HEBER CITY, Utah — Parents in Utah’s Wasatch County are seeking to overturn the decision to name a new high school to reflect the area’s railroading heritage.
The Wasatch County School Board decided last month to name the new facility Iron Horse High School, with its athletic teams known as the Thunder, following the recommendation of a marketing company. In part, the name reflects that the school building “looks like a train station,” said Helen Price of VIP Branding, according to a report in the Park Record newspaper.
But an online petition signed by more than 700 people has asked the school board to hold a revote, arguing that “Iron Horse and Thunder do not resonate with our community, nor do these symbols embody the excitement, loyalty and shared pride that weave together the fabric of our community. … We want a name and mascot that we can all be proud of, that encapsulates our shared values, and that excites future leaders.”
In response, the board announced on Jan. 6 that it will send out a survey that will determine the school name between Iron Horse High and three other options: the Deer Creek High School Riverhawks, North Field High School Riverhawks, and Heber Valley High School Riverhawks. “The community will make the final decision for the name and mascot through the final survey,” the board said in a letter posted on its Facebook page. “We hope these efforts will ensure the new high school name reflects the input and desire of the Wasatch community.”
At least one board member stands by the choice.
“We’ve built a $160 million train station. We have to honor that. Everything else is contradictory to that,” school board president Tyler Bluth told the Park Record in December.
I’ve taken note of the location. A year from now will be interesting to see what the outcome was on choice of a BEST name. endmrw0113251635
Renova, PA HS was called the “Railroaders” for many years. It was part of the Bucktail/Renova school district. [“Bucktail” was definitely appropriate as that area is basically rural mountains and the deer could outnumber the humans.]
Over time the PRR passenger shop operations ceased and it eventually lost its status as a Division/crew change point. Then the HS was made a part of a larger school district and “Railroaders” disappeared.
It’s only a school, and many thousands of schools have gotten by just fine with simple place names, “Central High School” for example, or even less distinctive names such as “P.S. 26.” After the legislature renames your post office the “Horace G. Bilgewater Memorial Post Office” do you refer to it as anything other than “the post office”?
When I first saw the title, I couldn’t help but think… “Placticville High School”???
How about “Suburban Blight High”, and call them them “The Gridlocks”?
“The name of the school does not represent our values”
Well then, what exactly are the values you want to impart in a name/mascot? I didn’t know a riverhawk imparts a value other than it attacks and kills it prey? Technically you could call them the Chargers and you wouldn’t be able to discern which value it represents, an EV station, a train engine, or a car by Stellantis.
So I scraped up some values to propose back at them.
The “Heber Valley Self Righteous”
The “Deer Creek Generation Zees”
The “North Field Pacifists”
May it will take the Hiroshima-like devastation in SoCal to wake people up about how little it takes to tie them in a knot.
I’m trying to remember where I read it, long ago. Maybe in Thomas Merton’s book, “The Seven Storey Mountain”, that people get more and more bothered by less and less.
better then a politcal name/or a non person name
Really?
Seems there is a disconnect between the alleged community and the local, well patronized heritage railroad.
I have never heard of this town or school, probably never will again. Iron Horse High School sounds a lot better than the other choices though.
It is in the Heber Valley, about 47 miles from Salt Lake City Downtown. It was a site for the 2002 cross Country Skiing Events of which the railroad, the Heber Valley Railroad (formerly known as the Heber Creeper) played a prominent role ferrying Olympic visitors to the event site by two steam trains, HVRR’s #618, a former UP 2-8-0 Consolidation and Nevada Northern #93, a former Guggenheim Minerals locomotive, also a 2-8-0 Consolidation. The 618, as well as other steam loco’s being restored, an An ex US Army Alco MRS2 C-C diesel and two GP9’s comprise the bulk of The HVRR fleet as well as many heritage freight cars and passenger cars, The line used to run all the way to Provo but was cut short to bridal veil falls in the 50’s. It runs along Deer Creek Reservoir and since the mid 2000’s has gone no farther than Deer Creek Dam at the upper mouth of Provo Canyon, about 12 miles from Heber City. Its a nce leisurely trip and they have several special events. There web page is http://www.gohebervalley.com/heber-valley-railroad/
It is in the Heber Valley, about 47 miles from Salt Lake City Downtown. It was a site for the 2002 cross Country Skiing Events of which the railroad, the Heber Valley Railroad (formerly known as the Heber Creeper) played a prominent role ferrying Olympic visitors to the event site by two steam trains, HVRR’s #618, a former UP 2-8-0 Consolidation and Nevada Northern #93, a former Guggenheim Minerals locomotive, also a 2-8-0 Consolidation. The 618, as well as other steam loco’s being restored, an An ex US Army Alco MRS2 C-C diesel and two GP9’s comprise the bulk of The HVRR fleet as well as many heritage freight cars and passenger cars, The line used to run all the way to Provo but was cut short to bridal veil falls in the 50’s. It runs along Deer Creek Reservoir and since the mid 2000’s has gone no farther than Deer Creek Dam at the upper mouth of Provo Canyon, about 12 miles from Heber City. Its a nce leisurely trip and they have several special events. There web page is .gohebervalley.com/heber-valley-railroad.
Alex, welcome to 2025.
In my opinion: It’s just a name of a school, and the protestors need to get over themselves. This isn’t like you’re naming something REALLY important that will last forever…
Last time I was in this neck of the woods there was a spirited debate on the radio over whether or not they should allow snowboarding on the ski trails. They even joked at the time how this was a “first world” problem. That’s the mindset you’re dealing with here.
Lots of Elite liberal types have moved into Park City and the Heber Valley. Of course since they “think” they are better than the natives and long time residents who made their money the old way (by “Hard work!”) they think their opinions matters more. You can see their private jets parked at the local airport. I believe that when all is said and done the locals will show these high -handed California types to buzz off and accept the railroad themed high school name. It will be the second high school in the valley which is seeing heavy residential growth as people look to get out of the crowded Salt Lake Valley…