A time capsule buried in the old Maple Leaf Gardens offers a glimpse into city life circa 1931

By Frances McInnis | January 30, 2012

By Frances McInnis | 01/30/2012

Last fall, a masonry company working on the new Loblaws flagship at Maple Leaf Gardens unearthed a gift for local historians (and Loblaws public relations managers): a time capsule. A small copper box had been placed behind the cornerstone on September 21, 1931, and yesterday, Loblaws and Ryerson University finally revealed what was inside. Among the dozen items is a miniature Red Ensign flag (Canada’s national flag at the time), three hockey rulebooks and four newspapers containing stories about Japan invading Manchuria and the financial crisis (i.e. the Great Depression). Yes, 80-odd years ago Torontonians were obsessed with hockey and worried about a global economic slowdown. Sound familiar?

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The best-kept secret in Toronto, a small (20 cm x 12 cm x 12 cm) copper box sat in the masonry of Maple Leaf Gardens for nearly 80 years, unbeknownst to all

The reason for including this hand-carved ivory elephant is a mystery. A good luck charm for the hometown team, perhaps?

A stock prospectus for Maple Leaf Gardens gives information about the building’s construction and prospective earnings

The National Hockey League’s Official Rule Book. Apparently, hockey players were fitter in the ’30s; only 10 players per team were allowed to dress, including two goalies, compared with today’s 23-player rosters

The Canadian Amateur Hockey Association’s 1931 Official Hockey Rules handbook. One of three (three!) hockey rule books in the capsule

The Toronto Municipal Handbook was an annual publication compiling facts and figures about the city

Like the three other newspapers in the capsule, the *Toronto Daily Star* reported on Britain’s abandonment of the gold bullion standard

The *Evening Telegram* was a conservative paper published in Toronto from 1876 to 1971

The Red Ensign was still Canada’s national flag in 1931 (the Maple Leaf we know and love wouldn’t be unfurled for another 34 years)

A stock prospectus for Maple Leaf Gardens tells us that the gate receipts for the 1929-30 season totalled $186,251.30. Small potatoes compared with the $91 million netted during the 2009-10 season, according to *Forbes*

*The Globe* was considered a left-leaning daily in 1931. Headlines on September 21, 1931 included “Young Hunter Perishes” and “New York Markets Remain Open Today to Face New Crisis”

Five years after this September 21, 1931 issue of the *Mail and Empire,* the paper merged with *The Globe* to become the *Globe and Mail*

The Ontario Hockey Association rule book

One thought on “A time capsule buried in the old Maple Leaf Gardens offers a glimpse into city life circa 1931”

Betsey says:

February 2, 2012 at 6:06 pm

The ivory (white) elephant is very rare and their appearance today is still considered a phenomenon of the gods in many parts of continental Asia. That being said the traditional symbol for luck is ALWAYS with the trunk up. Perhaps since the trunk on the charm is down it has been bad luck for the Leafs, which would be a good (and interesting) excuse as to why they’ve historically sucked terribly. Maybe we can consider it a good omen now that it has been unearthed.