Markers to denote Oneonta historic sites

The Daily Star, Oneonta, N.Y.
·3 min read

May 23—The Greater Oneonta Historical Society, in partnership with the city of Oneonta, will unveil six New York State Historical Markers in the city this summer.

According to a GOHS news release, the William G. Pomeroy Foundation's New York State Historic Marker Grant Program funded the purchase of five new yellow and blue historical markers in Oneonta for the D&H Train Station (most recently Stella Luna Ristorante); the Oneonta Armory; the Huntington Home (Huntington Memorial Library and Park); Damaschke Field; and the Wilber Mansion (current home of CANO). With the help of the Future for Oneonta Foundation, GOHS has also individually funded a historical marker for the site of the Oneonta Ford Sales Building. "Each of these locations are a testament to Oneonta's history of innovation, evolution, and enduring sense of community," the release said.

According to the release, the Oneonta Armory marker "commemorates one of the city's premier architectural structures and station for the NYS National Guard since 1905." The marker at Damaschke Field "honors one of the oldest active ballparks in America and the home to Oneonta's minor league baseball teams." The D&H Train Station marker "commemorates over (70) years of passenger train service on the Delaware & Hudson train line." The marker at the Huntington Home "memorializes railroad executive Henry Huntington's donation of his family land to the city for a library and park in 1917." The Wilber Mansion marker "commemorates the erection of Wilber Bank President (1890 — 1922) George I. Wilber's home in 1875." The Oneonta Ford Sales marker "remembers the recently demolished historic building, the Oneonta Sales Company, that provided over 80 years of business to Oneonta (1923 — 1997)."

Throughout the summer, GOHS, the city and partners will hold public unveiling ceremonies for each marker. The Huntington Home, at the Huntington Memorial Library at 62 Chestnut Street, will be first, at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 5. Next, will be Damaschke Field at 15 James Georgeson Ave, at the beginning of the Oneonta Outlaws game at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 18. The marker at the D&H Train Station at 58-60 Market St., will be unveiled at 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 9. The next marker unveiling, for the Wilber Mansion at CANO, 11 Ford Ave., will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 23.

The marker unveiling for the former Oneonta Ford Sales Building at 27-33 Market St. will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7. Finally, the unveiling of the marker for the Oneonta Armory at 4 Academy Street will be held immediately prior to a historic Walking Tour of the Armory at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24.

All historical marker unveilings are free and open to the public.

The Pomeroy Foundation's New York State program provides fully funded grants for historical markers commemorating historic people, places, things, and events in the Empire State. The program also fills a gap, the release said, as New York state stopped funding tits roadside markers in 1939. Information about the program is available on the Pomeroy Foundation's website, wgpfoundation.org.