Price City Peace Gardens and the Hiawatha Doughboy

Taken from memories of the members of American Legion Post 3 and JacobBarlow.com’s post. Please visit his site for more details.

The World War I Doughboy statue was originally erected in Hiawatha, Utah, by the Henry Holdsworth Post # 15 of the American Legion in May 1922 to honor five men from Hiawatha who died in World War I. In June 1948, eight names were added for those killed in World War II.

As production at the Hiawatha Coal Mine declined and residents moved away, American Legion Post 3 became concerned for the future of the Doughboy, which was falling into disrepair. Post Commander Mario DiCaro and Post “old timers,” spearheaded by former Post Commanders Jack Koby, Albert DiCaro, and Art Leonard, and members Clark Warren, Lee Christensen, Stirling Wilson, Ted Thomas (WWI), advocated to Price City Council Mayor Lou Colosomo and the Hiawatha Town Board to relocate the statue to Price. In 1989, Post 3 obtained approval to have the statue installed. Post 3 donated the funds for renowned Carbon County sculptor Gary Prazen to restore the statue. It was installed on the corner of 500 West and Main Street in 1991.

Jack Coby Mario, Clark Warren presented the idea of a Peace Garden through Post fund raisers and donations from the community and the city. Sold bricks. Kiawanas Club donated the plaques.

Former Post Commander and retired Carbon High School teacher Jack (Coach) Koby and other Post members, then, seeing the Doughboy sitting on a barren dirt lot, and wanting to make sure the space remained a special place for the community, advocated the vision of a Peace Garden to be a gathering and memorial space to honor veterans and others who sacrificed for the community. They presented their vision to Mayor Kolosomo and the Price City Council. Their dream was made a reality four years later, in 1994, with the Doughboy sharing this sacred space with memorials sponsored by the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) honoring those who gave their lives in the mining industry and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints memorial to the Mormon pioneers who settled Carbon County.

While the Legion played a major role in fund raising and planning, this became a community effort involving businesses, community organizations, and individuals. The plaque listing those involved can be seen in the image gallery below. Notable among these were Mayors Lou Colosomo and Joe Piccolo, the Price City Council, the Hiawatha Town Council, American Legion Post 3, the Kiawanas, and The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.