Then & Now:
Historic Markers in Groton Date Back to 1926
By ROSEMARIE TUCKER, Groton Town Historian
Originally published October 1, 2005 in The Ithaca Journal

(Historical marker on prominent Groton native, Sylvester Pennoyer, with a quaint typographical error.)

The New York State Historic marker program was begun in 1926 to commemorate historic sites as a celebration of the Sesquicentennial of the American Revolution. It was a temporary program that was funded only until 1939. More than 2,800 bright blue and gold signs proclaim the significance of historic locations throughout New York State.
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Those markers erected as part of the 1926 program have a credit line at the bottom of the sign that reads “State Education Department” and usually an outline of New York State at the top center. These signs, but not the posts on which they are mounted, belong to New York's Department of Education. Although the markers can be temporarily removed for maintenance or repair, they cannot be disposed of without permission. If markers are missing or damaged, county, town and state highway agencies should be notified. There is a database of New York State Historical Markers on the New York State Museum's Web site:

http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/services/srvmarker

This State Museum database mentions eight historic markers in the Town of Groton: the Cummings Home on Salt Road, two early Congregational Churches (one on NYS Route 222 and one in West Groton), an early Baptist Church and the Elm Tree Inn (both in McLean), an old mill site at LaFayette corners, a favorite Indian hunting ground on NYS Route 38, and the birth site of a governor of Oregon, located on Cayuga Street. A marker at the corner of Old Peruville and Pleasant Valley Roads had been removed by a previous property owner, and the one that is supposed to be at LaFayette corners is missing. Of the ones that still exist, one has a name misspelled.

The marker located in the Village of Groton on Cayuga Street reads: “Slyvester Pennoyer, 1831-1902, Born here, Gov. of Oregon 1886-94, Mayor City of Portland, Oregon, 1896, owner and Editor Oregon Herald, 1868-71.”

Pennoyer was indeed born in this location and was mayor of Portland, Ore. and the governor of Oregon. He was also owner and editor of the Oregon Herald. The incorrect information is his first name. Pennoyer's first name was Sylvester, not Slyvester. The error was not discovered at the time the historic marker was made, and the sign has been in this location since then — with the incorrect spelling. Visit historicgroton.com to see photographs of the historic markers in Groton.

Other markers throughout the county can be and have been erected by other agencies, organizations and communities without the use of state funds. Such markers are and will be the property of the funding organization. If future markers are erected on state lands, such as highway rights-of-way, the state has some jurisdiction over them, but does not own them.

There is a process to follow to get permission from state, county or town and village highway departments, landowners and others to establish a marker. If your agency or organization is interested in having a marker placed to commemorate an historic location, contact your local historian to ensure that the information that is to be on the marker is accurate.