Angel of Peace Time Capsule

When workers moved New Haven’s 119-year-old Angel of Peace statue from her perch on East Rock for restorations, they might have expected to find dirt, dents, or signs of age. They certainly didn’t expect to find an old shoe.

But that’s exactly what they did find: a century-old shoe lodged inside the cavity of the 11.5 foot bronze statue. Some New Haven officials believe the shoe is an example of a “concealment shoe,” a superstitious practice that reached its peak of popularity in the northern U.S. in the 18th and 19th centuries. (The Angel of Peace was completed in 1887.) According to the Historical Society of Sharon, Connecticut, the superstition—which dates back to 14th Century Western Europe—involves the placement of well-worn shoes in buildings under construction to ward away evil spirits.

Inspired by this unusual window into the lives of New Haveners in 1887, Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. and New Haven Director of Parks Bob Levine have decided to offer future residents a similar glimpse into the lives of the New Haveners of 2006. The City wants ideas from the public on what can be put inside a time capsule which, like the shoe, will be left inside the statue. Time capsule suggestions can be emailed to ssherman@newhavenct.net

New Haven music must be preserved! You should put some kind of recording of the wonderful local bands we have. I don't think there's anything commercially available that fully captures the variety of music in our city, but as the soon-to-be founder of a local music magazine, I'd be happy to provide a compilation that I've made and has received praise from many in the community - David McMahon

Peace may be calm and quiet, but it makes a loud statement. Like a rose, it blooms only with love and hard work - from the class at Albertus Magnus College, (Stephen Carden, Kaitlin Duffy, Hannah Emerson, James Fitzgerald, Ashley Flynn, Timothy Foley, Laura Harrison, Dominique Joseph, Casey Launder, Alexandra Massaro, Daniel Mergner, Mary Narain, Shannon Palucci, Robert Pompano, (missing from picture), Christina Carew and Michael Strong).