Alumni look to restore P Hill

by Alex Violo/Valley Press
| March 20, 2015 4:29 PM

PLAINS – A group of alumni from Plains High School are looking to renovate the P Hill and they need the community’s help to ensure the project is successful.

The Class of 1964 met in Plains, at Fred Young Park, during July of 2014 for the class’s 50th reunion, and that is when the idea to beautify the P Hill was raised by several of the school’s alumnus.

“The idea was brought up at the class’ 50th reunion last summer,” Jane Bates, a member of the Class of ‘64, said.

The night before last year’s reunion, a group of alumni trekked up to the top of the hill, straightening out the rocks of the lopsided letter p.

According to Bates, the plan is to haul away or bury the rocks currently marking the P on the large hill overlooking downtown Plains, do new groundwork then rebar and section it off before pouring new concrete over the letter.

Bates estimates the project will cost roughly $10,000, which the organizing committee is hoping to raise before the project gets underway.

She stated the project would likely start in June, at which time the work on bettering the town’s eponymous hill would begin.

Bates, her fellow alumni from the Class of ’64 and other area residents are hoping to spread the word and receive support from the Plains community before the cement starts flowing.

“Anybody is more than welcome to help out,” Bates said.

For more information on the ongoing work to revitalize the town’s hill please contact Jane Johnson Bates at 826-5633 or via her cell phone at 531-5319.

Other points of contact for the refurbishment project are Dave Harvey at 826-3029, Richard Harter at 826-2323, and Judy Stephens at 826-3119.

The group also has a Facebook page, with photos and information on their continuing efforts to accomplish the project.

The name of the Facebook page is Plains High School Alumni.

Bates is optimistic members of the Plains community will step up and ensure the success of the project, to restore the P Hill, to the point of pride has held among Plains students and residents in years past.