P Hill Project raises funds

PLAINS – Plains High School alumni gathered at the Sanders County Fairgrounds to show their support for the P Hill last weekend.

Supporters assembled at the fairground’s pavilion to raise money for the upcoming cementing of the hill’s eponymous letter.    

Jane Bates, an alumnus from the Class of 1964 and a member of the organizing committee for the P Hill project noted the evening’s festivities were a way to keep the project moving towards its goal.

“We are looking to raise funds and hopefully get this project rolling,” Bates said.

The project itself got its start during the 50th reunion of the Class of 1964 during the summer of 2014.

Bates noted many alumni noted the sorry state of the P Hill and efforts were put in motion to replace the rocks which currently sit on the hill with concrete to ensure a longer lifespan for the hill’s letter.

“We either let it roll down the hill or do something about it,” Bates said.

According to Bates the hill has a long history in the Plains community.

Bates stated in 1920, seven students, who gathered their materials and ascended the hill, first laid out the first letter of the town on the terrain’s slope.  

The “Dancing through the Decades” event featured music from the past several decades, with music videos and recorded numbers playing to tunes from the 1930s up to contemporary hits.

Starting at 5 p.m. the potato bar kept busy preparing tasty treats loaded with toppings for those in attendance at the fundraiser.

Glacier View Farms donated the potatoes for the event.

Cliff and Judy Stephens kept busy in the run up to the fundraiser by peeling and cleaning around 300 potatoes for the evening’s meal.

As the event’s diners settled down to their dinners Merle Johnston, also a member of the Class of 1964, took some time to speak to those who had come out to support the P Hill Project.

“It’s really neat to see people in Plains show up for this. It’s a great testament to this community,” Johnston said.

Johnston mentioned how the project got its start during the Class of 1964’s 50th reunion and how maintenance of the P Hill was a big part of his experience growing up in Plains.

He conveyed the importance of “P Day,” when students would ascend the hill and fix up the letter.

“P Day was more important than anything,” Johnston said.

Once the meals were finished the dining area was cleared and attendees had a chance to get out on the dance floor.

A number of items were raffled off throughout the course of the evening including a few paintings and a 50/50 drawing.

Additionally, 12” squares of a quilted P Hill were also available for sale to help raise funds for the community project.  

Bates said Charlie “Chuck” Clinkenbeard will handle the concrete for the project, which will be piped into the hill’s new letter.

According to Bates, so far the P Hill project has raised around $4,000 for the new P.

The project, including excavation, is estimated to cost $10,000, the fundraising mark for the project.

Before turning things over to the evening’s music Johnston implored the community to get behind the ongoing project.

“We need to keep this fundraising going,” Johnston said.