Contents that will be included in the Jerome Township time capsule are pictured above, including modern toys like a Pop Socket, Lego figurines, fidget spinners and a wristband. Along with items from recent years, the capsule will include a variety of historical documents and even written interviews with current residents.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Kayleen Petrovia)
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Noah Kuck, pictured in his Boy Scout uniform at center, is shown speaking about the contents of the Jerome Township time capsule with other troop members and leaders. Kuck completed a new time capsule for the township’s Soldiers Monument for his Eagle Scout project.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Kayleen Petrovia)
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When Jonathan Alder High School Junior Noah Kuck thinks about future generations in Jerome Township, he hopes they will still be fascinated by all that happened in the 2020s.
“I want them to remember how interesting it was around this time period,” Kuck said.
Kuck, a member of Boy Scout Troop 90 of Plain City, spearheaded the creation of a Jerome Township time capsule for his Eagle Scout project.
Residents recently had an opportunity to browse the items and documents that will be included during an open house for his project, which has been more than two years in the making.
Items to be included range from Jerome Township’s historical volumes to articles and advertisements from local newspapers to miniature Lego figurines.
Trustee Megan Sloat originally proposed the creation of a new time capsule early in her tenure on the board.
She explained at a recent trustees meeting that the township’s Soldier’s Monument, which is located near the intersection of U.S. 42 and Industrial Parkway, was initially dedicated on May 30, 1913.
At that time, residents and officials of Jerome Township put a time capsule in the monument to be opened in 100 years.
When the monument was rededicated to a new site in 2013, as it had to be moved farther from the intersection, the time capsule was opened. Unfortunately, the capsule itself had a leak and the contents were largely disintegrated.
“There was nothing left, unfortunately,” Sloat said.
Sloat initially worked to create a new time capsule before handing the project over to Kuck.
“He’s been doing a wonderful, wonderful job,” she said.
Kuck said he was on the lookout for an Eagle Scout project when his troop leader told him about the time capsule efforts in Jerome Township.
He said he was interested in pursuing the project because it stood out to him compared to other options.
“It’s not the same as any other project,” Kuck said. “It was kind of a challenge.”
Completing a time capsule that paints a picture of Jerome Township in 2023 required a large amount of research, Kuck said.
He said he enjoyed spending time “resurfacing” historical volumes that detail the history of the area. In showing off some of the time capsule’s contents, he said residents often told him that they didn’t even know such records existed.
Along with the history of the township, Kuck said he worked to show what life is like for the community in modern times.
He said that was particularly fun for him because, although he attends Jonathan Alder, he lives in London.
Kuck said he liked diving into the history and culture of the community, beyond just his school.
The capsule will include written interviews with long-time residents, who recalled their memories from living in Jerome Township.
Many noted the rate of development they have seen in recent years, and often encouraged future generations to preserve the small-town feel in the area. Some simply urged those opening the capsule to enjoy life in Jerome.
Instead of completing each interview himself, Kuck said he taught some of the younger Scouts in his Troop how to do so.
Kuck’s mother, Jen, said learning to delegate and lead a team toward a goal is a large part of any Eagle Scout project.
“It isn’t just about him getting it done,” she said. “It’s about getting other people to get it done.”
Kuck said, especially because he began his project shortly before the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, “coordination was a big (challenge).”
Still, he said stepping into a leadership role for the project and guiding others came somewhat naturally.
“It’s not as hard as it may seem,” Kuck said, adding that he was thankful that a number of his friends also volunteered to help.
Jen Kuck and her husband, Barry, said the Eagle Scout project is a culmination of the many skills their son has learned since he began scouting in Kindergarten.
Since he is one of the older Scouts in his Troop, they said he is now passing on the life lessons to younger troop members before he prepares to take them into his own adult life.
Kuck recalled participating in a week-long canoe trip in Northern Minnesota with his troop, which was “a challenge physically and mentally” because scouts loaded everything they needed “and don’t go back” for the entire trip.
Even between those types of adventures, Kuck said completing the time capsule is one of his biggest accomplishments as a Scout.
“Honestly, it feels great,” he said.
Sloat said she is still working with the township’s Roads Division to determine when the capsule, which was donated by Ferguson Funeral Home, can be placed into the monument. She said there will not be a formal ceremony when it is placed.
Kuck began to laugh thinking about 100 years from now, when future residents will open the time capsule to find toys like Pop Sockets and fidget spinners.
Even though he will include notes explaining what they are, “they’ll definitely be confused,” he said with a smile.