Coeur d'Alene High opens capsule of treasures from Class of 1950
Justin and Betty Capaul address Coeur d'Alene High School students Tuesday after opening a time capsule created by members of the Class of 1950 during their 50th class reunion in 2000. Justin's grandfather, Ray, was the 1950 student body president. Written instructions taped to the capsule said Justin, a 2000 grad, was to open it this year.
DEVIN WEEKS/Press
Coeur d'Alene High School "C" chenille patches, photos, newspaper clippings, state track medals and a brick from the original Coeur d'Alene High on Seventh Street were among the treasures uncovered Tuesday when a time capsule was opened in Viking Court during a school assembly. The capsule, created in 2000, was a legacy from the Class of 1950.
"Jim McCuaig, state of Idaho, first place, 1950, 100-yard dash" reads the note in one medal box included in a time capsule from the Coeur d'Alene High School Class of 1950. Inside the other: "Jim McCuaig, state of Idaho, first place, 880-yard relay, Walt Dell, Vance Everson and Bill Gray 1949."
Media student Eva Brown, with a cardboard cutout of the "Back to the Future" DeLorean, introduces the time capsule project Tuesday at Coeur d'Alene High School.
Year 2000 graduate Justin Capaul and grandmother Betty Capaul open a time capsule from the Coeur d'Alene High School Class of 1950 during a Tuesday afternoon assembly. Justin's grandpa Ray was the 1950 Coeur d'Alene High class president. Instructions on the capsule directed Justin to open it this year.
Senior Eva Brown wheels the Class of 1950 time capsule into Viking Court while accompanied Tuesday by relatives of the late Ray Capaul, who served as the 1950 Coeur d'Alene High class president.
Relatives of 1950 Coeur d'Alene High School Class President Ray Capaul, who passed away in 2017, gather Tuesday as a time capsule created by his class is opened during a special ceremony. Front row, ladies, from left: Heidi Capaul holding Dempson Capaul, Toni Capaul, Kathy Capaul, Dorothy Capaul-Ladewig, Betty Capaul, Diana Capaul-Guild and RaeAnne Capaul. Back row, gentlemen, from left: Mark Ladewig, Ken Capaul holding Porter Capaul, Bob Capaul and Justin Capaul.
COEUR d'ALENE — Two "C" chenille patches, state track medals from 1949 and 1950, newspaper clippings, a Coeur d'Alene Viking hat, photographs and a brick from the original Coeur d'Alene High School on Seventh Street.
These were among the treasures revealed Tuesday when a time capsule left by the Class of 1950 was removed from its protective cage and finally opened.
“It’s exciting,” Class of 2000 graduate Justin Capaul said. “It’s an honor to open it on behalf of both classes, the Class of 1950 and the Class of 2000.”
Handwritten instructions on the time capsule called for Capaul to open the capsule this year. This was at the direction of members of the Class of 1950, which included Justin Capaul's late grandfather, Ray Capaul, who served as the 1950 student body president. Members of the Class of 1950 filled the capsule when they celebrated their 50th class reunion in 2000. Now, there are only a few graduates of the 1950 class still around.
Before it was opened, Justin Capaul said he remembered the time capsule project happening when he was a high school senior, but he had no idea what was inside.
Ray's wife, Betty Capaul, joined Justin in opening the time capsule on the Viking Court as family members watched from nearby chairs and students of all grades intently viewed a projector screen to see the items pulled from the capsule in real-time.
The presentation was introduced with a guitar solo and some "Back to the Future" theme music by campus security officer Chuck Keisel, properly attired in an orange Marty McFly-esque vest. Media student and senior Eva Brown was wheeled out with a cardboard cutout of a 1980s DeLorean as she addressed her peers and welcomed Justin and Betty to the table where the time capsule awaited.
Yearbook students adopted this legacy project during summer 2024 yearbook camp after the time capsule was discovered. They contacted the Capaul family and took great care to fulfill the wishes of the Class of 1950.
"The capsule was in our basement here on campus,” media and yearbook teacher Jennifer Brown said. “When they were reorganizing, they discovered it, and it was brought up and it was sitting in our athletic director’s office. When it said to open in 2025, yearbook took it on as our project.”
Eva Brown said no one knew what would be inside, but everyone guessed it would be pictures and trinkets that meant a lot to the Class of 1950.
"It’s been on display the last couple months and getting some excitement,” she said. “It hits a lot of emotions. We’re super excited. We’re honored to open it and fulfill their legacy that they left for us. We’re just really honored to remember them.”
Junior Ace Harper said a lot of people aren’t that interested in history until they get to see it in real life, in person.
"This is a really good way to let people know that CHS does have a really long history and that it’s actually really fascinating," Ace said.
The contents of the time capsule will be displayed in a trophy case for the rest of the school year.
"That class, Ray and his classmates, they never expected anything like this," Betty said with a smile. "They would have just been so thrilled."
Coeur d'Alene High School "C" chenille patches, photos, newspaper clippings, state track medals and a brick from the original Coeur d'Alene High on Seventh Street were among the treasures uncovered Tuesday when a time capsule was opened in Viking Court during a school assembly. The capsule, created in 2000, was a legacy from the Class of 1950.
"Jim McCuaig, state of Idaho, first place, 1950, 100-yard dash" reads the note in one medal box included in a time capsule from the Coeur d'Alene High School Class of 1950. Inside the other: "Jim McCuaig, state of Idaho, first place, 880-yard relay, Walt Dell, Vance Everson and Bill Gray 1949."
Media student Eva Brown, with a cardboard cutout of the "Back to the Future" DeLorean, introduces the time capsule project Tuesday at Coeur d'Alene High School.
Year 2000 graduate Justin Capaul and grandmother Betty Capaul open a time capsule from the Coeur d'Alene High School Class of 1950 during a Tuesday afternoon assembly. Justin's grandpa Ray was the 1950 Coeur d'Alene High class president. Instructions on the capsule directed Justin to open it this year.
Senior Eva Brown wheels the Class of 1950 time capsule into Viking Court while accompanied Tuesday by relatives of the late Ray Capaul, who served as the 1950 Coeur d'Alene High class president.
Relatives of 1950 Coeur d'Alene High School Class President Ray Capaul, who passed away in 2017, gather Tuesday as a time capsule created by his class is opened during a special ceremony. Front row, ladies, from left: Heidi Capaul holding Dempson Capaul, Toni Capaul, Kathy Capaul, Dorothy Capaul-Ladewig, Betty Capaul, Diana Capaul-Guild and RaeAnne Capaul. Back row, gentlemen, from left: Mark Ladewig, Ken Capaul holding Porter Capaul, Bob Capaul and Justin Capaul.