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Piece of history will ring in the future Photo by Bob Pennell Washington Elementary School students watched as plaques were given out during ceremonies to dedicate their newly polished bell Tuesday. Underneath the bell is a time capsule awaiting another generation of students. Students clean up school's original bell By VICKI GUARINO Washington Elementary School students have renewed the luster of a Medford school tradition. The district's original school bell, which once tolled the start of classes, glows again from its stand in front of the West Medford school. Stripping years of tarnish from the 922-pound brass bell was students' way to commemorate the past and celebrate the coming millennium. With help from local businesses, students saw the bell re-set in a ceremony on the school's front lawn Tuesday. Students marked the event by setting under the bell a time capsule of Washington School mementos. Their idea was to honor both the century and their school. Inside the bell, awaiting another generation of Washington Elementary students, are t-shirts emblazoned with the school name, students' wishes for the future, photographs of school life today, and a treat -- candy from the principal. Student leadership representatives Megan Combs and Angelina Rizueno, both sixth-graders, read aloud from a written message to the students who someday will raise the bell and repolish it. "I sure hope the food is better than it is now," Angelina read from her portion of the greeting. Fifth-grader Megan Daugherty wrote a history of the bell for the time capsule. Forged in 1896, the brass bell first hung from a belfry at a Medford school at the corner of Main and Laurel streets. When Washington School was built in 1934, architect Frank Clark took the old bell from storage and set it on a pedestal. Pedestal stones were salvaged from the old Main Street school. The bell was last polished in 1975. A group of fourth-graders took on the tarnished bell as a class project. The occasion then was preparation for the nation's 1976 bicentennial. The historically named Washington School was a centerpiece in Medford's celebration. "We had to do something for George," recalled retired fourth-grade teacher Art Sideras, who helped students with that project. Sideras returned to the school for Tuesday's celebration. This year, the school wanted to have a gleaming bell to ring in the new century. Custodian Blake Taylor suggested the project and the student leadership group worked to carry it out. Local businesses donated their services for the students' project. Medford Plating polished the bell, Lithia Body Shop put a clear-coating on it to keep it from tarnishing, and Dick's Wrecker Service hauled it back to the school. Principal Stephanie Johnson told students the effort represents "a hope for fortunate futures for all of us." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA