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SDSM&T tradition of climbing M-Hill spans eight decades
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| Title | SDSM&T tradition of climbing M-Hill spans eight decades |
| Transcript | Office of University Relations SDSM& T News 501 E. St. Joseph Street • Rapid City, SD 57701- 3995 Phone: ( 605) 394- 6082/ 2554 • Fax: ( 605) 394- 6177 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ( September 30, 1998) SDSM& T TRADITION OF CLIMBING M- HILL SPANS EIGHT DECADES When SDSM& T students climb M- Hill and whitewash the " M" this Friday as part of their homecoming celebration, they will be continuing a tradition that spans over eight decades. At noon on Friday, October 1, SDSM& T freshman students will march from campus to a picnic at the base of M- Hill on Omaha Street. Following the picnic, the students will climb M- Hill, place the senior and freshman plaques, and then whitewash the " M" with a mudslide down the concrete slabs. The M- Hill tradition dates back to October, 1912, when a large " M" was constructed on Cowboy Hill, located on the west side of Rapid City. According to SDSM& T Centennial: An Illustrated History 1885- 1995, the idea of an " M" dated back several years prior to 1912 when several students and faculty proposed placing a large letter in a prominent spot to help advertise the school. Although erecting an electric sign was one of the possibilities considered, the decision was made to have the students construct an " M" because it would lessen the cost and would be a valuable learning experience for the students. School of Mines President Dr. C. C. O'Harra gave the students a holiday on October 8, 1912, to build the huge " M" on land owned by prominent local businessman Tom Sweeney, who had given his consent to the project. Approximately 75 students and teachers brought their picks, shovels, and other tools to Cowboy Hill that day. Two teams of horses with plows and wagons were used to loosen and remove the soil. After using more than 100 wagon loads of rock to fill in the area, the students then whitewashed the newly constructed " M". Measuring 112 by 67 feet, the " M" was hailed as the largest letter in the state and could be seen from twelve miles away. For the next eleven years, " M Day" consisted of pulling the weeds between the stones and whitewashing the letter. In 1922, the stones were replaced with concrete. The M- Hill climb and whitewashing of the " M" has been a homecoming tradition at SDSM& T for many years. The students will whitewash the " M" at approximately 1: 30 p. m. by sliding down the concrete slabs. Mud volleyball games follow at 3: 00 p. m. at the bottom of M- Hill along Omaha Street. ++ 30++ ( i:\ univrel\ pressrele\ 0999\ M- Hill Climb fax/ local) |
| Creator | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. University Relations; |
| Subject | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology; |
| Local Subject | M-Week
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| Digital Publisher | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Devereaux Library
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| Date | 1999-09-30 |
| Type | Text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. Office of University Relations |
| Language | eng |
| Relation | Is part of Office of University Relations SDSM&T News Collection |
| Rights | The work from which this copy was made did not include a formal copyright notice. This work may be protected by U. S. copyright law (Title 17, United States Code), which governs reproduction, distribution, public display, and other uses of protected works. Uses may be allowed with permission from the copyright holder, if the copyright on the work has expired, or if the use is fair use or within another legal exemption. The user of this work is responsible for compliance with the law. |
| Submitting Institution | Devereaux Library. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. |
| Date Digital | 2009 |
| CONTENTdm number | 2819 |
| CONTENTdm file name | 2820.pdf |
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