Story of the "D"

1920 View of St. George, Utah

To those of us born and raised in Utah's Dixie the large, white, block "D" on the black hill is a part of our deep roots in the area. It reminds us of those who came before us in 1861 to a harsh, barren desert to try to raise cotton and other hot weather crops to replace those unavailable because of the Civil War and transportation issues. This is why it was called the Dixie mission. These valiant pioneers tried and despite many, many setbacks were able to persevere. Education was a priority for Dixie-ites and by 1911 there was a college in town brought to be by many of the same pioneers who were first called to the Dixie mission fifty years earlier and their descendants.

Leo Alva Snow

According to their yearbook the Dixie class of 1915 were responsible for bringing the "D" to the black ridge on the west side of St. George in line with Tabernacle Street which was their main street at that time. The "D" first had to surveyed and mapped out, this was accomplished by Leo Alva Snow. He earlier surveyed Zion Canyon and recommended it to be a National site which happened in 1909 by President Taft.
Matthew Bentley's History tells about Leo A. Snow and the "D":

"The proper place to build the school monogram, the "D" was on the steep slope face of the Black Hill directly in line with Tabernacle Street. Leo A Snow was asked to survey the exact location. This included not only the spotting of the "D" but also the height and width of the "D" so it looked symmetrical when placed on the slope of the hill side."

Not only Leo A. Snow and the students but probably other men from town helped with the construction of the "D". They came bringing shovels, picks, crowbars, buckets, and brooms.  I learned more about that day from a copy of the 1915 "Dixie" yearbook posted on www.skalooza.com .

1915 Tennis - note there is no "D" on the black hill

-quote-

THE STUDENTS of the Dixie Academy have always upheld an ideal of leaving something for Dixie to remember them by. This year they decided to leave a "D" on the side of the black ridge. 

On the morning of February 19 (the day set for the work), the boys started to gather on the hill shortly after 8 o'clock. It was not long till the "D" site was covered with men (almost one hundred in number) armed with picks, shovels, crowbars, brooms and buckets. 

Rock began to move in every direction and in about three hours all of the rock was laid in shape and would have been whitewashed, but there was only enough material there to cover about three-fourths of it, happily bye and bye the lime wagon came with a fresh supply of lime and water. We finished the first coat.

By this time the girls had arrived with the dinner, which was served on a level spot of ground. Maybe you think we didn't enjoy that dinner, but you bet we did; we had been working hard, and besides the girls had a hard time carrying it up, so that even the girls enjoyed their own cooking. 

There were a great many pictures taken while we were eating dinner, and after dinner we all went up into the "D" and had them taken again. 

A second coat of whitewash was then given the "D" by the fourth year boys.

This "D" can be distinguished for over thirty miles.
-close quote-

1918 view of St. George, Utah looking west on Tabernacle Street.

Today, nearly 100 years later the "D" is still there. Throughout the years the "D" was whitewashed anew each D-Day at the college.

1963 Bucket brigade to whitewash the "D" on D-Day

I can remember seeing the "D" lit up with buckets of fire placed around it the night that it was white-washed.

For many years there was a spotlight or two on the "D" so it could be seen at night. It was said to be used as a navigation point for pilots landing at the old St. George airport on the black hill. Now it is fully lit with lights all around the "D".

If you can see into the original St. George Valley you can probably see the "D".  It is still a beloved symbol for natives and those who now call Utah's Dixie their home. Thanks to the pioneers for not giving up and making this desert valley blossom with many roses...-cba