From left: Aaron Stunkard, Chad Holladay, Dustin McCumber, Angie Glass, John Harris and Justus Whipkey are hard at work.
By Rhonda Van Pelt
It’s the giant M overlooking Manitou Springs, that’s what.
Devoted Manitou Springs High School graduates have been working hard to return the symbolic letter to its hillside northwest of the city. It started with Angie Glass, a 1996 graduate and the school’s athletics/activities administrative assistant for the past 10 years.
When the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the 2020 Commencement ceremony, Superintendent Elizabeth Domangue asked Glass about MSHS traditions they needed to hang onto.
“I sent messages out to various alumni from different graduating years, and just said, ‘Hey, what do you remember? And what stands out, what is really important to you?’” Glass said.
One former classmate replied with a photo of the M on the hillside and Glass was off and running with the idea.
She recruited some other alumni and they started talking about how to return the M to its proper historic site, but the project was tabled for a while because the pandemic just wouldn’t let up.
It had to happen now, they concluded, since School District 14 is celebrating its 150th anniversary.
“This is the year we’re getting it done,” Glass said to everyone. “And it’s going to be done by Homecoming.”
No one is exactly sure when the first M was built on the hillside and who did it.
“I cannot find anybody with recollections of the M being on the hill,” said Clara Meury, a 1961 graduate, local historian and member of a distinguished Manitou family.
She remembers when supporters of the Florence High School football team painted the M orange before a game in 1963.
Meury, Glass and other volunteers gathered at the high school on Thursday, Sept. 22, to talk about the project.
They obtained permission from the landowner, Herald Walton, to get on the property. He was definitely on board.
“We as a community are ‘hosts’ to so many, they come expecting landmarks that have defined our Pikes Peak region for as long as there have been legends of adventure, health, natural magnificence and recreational challenge!” Walton told Glass.
Randy Perkins, a 1986 graduate and longtime Manitou firefighter, was available whenever he was needed to unlock a gate to the property.
Paul Willie, a 1972 graduate and member of another distinguished Manitou family, also helped with the historical research.
Dustin McCumber, a 1991 graduate and father to two current students, researched the site and found it was steeper than a 26 percent grade. He also provided a lot of the labor.
“The research I was doing said that these hillside monograms are for school and town pride, and that got me more motivated to actually do this,” he said.
The group decided they didn’t want to recruit current student-athletes to help, because they didn’t want to have to obtain parental permission. The site didn’t allow for more than eight people to work at one time; two hours at a time was deemed the maximum anyone should work on it, for their health and safety.
Meury researched the size of the “Hollywood” sign to determine how large the M had to be so it would be visible from 5 miles away. Several volunteers hiked up a few times to scope out the site, clear the area and mark out the M with stakes, spray paint and string, Glass explained.
They re-used the original rocks, most of which had slid (or been pushed) about 25 to 30 yard down the hillside. Smaller rocks were carried up in 5-gallon buckets to fill out the 5-foot-wide “legs” of the letter.
“There was a ton of labor — and love — put into it,” Glass said. “It was not for the faint of heart.”
After testing a few techniques to paint the rocks, they found that using a mop and bucket to cover them with whitewash, the method used for the original M, would be the best way.
McCumber said that 16 people helped in various ways and the “people hours” on the hillside added up to 67 over six weeks.
They’re still discussing who will maintain the M so it’ll be here for generations to come.
“Obstacles were continually thrown our way, but each time we persevered, managed and accomplished it! I am super proud of my team of alumni from various generations who gave up hours of their busy lives to help with this project,” Glass said.
The community is invited to see the results with “The Unveiling of the M” during the Homecoming Parade along Manitou Avenue, starting at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Angie Glass wanted to extend “huge thanks” to Clara Meury — the project wouldn’t have happened without her — and these entities:
“The MSHS Alumni Group, the city of Manitou Springs, the Public Works Department, the Manitou Springs Fire Department, the Pikes Peak Bulletin and Mr. Walton for their support. In addition, we would like to thank a longtime friend and sponsor of Manitou Springs schools, as well as the Garden of Gods Trading Post, for a wonderful donation for the M. Rafter Three Property Maintenance LLC for providing labor and donating materials. And, finally, to MSSD14 for trusting in us and giving us the autonomy to get the job done.”