It Happened Here--A Blog About NewYork State Historical Markers

                           

                                  They stand in rolling grassy battlefields.

 and on the manicured lawns of historic houses, 



 




                            and in modest places of honor on village greens; 

 




 They also stand ignored on weedy toepaths,

rusting on the overgrown margins of a farmer's field,                                                                 





                                         








and knocked askew from the assaults of snowplows and errant automobiles, along empty stretches of New York's highways. 


                                                                                                               
 They are the blue and yellow cast iron markers of New York State Historical Markers*.

Welcome to It Happened Here—A Blog about New York State's Historical Markers. While every state in the union has historical markers to point out historic events and places in their states, New York has an extensive collection of perhaps 3000 free standing cast iron and cast aluminum markers. The first New York State Historic Markers (NYSHM's) were produced in 1926 to commemorate the bicentennial of George Washington's birth. They were greeted with such enthusiasm by the public that the State Legislature decided to continue the program under the auspices of the NYS Department of Education, with a large release of markers occurring in 1932 and 1933. Local governments with the help of local historical and civic societies were asked to make proposals for specific markers. Hundreds were produced through the 1930's. Production dropped off at the end of the decade and virtually ceased during the War years. In 1944 the Legislature decided to eliminate funding for the highway  marker program explaining that the nature of automobile travel had changed. Cars were now simply going too fast for drivers to read the roadside signs. Legislators expressed fears that the signs might even become traffic hazards, tempting drivers to stop or slow down to read them. At the same time, the Department of Education encouraged local governments and civic organizations themselves, to continue to produce historical markers for local parks and public spaces, suggesting they should develop their own formats to distinguish their signs from the State markers.

Town, village, city and county governments responded as did local and county historical societies, and civic organizations. Ad hoc groups. and commissions formed to commemorate a specific event realized the creation and dedication of an historical marker was an attractive activity that could get the public involved. Companies, families, foundations and individuals created their own markers. Over 500 local governments, groups and individuals would sponsor NYSHM's. 

Though the State Education department was highly successful in encouraging the continued creation of historic markers, they were less successful encouraging groups to create their own formats. By now the cruciform shape, with its blue background, yellow block letters and state silhouette perched atop it were nearly universally accepted as the format for an historical sign in New York. Just as important, the two or three casting companies, that produced these signs, could make ones to state specifications, for much less money than it would cost to produce a new design. By changing only the sponsor section of the sign from
 “State Education Department 1949” to “Town of _____ Erected 1949” local agencies could honor the “letter” of the Education Department's request, if not the “spirit” of its request. Only Erie County and the City of Buffalo would produce distinctly different signs in any quantity, though a few sponsors adopted formats used in other states, and offered by other companies.

 

Another way of differentiating local signs from state signs was by use of a different color scheme*. A lighter blue with white letters is popular; so is green and white; Monroe County and the Town of Ithaca use red and white.

Some local governments would use their seal in place of the state silhouette. Other groups would use a symbol significant to them. Over time, some casting companies would offer modified versions of the “State” NYSHM's. A rectangular version of the standard cruciform shape, with a pointed cap became popular and design changes were offered to strengthen the signs where they attached to their poles. (The original state markers showed a distressing tendency to snap off when struck by an automobile.)
 

Next Week: In honor of President's Week, this Month,  It Happened Here – A Blog about New York State's Historic Markers challenges you to identify the President, or Presidential-hopeful that is the subject of an NYSHM, and its location. (You may be surprised how many presidents have connections to the Empire State.) And The Marker of the Week.