About a year ago or so, I made an attempt in Pennsylvania to have a registered historical marker placed in my hometown for a Civil War veteran who lead an exceptional life. The paperwork was very extensive and I literally spent several months preparing it. Once submitted, I then waited several more months to receive a formal rejection. When I called and inquired why it had been rejected, it ended in a friendly argument because I told the woman I believed it was because I was an individual and didn't "know anyone" who carried clout. The silence on the phone after I told her that almost seemed like I had hit the nail on the head. Even if it had been accepted, there was still a price tag of over $1,700 that I would have had to raise.

I have since come to the conclusion tat it may be cheaper and easier for me to just have a similar marker made by a private manufacturer. Does anyone know of any companies around their area that I can contact for pricing? The picture below is of a randomly picked PA marker looks like and I am interested in having something similar made.

Thanks

Wow never realized it could be that complicated. I live in the southern Adirondacks of NYS and in this area there are dozens of those. We have things about the French& Indian war, the Revolution and literally dozens about the civil war.. Many other markers about civilian people also and some historic business.

It tends to make a good tourist draw. How they get there or who pays I do not have a clue, but I believe the state covers quite a bit of the cost.

Good luck on your quest!

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

Hey Reb,when your ready for a fund-raiser? please let me know and ill send what I can afford--and can also possibly try to help raise some funds here in town. Souds tome liek the powers-that-be--are just trying to stall long enough to make you frustrated and give up.

I want to do something permanent here--dealing with that small out of the way cemetary--that has three Confederate soldiers and one--Spanish-American War vet--buried there.

Is this who you contacted?

Pennsylvania Historical Marker Program

I just saw a whole gaggle of manufactures after a Google search for "historical marker". If you have one made yourself you won't be able to have it installed on state or county property. They would probably remove it unless it is authorized.

Maybe look for someone in a local historical society and see if they will submit the application. Then if they feel it worthy they can gold the fund raiser to pay for it.

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Psalm 23:4

Here is one maker of metal plaques there are many. Bronze Plaques and Aluminum Plaques


Google search metal plaques
Bronze is probably very expensive, Aluminum not as bad
Good luck.
Steve W

Yes sir, they are the people that decide who gets one and who doesn't. I also realize a private marker won't be on the state's registry but............ Also, it won't be on state or federal property - it will either be on private property or on borough property. No historical society here. I've thought about talking to the VFW or American Legion to see if they have the oomph somewhere to help.

There should be a historical marker on the site where the first historical marker was made.

If it was historical to your area then I am sure that you will have no problem getting it approved. As long as you get the fees together.

Good Luck with it.

I wish that were true. I literally spent months preparing the paperwork and wrote a small book about the man's lifetime achievements. Sadly, it was all for naught as it comes down to the unspoken "who do you know" deal. Raising the money needed is not a problem at all. I'm still leaning towards a privately made plaque as I'm tired of the bureaucratic bull!

Thanks for the suggestions all!

One thing I would make sure was on the plaque was a notice it was funded by private collections with no funding by government or historical societies. It would cost more but I wouldn't want them to get any recognition for it to use as a fund raiser in the future.

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Psalm 23:4

I'm still leaning towards a privately made plaque as I'm tired of the bureaucratic bull!

Thanks for the suggestions all![/QUOTE]

Can you get permission to put it on private property?
Remember I posted the CSA monument for the battle of Valverde which is located on Ted Turner's Amadeus Ranch.
The battle was probably mostly fought on that ranch.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

I'm curious PaReb, who did you contact about placing the marker? PennDot? The local government? Did you approach your state rep or senator for help?
John

I'm also curious. Who is this guy and what did he do?
Is he locally controversial?

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Most of those were put there at a time when people cared about more than just themselves.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I went through the application process here > Pennsylvania Historical Marker Program .

If you have ever watched the movie "Gettysburg", Charles Henry Veil is depicted in the beginning as cradling the fallen General John Reynolds in his arms. Although that scene is "Hollywood fiction", Veil was with Reynolds and was in fact one of his aides. He is also the man responsible for "saving" Reynolds' body from CSA "capture" and getting him to a "safe" place within the town and then back to Lancaster, PA for burial. After that war, Veil went on to fight Indians out west (Arizona) in what is now a remarkable story which is told in the book "The Memoirs of Charles Henry Veil: A Soldier's Recollections of the Civil War and the Arizona Territory" by Herman J. Viola.

Veil's homestead is just down the road from my home but the original house was washed away in a severe flood in July of 1977. His direct ancestor who lives on the property now told me when I talked to her about all this before I applied that she owned a lot of his war time belongings like belt buckles, hats, etc. Sadly, these were all washed away in the flood. She barely escaped death herself that night while three people in the house next door were washed away and killed by the Colorado River like waters that went through there that night.