Cub Scout Pack 144
75th Anniversary Time Capsule Buried May 15, 2005
…to be dug back up again as part of the Pack’s Centennial Celebration 2029-30…
Time Capsule Overview and Background
In 1929, Howard L. Krippner, with three of his Bryant sons, gathered a group of neighborhood boys at Bryant “Grade” School. Seventy-five years later, the boys of Pack 144 are still meeting at Bryant and are officially recognized as the oldest Cub Scout Pack in Washington State. Chartered in 1930, they are also one of the originally chartered Packs in the country.
To celebrate Pack 144’s 75th anniversary, 2004-05 Akela Tony Grega worked with 83 Cubs all year to plan a time capsule burial with a theme of Legacy. The boys wrote to the surviving Krippner Cub, Mr. Everett Krippner, and asked him to come from California to participate in the ceremony. Despite recent poor health, he not only made the trip, he delivered a knock-out speech that held the audience of 300 spellbound. Joining Mr. and Mrs. Krippner were fourteen additional relatives who flew in from all over the country.
To select a proper location to bury its time capsule, the boys approached Bryant Principal Linda Robinson about the NE corner of the school's front yard. How ideal it would be to bury the time capsule on the site where the Pack began 75 years earlier! But how to get such permission? In the summer of 2004 there was a dead cherry tree in that corner so the Pack offered to remove it for the school and bury their time capsule where the stump used to be. While at it, they would make the area more attractive than ever by creating a new garden. The boys would maintain the flower garden for the next twenty-five years until the capsule was dug back up again as part of the Pack's centennial celebration in 2029-30.
A plan was in the making…
Bryant School had just completed a building renovation a few yrs earlier and the volunteer gardening committee had not yet landscaped the NE corner. They loved the idea that one area of school grounds would be maintained by Cub Scouts for the next quarter century.
Throughout the school year, Cub Scouts gathered artifacts from 75 years of Scouting to place in the capsule. They created a scrapbook where each wrote about what his life might be like in 25 years when the capsule is dug back up and what kind of legacy he might have left, and be leaving. They also created an alumni book allowing seven decades of former Cubs to sign their memories. Included in the book are handwritten entries from Bill Gates, who wrote about winning the "Top Nut Sales" award in 1965 and how much he loved reading while a Pack 144 Cub Scout; his father, William H. Gates, Sr. who participated in Pack activities with his son, also signed the alumni book and wrote about “the emphasis on public service – a great learning experience for boys that age.” Additionally, there were entries from former Cub Scouts who fondly remembered Howard “Krip” Krippner telling stories around the campfire.
Seattle School district maintenance crews wound up removing the dead tree, but the Cubs cleaned out the area, dug the hole, reinforced it with concrete walls, planned a huge ceremony, and on the rain-threatening Sunday afternoon of May 15, 2005 lowered a 24" x 15" x 18" stainless steel, totally over-designed (Dads had fun) time capsule in to the ground.
Pack 144’s Time Capsule Site Prep at Bryant School
Cubs Dig the Time Capsule Hole April 2005
Certainly helped that Asst. Akela Chris Lagerberg, an industrial designer, led the Time Capsule design team.
Day of the Time Capsule burial ceremony, May 15, 2005
Over 300 people came to celebrate Pack 144’s first 75 years.
Time Capsule Guest of Honor and Charter Pack 144 Member, Mr. Everett Krippner. Everett's Father, Howard L. Krippner founded Pack 144.
Sixteen members of the Krippner family including Great and Great-Great Grandchildren of 144's Founder Howard Krippner came to the ceremony.
Virginia Krippner, wife of original Cub Everett acknowledges the Pack 144 Crowd.
Akela Tony and time capsule project manager Michael Romoser introduce each of the items placed in the capsule.
Eight members of the Pack were chosen to place personal artifacts in the Time Capsule. These Cubs were chosen by their peers as Scouts who consistently demonstrate the spirit of the Cub Scout Promise and Law of the Pack
Each of the eight placed something in the capsule that was important to them during their Cub Scouting years.
What will I be doing in 25 years when we dig this thing back up?
Waiting for the capsule to go in the ground
Let’s bury this thing!
When the capsule is dug back up in 2029-30, some of the 75th yr Cubs might come back with their OWN little Cubs.
The sealed up Time Capsule lowered into its 25-year home, hopefully to stay dry! Remaining mildew free was (and is) the biggest concern. Dan Klepac, electrician by day and Dad of two 144 lads, conspired with design lead Chris Lagerberg to displace the capsule’s oxygen with an inert gas like argon or nitrogen. They finally decided on nitrogen but the method to do so took even more debate. After considering a Schrader valve for the longest time, Chris wound up machining two fittings that would accept stainless steel threaded plugs – one hole to inject the nitrogen and another to let the air inside purge out.
A steel plate rests on top of the cement frame so the capsule itself has no dirt on it. The plate also disperses the weight of the rock.
Before the hole is filled, Everett Krippner, who along with his brothers was in the very first Pack 144 of 1929, addresses the boys of 2005.
Mr. Krippner had been in poor health for some time prior to the ceremony, but rose to the occasion to deliver a knock-out speech.
First scoop of fill dirt from the Pack’s first Cub. Along with two brothers, Everett Krippner was at Bryant’s first Cub Scout meeting in1929.
At closing circle, Akela pulls a prank and douses his own Webelo, Josh!
That's a wrap. See you in 2029-30 at the Pack 144 Centennial Celebration!
Time Capsule Planning at Snow Camp January 2005
Top L to R: Brian Harris, Steve Reimers, Michael Romoser, Chris Lagerberg.
Seated: Akela Tony Grega and Dan Klepac. (Not pictured Mark McGary)
CUB SCOUT PACK 144
Established 1929 at Bryant School
Chartered 1930 as the Oldest Pack in the State of Washington
and one of the first in the United States