the Chicago Tribune on October 26, 1948:
"TIME CAPSULE BURIED AT SITE OF CITY'S 1ST RAIL STATION.
A two ton, concrete capsule containg a photographic record of present day railroading, together with a pictorial record of the Railroad fair, and a copy of The Chicago Tribune's special Railroad fair edition, was buried yesterday on the site of Chicago's first railroad station at Kinzie and Canal Sts.
It will remain buried for 100 years. A key to the capsule will be held until 2048 by the Continental Illinois National Bank & Trust company.
Present at the burying of the capsule were Mayor Kennelly and R.L. Williams, president of the North Western railway."
I wonder what happened to the key?
Here's an article from the Chicago Tribune on October 26, 1948:
"TIME CAPSULE BURIED AT SITE OF CITY'S 1ST RAIL STATION.
A two ton, concrete capsule containg a photographic record of present day railroading, together with a pictorial record of the Railroad fair, and a copy of The Chicago Tribune's special Railroad fair edition, was buried yesterday on the site of Chicago's first railroad station at Kinzie and Canal Sts.
It will remain buried for 100 years. A key to the capsule will be held until 2048 by the Continental Illinois National Bank & Trust company.
Present at the burying of the capsule were Mayor Kennelly and R.L. Williams, president of the North Western railway."
I wonder what happened to the key?
Re: 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair time capsule
Posted by:
bowler
()
Date: January 31, 2013 04:33PM
Found this on the Chicago & Northerwestern Historical Society Site:
Q: I found a picture of the 1948 dedication of the C&NW time capsule during the Chicago Railroad Fair. The location was at Chicago's first railroad station at Kinzie and Canal Streets. The site is now highly developed and I didn't see any traces of where the capsule might be buried. Does the capsule remain buried? If so what side of the street is it buried on and is there still plans to dig it up in 2048? Chris
A: I discussed the time capsule with my colleague today. We agreed that the capsule was probably blacktopped over because nobody knew it was there. It would have been news if it had been found. Joe
http://www.cnwhs.org/faq.pl?command=fulllist
Q: I found a picture of the 1948 dedication of the C&NW time capsule during the Chicago Railroad Fair. The location was at Chicago's first railroad station at Kinzie and Canal Streets. The site is now highly developed and I didn't see any traces of where the capsule might be buried. Does the capsule remain buried? If so what side of the street is it buried on and is there still plans to dig it up in 2048? Chris
A: I discussed the time capsule with my colleague today. We agreed that the capsule was probably blacktopped over because nobody knew it was there. It would have been news if it had been found. Joe
http://www.cnwhs.org/faq.pl?command=fulllist
Re: 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair time capsule
Posted by:
bowler
()
Date: January 31, 2013 05:42PM
LOL, I see the wording is the same as this question so I assume that was you that posed the question above.
Apparently Northern illinois University holds some archives of the Chicago North and Western historical Society and one box contains information regarding the time capsule (Box 8, Folder 6). Probably some promotional materials:
http://archon.lib.niu.edu/index.php?p=collections/findingaid&id=51&q=williamson&rootcontentid=4292
Apparently Northern illinois University holds some archives of the Chicago North and Western historical Society and one box contains information regarding the time capsule (Box 8, Folder 6). Probably some promotional materials:
http://archon.lib.niu.edu/index.php?p=collections/findingaid&id=51&q=williamson&rootcontentid=4292
Re: 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair time capsule
Posted by:
WayOutWardell
()
Date: January 31, 2013 05:44PM
A two-ton concrete cube just to hold some photos and newspapers? Well, hopefully, they've fared better than that buried Plymouth did in Tulsa...
Re: 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair time capsule
Posted by:
QlassiQue
()
Date: June 13, 2013 12:15AM
Last weekend, the FC crew checked out the area and we may have found this time capsule - an oddly shaped rectangular concrete above-ground structure just to the right of the entrance to the condominiums north of Kedzie and west of the river. The shape and sizes of both look remarkably similar.
Re: 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair time capsule
Posted by:
Mornac
()
Date: June 13, 2013 01:15AM
Nobody took a photo???
Re: 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair time capsule
Posted by:
Deejo
()
Date: June 13, 2013 04:49AM
Two questions:
(1) The photo that Wardell posted above is clearly of the SW corner, and not even really close to the corner, but about a half-block south of the corner. I have visited the site since the photo was posted and am confident about this. Why would someone dig up a huge concrete block time capsule, somehow move it a half-block north and across two streets, and then just leave it there?
(2) Google Street View does not appear to show a capsule-like structure on the NE corner. Is it behind the low wall on the north side of Kinzie to the east of the driveway?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/13/2013 04:50AM by Deejo.
(1) The photo that Wardell posted above is clearly of the SW corner, and not even really close to the corner, but about a half-block south of the corner. I have visited the site since the photo was posted and am confident about this. Why would someone dig up a huge concrete block time capsule, somehow move it a half-block north and across two streets, and then just leave it there?
(2) Google Street View does not appear to show a capsule-like structure on the NE corner. Is it behind the low wall on the north side of Kinzie to the east of the driveway?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/13/2013 04:50AM by Deejo.
Re: 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair time capsule
Posted by:
nordsider
()
Date: June 13, 2013 08:59AM
This 1863 Chicago map shows a "Depot" located on the SW corner of Kinzie and Canal streets.
http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/collections/maps/chifire/G4104-C6-1863-V3-NEC.html
http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/collections/maps/chifire/G4104-C6-1863-V3-NEC.html
Re: 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair time capsule
Posted by:
QlassiQue
()
Date: June 13, 2013 05:40PM
Sorry, I haven't posted the photo - can't find my Flickr login info. Anyway, the concrete structure can be clearly be seen on Google Street View and aerial views - it's in the concrete protrusion in the grass just to the right (east) of the driveway to the Kinzie Park condos.
Again, not sure if this is the time capsule or not. Thoughts?
Again, not sure if this is the time capsule or not. Thoughts?
Re: 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair time capsule
Posted by:
Paul Petraitis
()
Date: June 13, 2013 08:51PM
Let's keep digging!
Re: 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair time capsule
Posted by:
WayOutWardell
()
Date: June 13, 2013 10:25PM
The map that Nordsider posted shows two depots at that intersection; the Chicago & Northwestern depot is on the north side of Kinzie at Canal, and the Chicago & Milwaukee depot is across the street, on the SW corner of Kinzie and Canal.
The C&MRR was eventually merged into the C&NWRR, which could explain why the C&NW would put a time capsule on the plot of a depot they didn't actually build originally.
The C&MRR was eventually merged into the C&NWRR, which could explain why the C&NW would put a time capsule on the plot of a depot they didn't actually build originally.
Re: 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair time capsule
Posted by:
nordsider
()
Date: June 14, 2013 11:17AM
The book, History of Chicago: Volume 1 by Andreas, may have pertinent information.
http://books.google.com/books?id=wP0TAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=history+of+chicago&hl=en&sa=X&ei=RRW7UariAamwyQG_pIHIDQ&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAA
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/14/2013 01:31PM by nordsider.
http://books.google.com/books?id=wP0TAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=history+of+chicago&hl=en&sa=X&ei=RRW7UariAamwyQG_pIHIDQ&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAA
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/14/2013 01:31PM by nordsider.
Re: 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair time capsule
Posted by:
Mr Downtown
()
Date: June 16, 2013 01:33PM
I'm confident it's the southwest corner, currently a parking lot. That's where the Galena & Chicago Union R.R.'s first depot was. See page 23:
http://archive.org/stream/yesterdaytodayhi00chic#page/22/mode/2up
http://archive.org/stream/yesterdaytodayhi00chic#page/22/mode/2up
Re: 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair time capsule
Posted by:
barbchri
()
Date: July 09, 2013 02:03AM
This is a photo of the oddly placed above ground rectangle structure in front of the condiminiums that QlassiQue mentioned. It looks similar to the rectangle structure the capsule is being lowered into, however I don't think the capsule is under there. I agree with the theory that it has been paved over in the parking lot across the street.
Re: 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair time capsule
Posted by:
b.a.hoarder
()
Date: July 09, 2013 11:05AM
Looks more like an underground electrical vault, maybe a transformer for the condominiums? What words are embossed in the cast iron doors?
Re: 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair time capsule
Posted by:
PKDickman
()
Date: July 09, 2013 01:00PM
b.a.hoarder Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Looks more like an underground electrical vault,
> maybe a transformer for the condominiums? What
> words are embossed in the cast iron doors?
I think it's for water meters.
The three black and white dots are part of the remote reading apparatus.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Looks more like an underground electrical vault,
> maybe a transformer for the condominiums? What
> words are embossed in the cast iron doors?
I think it's for water meters.
The three black and white dots are part of the remote reading apparatus.
