It Happened Here -- A Marker was Erected...

Everyone pretty much knows what  New York State Historical Markers are. They are (1)free standing, (2) cast iron or cast aluminum signs, (3) cruciform--twelve sided cross-shape [see a] (or 10 sided if you allow for the rectangular ones with a pointed top [see d] ), (4) painted blue and yellow, (5) with raised letters,  (6)produced/funded by the State government, or one of its agencies, that (7) locate or describe an historical event, person or place.

a

b

c

d

                                                                         

Except that--

--a few are mounted on the side of buildings or are cemented in boulders, or walls;

--are made are made of enameled steel, or even wood;

--they come in several other shapes, (an arched top with supporting pillars is popular);

--they are painted green and white (Guilderland, Jefferson Co,), red and white (Monroe Co., Hague), brown and yellow

(NY Conservation Dept.,Town of Mayfield), brown and white, blue and white, blue and white w/ red border ( village of Aurora) and other combinations;

--they are produce/funded by over 700 organizations including local governments. local historical societies and associations, committees formed to celebrate the U.S. bicentennial, local bicentennials, sesquicentennials, centennials, and a tricentennial (Albany), civic organizations, ad-hoc citizen groups, private individuals and families, churches, businesses and special interest groups;

--they sometimes have as subjects a geological feature, or a commercial enterprises or are privately created signs to make a political statement.

Along with writing this blog, over the last two years I've taken on a task of recording the
"NYSHMs" that are currently in the state.  (Large numbers have been destroyed or removed
over time and new ones continue to be placed.) I have relied predominantly on four websites,
the Historical Marker Data Base, New York Historical Markers--A Waymarking.Com Category,  Flickr--New York Historical Markers Group and William G. Pomeroy Foundation -- Historic Roadside Markers. I have published  on the Flickr site pictures of  Markers that I have personally found or rediscovered. To date I have recorded 3588 markers.

Because there is so much variability in NYSHMs I have set my parameters to include any signs that
meet at least three of the criteria I mentioned in the first paragraph.  I also excluded the large "Thruway rest area" type signs, known as State Historical Area Markers from my ongoing work simply because they are well documented in several places and are pretty much self explanatory. Similarly I have excluded the fiberglass signs and kiosks that often employ extensive text, pictures and graphics, again, because they generally don't require much additional explanation.  Finally, falling outside my study interest would be most commercial signs, brass or other plaques or signs, and inscribed public or cemetery monuments.

In commemoration of the Sesquicentennial of the American Revolution,  The New York State Education Department began funding in 1926 a series of signs bearing the inscription "New York State Historical Marker," [see a] I have recorded 59 of these, dated 1927 (31) 1928 (14) and 1929 (9).
Additionally, on several (5) of this type sign the dates could not be read because the signs had been snapped off and welding repairs or repair brackets obscured the dates.

The popularity of these markers led the legislature to authorize a second marker program beginning in 1932, with the "State Education Dept." identified as the sponsor [see b].  A whopping 624 markers were dated 1932, but then the Great Depression hit the following year.  My records show only 4 dated in 1933 and none in 1934; but then as W.P.A. and other economic stimulus monies became available the numbers surged with 277 in 1935, and over 100 in 1936 and 1938.  With the approach of war, the numbers dropped off to 9 in 1941; then none were produced again until  1947.

 From 1945, into the early 1960's a few local towns and villages, veterans groups and private organizations sponsored individual "state style" historic markers. Starting in 1959, Monroe County was the first local government to create their own historic markers, with a distinctive emblem, the Monroe County Courthouse, and red letters on a white background. They produced 21 markers  between 1959 and 1962, and a total of 49 reported markers.  Following Monroe County's lead an increasingly diverse group of public and private organizations began to commission signs.

 The State Ed. Department encouraged local agencies and groups to create their own distinctive designs but most continued to use the State Ed format and colors. There was a considerable financial incentive for them continue the state format. The one or two companies that produced the signs could offer markers for substantially less if existing molds and matrices were used. (see c)

The next spike in marker creation activity occurred during the American Bicentennial.  Counties, towns and villages were encouraged to plan their own bicentennial activities and many chose to design and dedicate historic markers in their areas as part of their celebrations. At least 24 local "Bicentennial Committees" or "Commissions" were formed which produced markers, although in some cases it is not clear whether they where formed to celebrate the American Bicentennial or their local government's bicentennial. The Schoharie Bicentennial Commission's markers, for example, all date from 1995, the two hundredth anniversary of the creation of Schoharie County. The Genessee Bicentennial Commission's markers date from 2003.  To complicate matters further, in 1989 local governments were encouraged to celebrate the bicentennial of the United States Constitution.  At least two commissions created signs for members of the convention that ratified the Constitution in  New York.  In 1975,1976 and 1977  44, 84 and 20 signs were created.

The late 1970's and early 1980's saw a waning of interest in marker creation, as the number of new markers dipped to single digits at the end of the 70's.

 From 1984 through end of the decade yearly numbers increased, with 1986 reaching a high of 33 signs created as towns in the middle of the state celebrated their bicentennials and as a wide variety of groups began to sponsor signs.  1985, with 22 signs is typical.  The NY departments of Education and Conservation both produced 1 sign; Towns and one village produced 9 signs; Bicentennial/ Sesquicentennial  Committees produced 2 signs; an historical society produced 1 sign; two Rotary Clubs each produced one sign and 2 families were each responsible for a sign.

Most of the 1990's resembled the 1980's with a low of 5 signs produced in 1991, and a high of 34 in 1995; then in 1998, New York Governor George Pataki called for localities to submit the names of famous local women to be considered for historic markers. I have come across 26 of these Pataki commission signs, but have not found the complete list.  The Pataki initiative seems to have created new interest, in that the  number of signs created from 1998 to 2008 jumped to an average of 33.6 signs per year.

In the last six years the William G. Pomeroy Foundation has been making grants for organizations in New York State to purchase markers.  To date, they have produced 182 signs, including a series of signs for building listed on the National Historic Register. In the last two years, 52 and 62 new markers have been erected in New York.

Next Week--"A Marker was Erected..." continues with a discussion of the the roles of local governments, historical societies, civic organizations, businesses, special interest groups, families
and individuals producing markers, and the Marker of the Week returns. (Where, oh where have you been, these many weeks!)