Historical Markers Thread

[MattTuck]

I thought we had done this before, but I can't find the old thread (if there was one) -- so I'll go ahead and start a new one.

I like those roadside plaques/signs that give historical details. Over the next couple weeks, think about some rides that go by interesting historical markers and take a picture of them to post in this thread, with a link to the actual location (google maps would be good).

What got me thinking about this was a carved rock in my hometown, which I visited this weekend, and rode past:

From my hometown of Groton, MA. The story of the Longley Family that was raided by Indians, the parents and some children being murdered and some being kidnapped, and ransomed.

More information can be found here. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydia_Longley)

Google Maps Link (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Longley+Rd,+Groton,+MA+01450/@42.6294315,-71.5661146,118m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89e3bf633e1d57db:0x31665 f5bc4c98c13!8m2!3d42.6385773!4d-71.5682293)

[Mark McM]

If I stopped to take a picture of historic marker as I rode by, I'd never get anywhere. Living in Concord, MA, there's plenty of historic markers in my town plus all the surrounding towns, covering everything from the Colonial period, the Revolutionary War period, and the early Industrial Revolution period. I could easily ride by 2 dozen of them on any given ride.

Not to mention that there are a few markers for "fake" historical events, such as the Westford Knight statue in Groton, which marks the grave of a 14th century Scottish knight that died on a visit to the 13th century (NOT), and the Norumbega Tower in Weston, which marks the location that the Viking Leif Eriksson established the settlement of Vinland (also NOT).


This isn't my photo, but one of my favorite obscure historical markings is a statue of the little lamb on the Sterling, MA, town common, commemorating Mary Elizabeth Sawyer, who reputedly brought a little lamb to school one day, and inspired the famous children's poem, "Mary had a little lamb".

http://legendsrevealed.com/entertainment/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/3385599715_4e07f611e2.jpg

[Jgrooms]

Continuing the Native American theme, here is a sanitized marker referencing the 1825 Indian Removal Act. Often forced, illegal & sometimes genocidal the portrayal on historical markers of this sad long chapter of North America is a story unto itself.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170814/47e8fa7c8fd225f3917b85a3b4a1c967.png

9900 Shawnee Mission Pkwy
Shawnee, KS 66203
United States

https://www.kshs.org/shawnee_indian




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[Cicli]

Red Gate Woods marker. Sort of cool. You can mountain bike all around it.
It had been defaced through the years but you get the idea.

[bobswire]

On the corner of Mission and Harrington streets San Francisco.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4440/36177407000_92996fa236_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/X7SEGy)IMG_0285 (https://flic.kr/p/X7SEGy) by bobswire (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bobswire/), on Flickr

[Bruce K]

Yup, living in New England they are everywhere.

Here in Gloucester, MA we have a bunch, including the big one on the boulder at the cross venue.

But we also have Dogtown, where you can find over 2 dozen boulders carved with inspirational (one word) messages.

BK

[choke]

This is a few miles east of Worland, WY.

[weisan]

http://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1697866323&stc=1&d=1377561013

[Birddog]

There are several Historical Markers along the Katy trail in Missouri where it parallels the Missouri River marking the route of Lewis and Clark. It was perhaps more meaningful to me as I had read "Undaunted Courage" before riding the trail and taking in the sights. The part of the trail along the river runs for about 160 miles from Machens to Boonville, though most people start or finish in St Charles.

[oliver1850]

Nice thread Matt. I've posted several markers in the past, there are lots of them around here. If you look closely near the top of the columns at the corners of the bridge you can see the stacks of cast iron counterweights. The chains are attached to the deck of the bridge at each corner, go over the pulleys and are hooked to the stacks of counterweights. Bridge was lifted with a hand crank via the rack and pinion on each column. This bridge is one of the few original bridges on the 100 mile canal that can still be crossed in a car. I remember wood decked girder bridges crossing the canal nearly every mile, but I don't think any of them are still open to traffic and most are long gone - replaced by big culverts. Colorado II courtesy of bicycletricycle, wheels from LouDeeter.

[MattTuck]

That bridge is impressive. Just so some farmers could get to their land... think of the cost of making that contraption!

I enjoy these little "footnotes to history".

[seanile]

came across this one in north-central montana during my cross country trip.
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/546301_414412638622619_896988984_n.jpg?oh=908cde8b 16620a23ff167761e23b4435&oe=5A1E897E

[Idris Icabod]

This lives in the village that I grew up in the UK. My family still lives there. It was placed there in 938 AD, so is almost 1,100 years old. It was a large column with a cross on it but was broken around 1550 after Henry VIII sought to remove the power of the church during the Reformation.

"In medieval times justice was often dispensed quickly at the hands of the mob, or by family vengeance. Refuge for people on the run could be found in a few large churches that offered the privilege of sanctuary"

http://walkington-life.co.uk/home/the-walkington-sanctuary-stone/

[Mark McM]

Henry David Thoreau wrote an important essay entitled, ""Resistance to Civil Government ([URL="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Disobedience_(Thoreau))" (later re-titled "Civil Disobedience"), about people's duty not to acquiesce to injustices committed by their governments. Later civil rights leaders, including Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., cited this essay as very influential on their thoughts and actions.

A plaque in Monument square in Concord, MA marks the location of an event that played a large role in his essay. I go by this plaque frequently.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/Thoreau_in_jail_plaque_-_Concord%2C_MA_-_IMG_1053.JPG/800px-Thoreau_in_jail_plaque_-_Concord%2C_MA_-_IMG_1053.JPG

[oliver1850]

That bridge is impressive. Just so some farmers could get to their land... think of the cost of making that contraption!

I enjoy these little "footnotes to history".

It would be interesting to know what the law required for access to private land circa 1900. In IL you can't be landlocked from your land, but I'm not sure anyone (the state) is required to build a bridge so that you can access it.

[Louis]

Taken last year when I was out on a moto ride.

The marker was placed by the St Louis Cycling Club, so that should make up for the lack of a pedal-bike. I live about a 35 minute bike ride from this spot:

[SlowPokePete]

Old Albany Post Road, Putnam County, NY.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4396/36584538535_002165e9d2_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/XJRjHM)August 15, 2017 Old Albany Post Road Marker (https://flic.kr/p/XJRjHM) by SlowPoke Pete (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156678813@N02/), on Flickr

SPP

[William]

Beautiful ride day...

[William]

Another hint... :)

[cderalow]

since some of my rides take me through/past civil war era battlefields and into and around dc.. there's historical markers almost everywhere.

cd

[Mark McM]

Here in Eastern Massachusetts, we even have historical markers for fruit.


This stone marks where the Concord Grape was created by Ephraim Wales Bull in Concord, MA:

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/786238.jpg




And this monument marks the spot in Wilmington, MA, that the first Baldwin Apple tree grew:

http://img.groundspeak.com/waymarking/large/b8496cbc-d0c8-43ea-be31-8352bd214f19.jpg

[gdw]

This one was on one of the routes I used to ride in Southern Maine. Old Bet was one of the first elephants brought into the US.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Bet#/media/File%3AOldBetSlayingMarker.jpg

[572cv]

Given that MT started the thread, this one is kind of interesting.... It is to be found in the town park on Rt 302 in Twin Mountain NH. It is really old and points southerly towards Bethlehem, Littleton, and on down the Connecticut River valley. I didn't know the college was a landmark so far up north.

[steamer]

Deleted to protect the innocent.

[Louis]

Given that MT started the thread, this one is kind of interesting.... It is to be found in the town park on Rt 302 in Twin Mountain NH. It is really old and points southerly towards Bethlehem, Littleton, and on down the Connecticut River valley. I didn't know the college was a landmark so far up north.

Though 'round the girdled earth they roam...

[verbs4us]

Great thread for those of us who worry about thems who forget history and are doomed to repeat its errors. Here is my favorite (and a nod to the Jerry Garcia marker): one of three alleged grave sites for Robert Johnson, near Greenwood, Miss. Most historians agree this is the most likely site where he is buried. We left guitar picks and some whiskey.

[Tony T]

Woodstock's final day was 48 years ago yesterday:

http://peacelovewoodstock.weebly.com/uploads/2/9/3/8/29388117/402469.jpg?486

(I did not ride to Bethel, been there for a concert a few years ago, but now I feel compelled to do a ride to the marker :))

[jruhlen1980]

Brooklyn -- a settlement just south of Lawrence, Kansas, that was destroyed by a domestic terrorist group in 1863.

1697944633

[oliver1850]

I've ridden through Cherry lots of times. Seeing the mounds left from the mines on the flat prairie is always a reminder of what happened there. Usually ride by the cemetery on my way out of town. Images here:

https://graveyards.com/Illinois/Bureau/Miners-Memorial-Cemetery-Cherry

[Jgrooms]

Brooklyn -- a settlement just south of Lawrence, Kansas, that was destroyed by a domestic terrorist group in 1863.



1697944633



Just a bunch of "fine people" coming by to say hello.


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[Jgrooms]

Brooklyn -- a settlement just south of Lawrence, Kansas, that was destroyed by a domestic terrorist group in 1863.



1697944633



Jon I have your answer to Brooklyn.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170820/939bd2a40e6260cb020495a8cd562ce2.jpg

https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2011/spring/brown.html

John Brown State Park-

http://www.osawatomieks.org/index.aspx?NID=127


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[jruhlen1980]

Jon I have your answer to Brooklyn.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170820/939bd2a40e6260cb020495a8cd562ce2.jpg

https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2011/spring/brown.html

John Brown State Park-

http://www.osawatomieks.org/index.aspx?NID=127


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Awesome. I need to ride down that way one of these days, that would make for a nice epic day in the saddle.

[earlfoss]

Here's a few from my area:
https://s28.postimg.org/ec0aaswrh/Full_Size_Render.jpg
https://s28.postimg.org/3zdzoq38d/Full_Size_Render_1.jpg
https://s28.postimg.org/t6ovoz6cd/Full_Size_Render_2.jpg

[572cv]

This historic marker is at the bottom of the auto road to the top of Mt Prospect. The road is 1.5 miles, is paved, usually somewhat rough, but a climb of about 700 ft in that distance. It is a wonderful little stretch to ride, and the view at the top is fantastic, from the porch of the original lodge, or from the tower, or the grounds. The Weeks Act created our National Forests, serving as one of the first pieces of national conservation legislation. The insight here was that protection of forests protected the headwaters of navigable streams and rivers from erosion (to pass it, JWW, Congressman, brought in actual scientists to testify- another first!). In so doing he made it a national security issue and an interstate commerce issue. That got the votes, and the signature of the President. Disclaimer: John Weeks was my great grandfather.

[djg21]

It’s hard not to pass at least one on a ride near me, but this monument is my favorite. It memorializes the injured leg of Benedict Arnold, who was a hero of the Battle of Saratoga. I like the fact that the decision was made not to identify Arnold by name in light of his subsequent treachery. Now we need a nameless monument to bone spurs.

[Tony T]

I pass this almost every day, decided to stop and read the plaque today:

[JasonF]

I pass this almost every day, decided to stop and read the plaque today:

Tony, where is this monument located? I grew up in Danbury.

[Tony T]

This monument is located by Compo Beach in Westport.

[MattTuck]

I passed this on yesterday's group ride, but didn't have time to stop and take a new picture... so here's an older picture of it.

Location (https://www.google.com/maps/place/White+River+Junction,+Hartford,+VT/@43.681747,-72.3948976,464m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x4cb4cb9cfdff35bd:0xe4603 79aa54a2b52!8m2!3d43.6489596!4d-72.3192579)

[MattTuck]

This historic marker is at the bottom of the auto road to the top of Mt Prospect. The road is 1.5 miles, is paved, usually somewhat rough, but a climb of about 700 ft in that distance. It is a wonderful little stretch to ride, and the view at the top is fantastic, from the porch of the original lodge, or from the tower, or the grounds. The Weeks Act created our National Forests, serving as one of the first pieces of national conservation legislation. The insight here was that protection of forests protected the headwaters of navigable streams and rivers from erosion (to pass it, JWW, Congressman, brought in actual scientists to testify- another first!). In so doing he made it a national security issue and an interstate commerce issue. That got the votes, and the signature of the President. Disclaimer: John Weeks was my great grandfather.

That is a cool story, and neat family connection.

Could you post the location or a strava segment of that auto road? I'd like to check it out the next time I'm in that area.

[572cv]

It's on Rt 3 heading south from Lancaster. The picture google uses on the upper left is the lodge at the summit:

[rwsaunders]

http://i.imgur.com/UKEfagvh.jpg

Old bike near an old railroad marker somewhere near Oberlin, Ohio.

[2metalhips]

221 miles to B_____?

[MattTuck]

221 miles to B_____?

Buffalo, would be my guess. But, just a guess.

[rwsaunders]

Buffalo, would be my guess. But, just a guess.

Your guess is dead on as the rail line was originally part of the Cleveland and Toledo Railroad which ran from Millbury Junction, Ohio to Elyria, Ohio. Eventually they merged into the New York Central Railroad and the distance from Oberlin, Ohio to Buffalo, New York is...221 miles.

http://www.abandonedrails.com/Elyria_to_Millbury_Junction

http://www.schenectadyhistory.org/resources/mvgw/maps/new_york_central_railroad_map-300.jpg

[Fatty]

Red Gate Woods marker. Sort of cool. You can mountain bike all around it.
It had been defaced through the years but you get the idea.

My mountain bike stomping grounds. On an average day about a forty minute no cars involved ride to get to that exact spot. Hurrah for nuclear waste. Otherwise the area would have been developed long ago.

[Jgrooms]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170901/d789ac7e6bf547046283c0d88df24499.jpg

Liberty Memorial in KCMO. Also the premier wwi museum.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_World_War_I_Museum_and_Memorial




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[Louis]

Liberty Memorial in KCMO. Also the premier wwi museum.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_World_War_I_Museum_and_Memorial

A very cool complex. I visited it a while back with my mother and sister and they both thought it was great.

[MattTuck]

Here's another one, for the defunct local sect of the Shakers... Who could have predicted that celibacy would snuff out your burgeoning spiritual Utopia. :banana:

Although that sign doesn't say it, I read another sign that indicated this was the tallest building North of Boston when it was built.

Edit: Here's the location in case anyone is interested in visiting... Link (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Enfield+Shaker+Museum/@43.6205893,-72.1485352,17.38z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x4d6e6124c65d20cb!8m2!3d43.62 00842!4d-72.1461975)

[fkelly]

http://fkelly.org/drupal8/sites/default/files/jboxgalleries/housepetstrips/images/tomdula.jpg

Along the Blue Ridge, where the song came from ...

[Mark McM]

Just the other weekend I rode past the former home of the original Uncle Sam, in Mason, New Hampshire:

http://assets.atlasobscura.com/media/W1siZiIsInVwbG9hZHMvcGxhY2VfaW1hZ2VzLzllODRiZDk4Nm Y0MTVjZDNiM19VU0hvdXNlLmpwZyJdLFsicCIsInRodW1iIiwi eDM5MD4iXSxbInAiLCJjb252ZXJ0IiwiLXF1YWxpdHkgODEgLW F1dG8tb3JpZW50Il1d

[2metalhips]

Here's another one, for the defunct local sect of the Shakers... Who could have predicted that celibacy would snuff out your burgeoning spiritual Utopia. :banana:

Although that sign doesn't say it, I read another sign that indicated this was the tallest building North of Boston when it was built.

Edit: Here's the location in case anyone is interested in visiting... Link (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Enfield+Shaker+Museum/@43.6205893,-72.1485352,17.38z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x4d6e6124c65d20cb!8m2!3d43.62 00842!4d-72.1461975)

Northern Rail Trail is on the other side of that Mascoma Lake. Nice ride, 60 miles of gravel.

[rustychisel]

A few weeks ago I was here, playing with the world's largest model tank kit.

It's a Tiger 1 Ausf E, if anyone is interested, just outside Vimoutiers, Calvados. August 1944.

https://i.imgur.com/D9z33Hb.jpg

[MattTuck]

Northern Rail Trail is on the other side of that Mascoma Lake. Nice ride, 60 miles of gravel.

Yep, this is my usual recovery ride. Basically from Lebanon up to Enfield and back.