History of Our Dough Boy

"Doughboy"is an informal term for a member of the United States Army or Marine Corps. Today it is especially used to refer to members of the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I. (A popular mass-produced sculpture of the 1920s, the Spirit of the American Doughboy,   
Courtesy of Wikipedia 



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The following comes from History of Mt. Pleasant.

World War

When the United States entered the World War, the people of Mt. Pleasant loyally responded to every call, and made a record of which it may well be proud. One hundred and eighteen boys enlisted from Mt. Pleasant, and a number of Mt. Pleasant's sons enlisted from other communities. As the boys, one by one or in groups, boarded the train, great crowds, although sad at heart, cheered them as they left for the front. Three of the number died in service. Ralph Braby, while in California, was drowned, Jacob Hafen died of disease, and Henry Merville Zabriskie was killed in action, over seas.

The Sanpete County Council of Defense was organized as follows: J. W. Cherry, chairman; Burke McArthur, secretary; Ed. Johnston, treasurer; Committee chairmen, Finance, N. S. Niel­sen; Publicity, ,Burke McArthur; Legal, J. W. Cherry; Sanitation and Medicine, Ed. Johnston; Food supply and conservation, L. R. Anderson; Industrial survey, Orlando Bradley; Labor, Christian Willardsen; Military affairs, J. Morgan Johnson; State protection, H. R. Thomas; Survey of man power, L. P. Brady; Woman's work, Mrs. G. W. Martin.

In June 1918, there were deposited in the Mt. Pleasant Com­mercial and Savings Bank, by Mr. N. S. Nielsen, county chairman of finance, to the credit of W. G. McAdoo, treasurer of the Nation­al American Red Cross, seven thousand five hundred dollars.



The citizens went over the top in the various other drives conducted. Liberty bonds, postal savings, Soldier's Welfare Re­lief, Christmas boxes, tobacco, conservation of food, etc.

Local committees were organized, among them the local Red Cross. The officers of this organization visited the neighboring cities, Fairview, Fountain Green, Moroni, Wales, Chester and Spring City, and in cooperation with them, purchased material and sewed articles called for. There were checked out something over $3.000, which had been obtained by weekly canvasses made by wo­men and girls, and by other volunteer donations other than the National drives. Mt. Pleasant headquarters were established at about 122 West Main, where the women, some representing differ­ent organizations, met and did sewing, etc., required. Many ship­ments of goods were made. The officers at this time were: C. L. Johns, president; Mrs. Grace Madsen and Miss Irene Nielsen, vice presidents; Miss Hilda Madsen, secretary and treasurer.



Mt. Pleasant History (1939) pp 199-200 by Hilda Madsen Longsdorf

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The original location of the Dough Boy was right in the center of the intersection of State Street and Main Street.

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 Honoring all soldiers in all wars .

"To Honor Those Who Left Our Midst To Fight For Freedom" 

In 2008 the "old armory" now recreation center  was given the artist touch with Soldiers from all wars painted on the south exterior wall. 

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"Old Armory" now Recreation Center, Honors Mt. Pleasant Soldiers

The "old armory", now Recreation Center, located on the north east corner of the intersection of State Street and Main was given special treatment by a couple of local artists last summer. Soldiers were painted on the outside walls in a very realistic 3-D effect that actually looks like they have been carved into the exterior wall. On the inside of the building, in the foyer area, the names of all the veterans of Mt. Pleasant are displayed from the Blackhawk War to the present day. Then all along the bottom wall of the building are faux stones which look very realistic and add so much to the aesthetics of the old building.

The Doughboy that once stood in the middle of the intersection, had lost his rifle. Rather, the rifle had been stolen. Now it has been replaced. A number of years ago, the Doughboy was moved to the corner to avoid traffic problems.

A lot of hours were put into the project and a lot of dollars to honor our Mt. Pleasant Veterans.



The grounds around the building have been re landscaped. In 1991 the Daughters of Utah Pioneers placed this marker to mark this corner as the location where the Old Mt. Pleasant Fort once stood. All improvements make for a very nice addition to our city.