Nearly 100 years ago on July 31, 1909, the local order of Masons laid the cornerstone of the Summit County Courthouse in Breckenridge with great fanfare and ceremony. The day included a parade, speeches by local officials (many of which went on way too long) and a 50-person choir. Hundreds of locals dressed up and came out to celebrate the laying of the cornerstone and the building of the iconic courthouse.

One hundred years later, as the courthouse celebrates its 100th anniversary in conjunction with the Breck150, much anticipation surrounds the century old courthouse and specifically, the cornerstone. Within the granite block is a time capsule, which was sealed and put in place by the Masons. The contents, according to 1909 observers, include items that represented what life was like in Summit County during the early 20th century - coins, mining keepsakes, newspapers, literature and more.

On the morning of Aug. 8, as part of Breckenridge's Grand Celebration, local county officials and members of the Breck150 Committee will unveil the contents of the historic time capsule to the public for the first time. It will be a memorable moment that residents will not want to miss.

Creating History

When the 1909 contents are removed from the courthouse, a new time capsule will replace it. Instructions for the next generation of Summit County residents will ask that the capsule be opened 100 years from now in 2109. The new capsule will contain items that represent Summit County life today, and the Breck150 Committee is turning to the public to help tell that story.

Together with the county, the Breck150 Committee is asking residents to submit photographs to be included in the new time capsule. Specifically, the committee is seeking images that represent Summit County life. The "Slices of Life" photographs should convey to our residents in 2109 what the heart and soul of Summit County living is today.

For more information or to submit a photograph, contact Larissa Enns at larissa@breckheritage.com. All photographs should be submitted electronically and should include the following:

-Where the image was taken

-When it was taken

-Contact email and phone number

-Brief description (100 words max)

The deadline for submissions is June 15. Please do not submit more than two photographs per person. Selected images for the new time capsule will be announced in July.

For more information on the Breck150 or the time capsule project, please visit breck150.com.

By Breck150

Summit Daily News

May 16, 2009