Boy Scout project restores cross on Dominguez Hill

Friday, Nov. 27, 2015

By Laura Vallejo

Intermountain Catholic

SPANISH FORK — On Sept. 23, 1776 Fathers Francisco Aranasio Dominguez and Silvestre Velez de Escalante entered Utah Valley through the Spanish Fork Canyon. 

According to the writings of the two priests, the party traveled out of the canyon and climbed a hill (now known as Dominguez Hill  in Spanish Fork) to get the lay of the land. They are believed to be the first non-natives to see Utah Lake and the valley.  

“We went for a half a league northwest, crossed over to the other side of the river, went up a small hill, and caught sight of the lake and spreading valley of Nuestra Señora de la Merced of the Timpanogotzis,” reads the journal of their journey.

In 1976, 200 years after the explorers arrived, the hill was dedicated to the priests by Franciscan Father John Fowlie during a bicentennial observance, and a  wooden cross was erected as a memorial by Knights of Columbus Council 1136. 

In 1981, the members of Escalante Council 1136 of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Orem sponsored the placement of a  cross made of steel beams on  Dominguez Hill. This cross, weighing more than 2,400 pounds and resting on a foundation of more than 12 tons, had to be put in place by a Utah National Guard helicopter.

The 34 years since then have taken their toll on the cross.

“Last year we were looking for a contractor to repair and restore the cross because it was very worn over time,” said James Arguello, Grand Knight of Escalante Council 1136.

However, they were confronted with the fact that the Dominguez Hill has no easily passable roads up to the cross; nor were they able to find anyone willing to help with the restoration, Arguello said. Then Kenner Garrick wrote the Knights a letter stating that he wanted to restore the cross as his Boy Scout Eagle project.

“Reading his letter it was apparent that he was sincere about the project and had done a lot of research on the history of the cross,” said Arguello, who contacted Garrick to discuss the project.

After obtaining the Knights’ permission and receiving funds from the Council to get the job done, Garrick worked with the Strawberry Water District, which owns the land the cross is on,  the city of American Fork and some private land owners near the Dominguez Hill to get their approval.

“Kenner was able to organize the restoration, get help from an individual who owned a Hummer vehicle, which was used to transport cement, water, tools and other items up to the cross site,” said Arguello.

The dirt road to the cross site is very rough and cannot be traveled by regular vehicles, but the project continued. In four weeks Garrick and the people assisting him poured 7,600 pounds of cement at the base of the cross and put in new cement anchors for three of the cross’ retaining cables, which were loose.

“After the cement dried, they then tightened all four cross cables and then a week later painted the cross. All of this work was done in cold weather with a constant wind blowing at the cross site on Dominguez Hill,” said Arguello.

Garrick ran out of funds, but his father, Richard Garrick, “generously donated enough funds to finish the project,” said Arguello. “We also had another scout named Evan Shepherd install a raised letter tribute plaque at the cross site.” 

The tribute plaque details the history of the Dominguez Hill Cross and Fathers Escalante and Dominguez. It reads: “Dominguez Hill Cross, Dedicated May 1, 1981. Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Father Escalante Council 1136, Provo, Utah. Restored by Kenner M. Garrick October 31, 2015 Eagle Scout Project Scout Troop 865, Woodland Hills, Utah.”

Both Garrick and Shepherd are 14 years old and are expected to receive their Eagle Scout Award in the next few months.

“Kenner and the men and women who assisted with the project did an excellent job,” Arguello said. “Council 1136 and other Catholics in Utah County and elsewhere appreciate very much the restoration of this important Utah Catholic landmark. Members of the St. Francis of Assisi Youth Group also assisted with this project.”