Changing the Purpose of the Porpoise

Going Back to the Roots

Ben Lomond

Ben Lomond is a mountain in beautiful northern Utah. At the far north end of the Wasatch front, it distinguishes itself from the rest of the range by jotting out from east to west, where as the predominant direction of Wasatch runs nearly dead south to north. As such, the broad shoulders of the mountain are clearly identifiable when entering the Salt Lake Valley from the south, driving over "The Point of The Mountain" - nearly 80 miles away.

The mountain was named by early Sottish immigrant settlers of the area, as it reminded them of a mountain in their homeland that bares the same name. The settlers (Montgomerys), eventually settled in the upper Ogden valley, where as there is a dark black mountain that sits directly north/east of Ben Lomond, that is akin to the island called "The Black Island", which resides in Loc Lomond, beneath the Scottish mountain itself. As such, this dark, rocky and steep mountain is named appropriately "The Black Mountain". A dead give away as to someone that is not "from around here" as they will always call it "Blacks Mountain" (flat landers anyway).

My entire life has been either living on one side or the other of Ben Lomond. For the majority of my life I have lived where I can view the abject beauty of it's prominent eastern features year round. For as many times as I've been to the top, the influence doesn't reside on the rocky slopes alone. There is a lot more to this story...............

Why We Are Scots

The story of what was to become Ben Lomond High School is a bit.....sorted.

At the early 1950's, Ogden was clearly divided by the Ogden River and the wide valley in which it runs. Ogden High School (the "million dollar school" with the "two-bit student body") had established itself in the current location by nearly 20 years at this point. Never mind the fact that Ogden High itself originated many years before the "new school" had been built, at the old Central Junior High School location. That school had pedigree that included the likes of Moses - or so I'm told. The area north of the river was verboten and considered by many as not truly part of Ogden proper. When a new high school was proposed to be built across from the State School for the Blind, as well as the State Tuberculosis Sanitarium, it was to be called North East Ogden High School. The school colors were to be red and black, as opposed to the OHS orange and black. The moniker was to be the Spikes, again as opposed to the OHS Tigers. How noble, right? I mean tigers are black and orange, where as other animals at the zoo may display variations of red and black (baboons - you figure it out). How could this go wrong?

With the deep seeded animosity between the two geographic locations, there was already a critical distain toward the proposed new high school name. With the gymnasium still under construction at the start of the new school year, an assembly was held with the entire study body in one of the shop areas (either the Auto Shop, or Carpenter Shop) at the new school. At this assembly the root of our inherent pride was clearly manifest. Not only was the general student body not having anything to do with "Ogden High School", they didn't care for the color scheme, or the proposed moniker. I mean, what the hell is a fighting spike anyway?

Perhaps there may have been a proposal to name the new school "Beckers Academy", but nobody can really vouch for that story (as in the old Beckers Brewery). Rather, it was clearly decided by the student body to name the school after the most prominent feature on the Wasatch front; Ben Lomond High School. The moniker (or mascot) would be the Scot and Lass, with the colors being Tartan Plaid. And there you have it, the rebellious spirit that many yet to come would not only be born, but fully embrace and exemplify. It was only the beginning of what was yet to come.

As I was growing up in the "forbidden land of the under class north east Ogden", Ben Lomond, or BL as it was regularly known, had considerable community pride. There was a rock feature directly at the top of Douglas Street (350 south), that was assembled atop the foothills, making a large and clearly discernable BL, painted white, as to be seen across all of Weber County. Sure there was a "W" around the south side of the same foothills (for Weber/Shopko Highschool), but no O for Ogden, T for Tiger, or anything else to identify the "School of Gilded Alumni". BL symbols meant pride, but not because of any specific notable event, or person (no, Robert Burns is not an alum), but rather from the inherit spirit of identity and rebellion. It was truly a pride in the community and school itself. In 1968, Ogden City completed the through roadway from 9th and Harrison, through river valley and orchards, up the newly built dugway, to 20th and Harrison. Not that this immediately promoted free flowing charity between the two distinctly different sides of Ogden, rather it solidified the differences in earnest. Within 20 years the flow between the two sides would completely dilute, if not dissolve nearly every identifiable feature that led to the original decision of the high school name.

All kidding aside, the pride that was BL in the 1960's and 70's has gone the way of the public payphone and 19 cent Dee burgers. Perhaps loosing the Dee burger was a good thing, but pride of the north side was a monument of character that is sorely needed in today's world.

Loosing an Identity and Selling-Out, a dime at a time....

As I have aged, I have come to realize that I'm truly not the person I have become. This is what has happened to the Pride of the Scots; given away little by little until it is only a slogan. The rock BL was moved to the place of the former "W" in or around 1975-76. One could argue that this coincided with the disintegration of what was the foundation of pride. Certainly not the cause, but a landmark date in time all the same. Few if any truly remember the community pride that was BL. The representation of the school was paramount in my youth. By the time I graduated, many of the staples had already been removed, or remade. I guess it had to be done, as the rebellious streak had turn almost criminal in some respects. I often wonder what my 12-14 year old self would think of the person I've become. At the same time, I wonder what those students some 70 years ago would think of the pride that is at best, a window dressing. Have I sold out, or have I just survived? If this is maturity, I want to be a kid again. Maybe I need to assess what is important and why. Perhaps a Scot can find his way home yet.....

Making the Journey

In my life I have been over the top of that big rock countless times. It is my home. It is were I can find my solace. The bike picture way above was from many years back; a solo ride in the late Autumn, on the old 26" directly on the peak itself. Nobody can ever take that away. To that end, nobody will ever know the deep down inside where I may go when trekking to that spot. For that short period, I see the person I truly am and it haunts me - that I can be something so far from where I truly am. On most weekends, the North Ogden Trail Head going to the peak is a virtual freeway. Apparently everyone has caught on. The image below is from 1919, when the North Ogden Divide was a rocky sheep trail. There are the faces of now long departed scouts that made that trek before it was a Saturday morning activity. They are all gone, but I'll bet the memory of that day lived with them forever. Be capable of all your potential, but don't sell out. Perhaps today is your chance for inventory. Perhaps if you make that trek, you too will be haunted by what you find inside. Perhaps you'll find the true you applauding all that you have become. One can only be so lucky....