ST. GEORGE — Five days after the Bureau of Land Management updated signage in a Moab canyon to read “Grandstaff Trailhead” instead of “Negro Bill Canyon Trailhead,” the new signs were stolen.
Vandals reportedly stole two of the new signs from their steel posts sometime Wednesday night or Thursday morning, according to BLM officials. Both signs are valued at around $800.
Because of the cost of the stolen signs, the person or persons involved in the theft could potentially face felony charges, officials said.
The BLM installed the signs Saturday to the trailhead now known as Grandstaff Trailhead, along State Route 128 in the Colorado River corridor northeast of Moab.
Officials renamed the trailhead to honor William Grandstaff, a black cowboy – known as “Negro Bill” – who migrated from the American South in 1877, settled in the area and ran cattle in the canyon. The canyon’s name was changed to Negro Bill during the Civil Rights era.
As of late, the BLM has decided to use the name Grandstaff on its properties connected with Negro Bill Canyon – a name that had drawn controversy as some say it is offensive while others feel it preserves the memory of a historical figure.
Anyone with information about the crime or the location of the signs is asked to call the BLM at 435-259-2100.
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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.
See, this is why we can’t have nice things.
By the way, “Negro Bill”? Good grief. Cliven Bundy knows all about the knee-grows. How insulting.
“Negro Bill Canyon”. Hah! Didn’t Bill Clinton say he was the first “black president” of the USA?
I would suggest checking with the BLM, but they don’t inhabit any BLM land anywhere near here.
(sarcasim intended).
Perhaps Hillary would like it renamed “Colored Bill Canyon”, since she tells jokes about “Colored People’s Time”. (sarc)
when i visited it the locals called it “n***** bill canyon”. why not go one farther and change negro to “african american bill canyon”
What’s this country coming to when we can’t even protect our trailhead signs
Don’t worry Dumpster, you will be remebered too. Maybe a Pill Popper Gulch, or a Loser Internet Troll Valley are some accurate suggestions.
God bless you my fellow brethren
I’m sure it was some RealLowlife scumbag that did it
It’s my understanding that this gentleman was called ” n****r” bill by the locals. The name of the canyon gradually changed to Negro Bill Canyon. For many years, there have been people asking for the name to be changed because it was insensitive. I believe that the Utah chapter of the NAACP, at one time, approved of the name, Negro Bill canyon, for historical reasons.
By the way, it is a beautiful hike.
I just think it’s funny in a way that someone would steal a trailhead sign LOL !
Maybe change it to “Cracker Carl Canyon”
Well I’m sure in due time it will be changed to National Hatch Canyon. when he retires