Letter to Santa Clarita Residents I
have been searching for this answer for some time but haven’t been very successful and I’m hoping someone in Santa Clarita might be able to help me.
I moved out here in 1969 with my parents, who both have since passed away. I remember my mother taking my brother and me to a grand opening of a new bank on Soledad Canyon and Hideaway sometime in 1972. I later learned this was the Empire Savings & Loan Association at 19100 Soledad Canyon Rd.
At this event they buried a time capsule in the sidewalk in front of the bank. My Mom had written us a letter and told me that I would get it when they opened the vault up. At that young age, I don’t recall what year that would be, although I thought it was forever in the future.
I found out that the time capsule should have been opened on April 15, 2000, but it was not.
Through Santa Clarita History Buffs, I found out that another resident also remembered this event
and was able to provide a bit more information. Although the building has changed hands over the years, he remembers that the time capsule itself was fashioned from a concrete sewer pipe and believes it may have been buried on the east side of the building, midway between the front and back, and a few feet from the building’s foundation. Unfortunately, the spot was never marked.
The current occupant of the property, CitiBank, reported that they had recently landscaped the exterior and no capsule was reported found.
With my mother’s passing, I lost my best friend and remembering this gives me hopes of getting that letter from her, and helping my heart hurt less. I am truly anxious to get that letter. I know several people were there putting items into this vault, so I’m sure others would also benefit from its opening.
If anyone has any information, I would greatly appreciate it.
Editor’s note: On April 5, 1972, The Signal did indeed publish an announcement asking if the community wanted to contribute items for the time capsule. No other information was found. Holly can be reached at hollybgeer@gmail.com.