Witness to 50 years of change

Published 11:01 pm Tuesday, November 27, 2007

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — Stan Krahn needs only an old, aerial photo of Mountlake Terrace to begin telling the story of the city’s history.

On a black-and-white print from around 1955, Krahn, 84, points to a swath of houses on the south end of the city where private developers long ago planned on building an airport. He notes the city’s small size, then traces his finger through the surrounding forest to show the current city limits.

Krahn can even point out his house, even though it’s obscured by a tree.

“I’ve seen the city grow from 7,000 people to over 20,000 people, and I’ve been a part of it,” Krahn said.

Krahn, who was a piano tuner when he moved to Mountlake Terrace in 1953, has spent 50 years with the city as either a police department employee or a volunteer. The Mountlake Terrace City Council is planning to honor Krahn for his years of service before and during its Monday meeting.

“When you think of Mountlake Terrace, Stan Krahn was Mr. Mountlake Terrace,” said Police Chief Scott Smith, who started as a patrol officer in 1980 when Krahn was a captain at the department.

Krahn started as a reserve police officer in 1957 and soon after became a patrol officer. He was promoted to sergeant in 1968 and then to captain a decade later.

After retiring from police work in 1990, Krahn — whose son, Tim Krahn, is now a Mountlake Terrace police officer — continued as a volunteer with the police department. His volunteer duties include checking up on houses when homeowners are on vacation.

“You start as a reserve officer and part of the duty there is checking buildings,” Krahn said. “Now that I’m retired, I’m out running around checking buildings again. What goes around comes around, I guess.”

Krahn sits on the city’s historical committee, and he and his wife, Jeanne Krahn, belong to the Edmonds-South Snohomish County Historical Society. The couple have shared their home with dozens of exchange students who attended the University of Washington.

Krahn moved to Mountlake Terrace simply to find affordable housing. However, during his time as a police officer, he grew to appreciate the city.

Krahn used his time on patrol to meet people face to face. He got out of his car whenever he could, chatting with shop owners or talking with children.

“There have been kids who are grown men now who have said, ‘When officer Krahn talked to you, it was fair,’” Jeanne Krahn said.

The connection Stan Krahn forged with Mountlake Terrace during his years in police work inspired him to begin collecting articles, stories, photographs and other documents about the city’s history. He’s not working on a book or any specific project — he just wants to make sure nothing is lost.

“I’m worried about people not collecting things,” Krahn said. “It’s not like we have an 80-year-old building to preserve, but there are a lot of photos and information.”

Krahn also collects items to preserve his family’s history.

The chairs around his dining room table were bought by his mom for $40 in 1919; an old desk in the corner of his living room was from his aunt; a tapestry hangs near the desk, a gift from an exchange student from Asia.

Krahn hopes his son, Tim, will follow in his footsteps as a historian as he did with police work.

“He’ll pick up right where I left off, I’m sure,” Krahn said.

Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.

Reception Monday

Former Mountlake Terrace Police Department Capt. Stan Krahn will be honored by the Mountlake Terrace City Council for 50 years of service to the city. The City Council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 23204 58th Ave. W. A reception for Krahn before the meeting is scheduled at 6 p.m.