For years, there had been on the “Hill” more or less mention of constructing an “N” of large dimensions on the foothills back of the University, which offered a favorable site. It did not seem right that Nevada spirit should show itself less plainly than either California to the West of us or Utah to the East where college letters had already been constructed. At last, in the spring of 1913, due to the persistent boosting of some few students, it looked as though all things were favorable to starting the enterprise.
It was with the idea in their minds of making this start that two Juniors, Clarke Webster and Harvey McPhail, neglected to stop one afternoon at the place appointed for the surveying class, but continued on with transit and stakes, to the southeastern side of Mount Peavine. Here on a slope of the mountain that overlooks the entire Truckee meadows, a block “N” of such gigantic size was laid out as to look almost impossible for the students to build, but these two fellows knew the stock of Nevada spirit and were willing to take a chance.
News of the start on the “N” and plans for completing it, when broached at the following Student Body meeting, were received with enthusiasm which did away with any doubts of the completion of the letter. Harvey McPhail was named to take charge of the work, and the following Sunday was appointed the day on which the work should be started.
Sunday, March 13, 1913, turned out to be such a day as to put enthusiasm into anyone’s blood and by 10 o’clock that morning the hills were dotted with students. The side of the huge letter having been laid off by means of string beforehand, it became the main object this day to pile the entire enclosure with as many rocks as possible. The fellas were enthusiastic over the work and thousands of rocks of all sizes were brought from within easy carrying distance. When the supply was partially exhausted, some of those with excess “pep,” climbed farther up the mountain and with cries of warning to those below, started several rocks, weighing tons, down the mountain. Luck seemed to be with them, and all but one of the boulders stopped some place on the “N.” At the close of their work that day, the letter had taken shape and could plainly be seen from the campus, more than a mile distant.
A week later work began again, the work of rock piling was completed, and everything was ready for the whitewash. In a few days the fellows were again seen headed for Peavine, this time armed with whitewash sprinklers and all necessary material. Water was hauled in barrels from a ditch about half a mile distant from the foot of the slope, upon which the “N” rested. From here, a human chain was formed up to the “N” and buckets of water, lime and refreshments were passed from one fellow to the next and so to the scene of operations. The only pauses, during the day’s work were those caused by investigators of the refreshment bucket, which came at regular intervals. The work was fast and furious, and what was looked upon as an impossibility came to be an accomplished piece of work when operations were stopped.
Just as darkness fell, the good old Nevada spell yell was given as a signal of the works’ completion.
The following morning, residents of the Truckee meadows were treated to a rare surprise when they awakened and saw the huge “N,” white as snow, glistening against the dark background of the mountains. The letter can plainly be seen for miles and stands without an equal as the largest college emblem in the world. It measures one hundred fifty feet in height and one hundred forty feet in breadth, each leg having a thickness of twenty feet. It covers about thirteen thousand square feet and is geometrically perfect in every detail. — H. McP.
