Wa-Hi Tradition Lives On!

District dedicates new Walla Walla High School Spirit Bell and Time Capsule monuments

It was 42 years ago when staff and students gathered at Walla Walla High School on a chilly January day to dedicate the school’s new spirit bell monument project that was designed and constructed by staff and students. During this historic ceremony in 1981, the students also tucked away a time capsule with items of the day to open sometime in the distant future.

Friday community members joined today’s students and staff for the sequel to this historic event for the dedication of the next generation spirit bell monument. The 1981 capsule will go inside the new monument in addition to a new time capsule commemorating recent years’ artifacts and memorabilia.

The original monument was replaced as part of the bond renovations. Contractors did an excellent job carefully dismantling the original spirit bell structure and rebuilt it nearby its original location, consisting of a larger time capsule chamber, new signage, and preserved items from the original high school on Park Street when it was demolished in 1976 to make way for the YMCA. Senior classes, over the last three years during construction, have been collecting memorable items of the day to put into a new time capsule to be preserved for the future. The 1981 time capsule is set to be opened in eight years at the Class of 1981’s 50th reunion. The Class of 2023 time capsule will be opened in 50 years at their 50th reunion.

Retired educator Jerry Cummins, who helped with the project in 1981, shared stories about working with the students four decades ago. Class of 1981 graduates were on hand to take photos with Class of 2023 students with the time capsules before they were put to rest for another day in the future.