A copy of The Courier from Saturday June 19 1897 was among the secrets found within the Cupar time capsule.
The time capsule was discovered during the roadworks in Crossgate to move the Mercat Cross. Once opened, it was clear the contents of the jar were extremely fragile and too delicate to be immediately taken out. It was necessary to take the jar to a stable environment and carefully remove the contents under controlled conditions.
The contents are being stored under controlled heat and humidity to enable the damp-damaged paper to stabilise. This process is going well and pages previously stuck together are now separating, although it will take another week or two to complete this process.
Fife Council confirmed the time capsule held the following items:
* A copy of the Scotsman, Saturday June 19 1897;
* A copy of the People’s Journal, Saturday June 19 1897;
* A copy of the Dundee Courier, Saturday June 19 1897;
* A copy of the Fife News, Saturday May 1 1897;
* A copy of The Fife Herald, Saturday June 19 1897 (this newspaper is very fragile and it may not be possible to stabilise it);
* Also enclosed were a poster and an event programme with the title Form of Ceremonial Laying of the Foundation Stone;
* A list of subscribers was also included in the jar but this list was too fragile to conserve;
* A selection of low-denomination coins in circulation in 1897.
Fife Council archaeologist Douglas Speirs said: “Works to stabilise the paper materials are ongoing and it is expected that the materials will be sufficiently stable to hand over to the Cupar Heritage Trust in January.
“It is planned that the jar, the stone in which it was found and the contents of the time capsule will then go on public display at the trust’s heritage centre.
“The mercat cross will be re-erected in spring next year and plans are under way to re-inter a new time capsule at the same time. Cupar Community Council is leading with suggestions for the contents.”
Research by local historian Steve Penrice has showed the re-erection of the mercat cross in 1897 saw Freemasons from the St John’s Lodge and Lodge No19, dressed in full regalia, presiding over the ceremony of the laying of the foundation stone.
A great crowd watched a most unusual ceremony that involved the ceremonial procession of a cornucopia filled with grain, accompanied by silver ures of wine and oil.
This ritualistic blessing preceded the placing of a glass bottle into which “papers and coins were placed” carefully in a foundation stone specially cut to receive the glass vessel.