Time capsule from 1908: reveals secrets of Esslingen history!

As part of renovation work in the Franciscan Church in Esslingen, a time capsule was discovered, which gives an insight into life in 1908. This discovery, which was made during the turn of the millennium, contains documents by Karl Kaiser, a slate deck master who held his observations on economic, political and social conditions of his time. According to a report by the Stuttgartter News The capsule was last found in renovation work in 2002 and will be exhibited in the “Gelbes Haus” city museum in Esslingen from January 7, 2025.

Kaiser, who comes from Steinach in Thuringia, described the then poor economic situation in his documents, which affected day laborers and employees with lower wages in particular. Price information from his time indicates the volatility of the markets: 3 marks for a hundredweight of custody and 220 marks for 300 liters of wine. In his records, Kaiser also expressed a positive statement about Württemberg and Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin and described the peaceful global political situation in Germany and Europe without guessing the upcoming events of the First World War.

documentation and historical treasures

The time capsule was found for the first time in 1962 and later added to further documents. These were exposed again in 2002 and are now kept in the city archive. The Franciscan Church was built in the 13th century and served as a rifle magazine in the 18th century. The repair decision for the church dates from 1906, and Karl Kaiser was also involved in this work. His records are given the classification as a "ego document" because they reflect personal perspectives and the realities of life of his time.

In addition, the city museum is planning an exhibition entitled "Historical Treasures", which presents objects and new acquisitions, and passionate visitors can also admire the time capsule. In a comprehensive look at the documentation stocks, the City Archives Esslingen A high-quality research on richest cities and the documentation of the city history from the past centuries.