US 52 question (Minot, Tioga, Kenmare: high schools, colleges, safety)

[Riotman]

I was traveling on US 52 between, I think it was, Minot and Portal, this past summer. I observered what appears to be white rocks formed to show, what look like, years on the hills along the highway. There were a number of years represented. It's unique and looks like a tradition, so, I was wondering what these were all about.

I would appriciate any information.

Thanks in advance,

A Traveler

[Roloff1976]

This is a tradition...some of the local High Schools or even colleges in the larger towns... students will go up into the hills along highways and spell out the initials of their school name and the school year, in large rocks. Example... Tioga High School for a particular year would be THS 1997. They usually paint the rocks white so they stand out can be seen from a distance. Of course part of the fun is to steal the rocks and change the year to represent your own class...lol

[casben]

The formations you saw on the hillsides along Hwy 2/52 were placed there by graduating students of Kenmare High School. It has been a tradition since the late 50's early 60's.

The class has a now unofficial (because of safety concerns) rock day. The Seniors dig out and place boulders in the shape of their graduating year on the side of the hills near Kenmare.

It's also a tradition for the former students to go out and repaint the rocks during school reunions.

CasBen
Kenmare class of 87