There's no merit badge for hosting surprise parties, but that didn't stop a local Boy Scout troop from throwing an impromptu celebration Sunday.

Troop No. 186 had cake, coffee and music for the day's honoree: A slab of concrete.

The sidewalk square, located on the east side of First Christian Church at 660 S.W. Madison Avenue, bears the inscription "Mellon & Gendron Contractors 1909."

So the troop, which meets every Monday night at the church, decided to surprise churchgoers and passersby with a party.

One man stopped and played "Happy Birthday" on a bugle before having cake. Three other men dutifully serenaded the sidewalk.

"I think we're having a wonderful time," troop assistant Blair Pomeroy said. "Is everyone feeling full of revelry?"

The idea was inspired by Pomeroy's father, Bill Pomeroy, a longtime scouter himself.

Bill Pomeroy lived in Portland and was an avid runner. One day he noticed a slab in the sidewalk inscribed with a date and realized the 100th anniversary was only a few years away.

Blair Pomeroy said his father would talk about having a party for the square.

"'When that 100 years comes up,' he says, 'I'm gonna throw that slab a birthday party.'"

He did, with cake, harmonica music and plenty of goodwill.

"He just entertained everybody who came by," Blair Pomeroy said. "It was just a hoot."

Bill Pomeroy passed away in September at the age of 90. Not long after, Blair was talking to another troop assistant, John Adamski, and the story about the sidewalk party came up.

Then Adamski pointed out the slab at the church.

"It's just one of those crazy things that had to be done," said assistant Roy Haggerty.

It was a busy weekend for Troop 186, who spent Saturday handing out bags around Corvallis for the annual food drive.

The group's typical activities include backpacking, sailing and rafting.

"We're the funnest troop in Corvallis," Haggerty said with a smile.

And while they know how to use a Dutch oven, Sunday's cake - actually six cakes put together in an edible impression of the slab -was not prepared in one.

Before Sunday's service let out, the Scouts had difficulty persuading wary onlookers to celebrate. Then they came across a very willing group: the Sunday school class.

"We hit the jackpot," said Hunter Benson, 12, as he ushered the little kids toward the party. "Once you say the word 'cake,' they're like, excited."

The youngsters were less impressed by the concrete, which was manufactured by former Corvallis company Mellon and Gendron.

Pastor John Evans was pleasantly surprised by the festivities.

"I think it's great," he said, noting that Scouts have been meeting in the church for about 50 years.

The Scouts themselves liked the zany celebration.

"It's cool," said 11-year-old Vladko Jakubek.

"We're celebrating a cement slab," said Ryan Hughes, 12. "How can that not be cool?"

Related

• Corrections (Nov. 10)