Making the Most of a Change of Plans: A Historical Marker in the Cold, Cold, Cold

SATURDAY, APRIL 22

I had planned to be in DeKalb and attend the NIU Huskies Spring Football game and spend the night, but the weather sure didn't cooperate.  It was 30 to 35 degrees with a blustery wind blowing the cold right into you.  We also had alternating rain/sleet and even snow.  Complete yuck.  

I was glad I decided to change my plans.  Sitting out in those open flat fields around DeKalb in the cold is just not a good idea.

Worked on blogs and listened to the radio.

At 11:10 am, I drove over to Fox Lake to be at the dedication of a new historical marker (or History on a Stick as some call it).  I had been told it was going to be at the Fox Lake shopping plaza and along Grand Avenue, but didn't see anything there.  Drove through the plaza and saw a group of people freezing out by the gazebo in Millennium Park on Rollins Road and drove over to check them out.

They were the ones dedicating the marker and there was also something going on for Earth Day as well.  They were getting ready to walk over to the marker, but I decided to drive back to it.  It was seriously miserable weather as forecast.

Waited in the nice warm car until they came then ventured outside and immeduately wished I had worn warmer clothes.  That was serious cold being blown onto us by a brisk wind.

--RoadFroze

Oh! Those Texas History on a Sticks-- Part 3: The Marker Process

In case you're living in Texas and thinking about how to go about getting one of these markers.

The applicant researches, writes the history, gathers maps and photos with 5 to 50 pages of documentation. This will be submitted to a county historical commission for review and approval. from there it goes to the Texas Historical Commission for review.

If they approve it, the applicant pays $1000 for the marker and the commission boils it down to a short inscription.

All 254 Texas counties (I didn't know they had that many, big state I reckon) have markers.

Travis County has the most with 470. Little Loving County has a dozen, or roughly one for every 69 residents.

Wonder What the Procedure Is Here in Illinois? --RoadDog

Oh! Those Texas History on a Sticks-- Part 2

Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Texas historical markers.

And then there are massacre markers.

1838 KILLOUGH MASSACRE-- in East Texas. Eighteen settlers killed or carried away by Mexicans and Indians.

1840 COMANCHE VILLAGE MASSACRE-- 128 Indians killed by 90 citizen volunteers.

1839 WEBSTER MASSACRE-- Near Leander, where Comanches wiped out 30 settlers.

Other markers commemorate outlaws, hellraisers and lawmen.

Of the markers, there are 2,139 for churches and 2,174 at cemeteries. These are the two largest groups of markers.

What's That Up Ahead. --RoadDog

Oh, Those Texas History on a Sticks-- Part 1

From the Feb. 24th Fort Worth (Tx) Star-Telegram "Historical markers tell tale of Texas" by Steve Campbell.

Dan Frazier remembers his father stopping for historical markers when the family was driving along Texas roads. This year, these markers are eligible for their own marker. This year marks the 50th that the Texas Historical Commission has been placing the markers out there on the roads. Right now, there are 15,740 out there and counting.

Back when the program started in 1962, there were only a few thousand markers, mostly in cemeteries.

Right now, Texas has more markers than any other state. Each one gives a history in three hundred words or less. Of course, the big stuff gets a marker, but, not always.

For example, there is one for Baby Head Cemetery along Texas Highway 16, north of Llano. It was named by locals back in the 1850s after a small child was killed by Indians and its remains left on a mountain.

Then there are several markers devoted to local hanging trees.

More to Come. --RoadDog

History on a Stick in North Carolina

I just love that description of those historical markers that you see as you drive down the road. I don't know about you, but I generally make an effort to pull over and read them. This makes the trip even more enjoyable in knowing things that happened at, or near the site.

They are sometimes called "History On A Stick."

I came across an article about North Carolina's Highway Historical Marker Program in the Star News On Line. It concerned markers in District D which consists of Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, and Pender counties. There are a total of 17 districts in the state. You will see the letter D at the top and a number signifying the date of placement.

Some of the Civil War Ds are D-58 near the home of William S. Ashe who was in charge of Confederate rail transportation during 1861-1862. Also, D-99 marks the place near the Northeast Cape Fear River where thousands of prisoners of war were exchanged in 1865. Both are on US-117.

One of particulat interest to me, since my mom has a condo at Topsail Beach, is D-104 on Topsail Island marking the existence of observation towers used during the development of the US missile program after WWII was over.

The markers are not always located right on the site because they are paid for and maintained by the state. As such, they can only be on state or US numbered roads.

"'History on a Stick' marks Pender's Past" by Chris Mudarri

Really "Stickin' " it to History. --RoadDog