30 Years Of Volunteer Crew Maintaining Oregon's Historical Markers (Photo) -08/03/23
(Salem, Oregon) The Travel Information Council and its volunteer Oregon Historical Marker Committee recognized 30 years of service by the Salemtowne Historical Marker Volunteer Crew at an appreciation luncheon on August 1st at the Salemtowne Community Hall.
The Oregon Historical Marker Program is Oregon’s official roadside historical interpretation program. Its mission is to maintain and restore Oregon’s Historical Markers, many of which were originally created by Oregon Highway Administration (now Oregon Department of Transportation) employees as far back as 1939, with many created in the 1950s. When the Travel Information Council (TIC) assumed administration of the Oregon Historical Marker Program in 1991, many of the markers were in need of restoration. With no dedicated funding to support maintenance, TIC struggled to keep up with aging and deteriorating markers. That same year, Salemtowne resident Dick Ackerman joined the Oregon Historical Marker Committee and soon persuaded his friends at Salemtowne, a 55+ active adult golf community located on the west side of the Willamette River in Polk County, to help keep the program alive by contributing their invaluable woodworking and construction skills.
In 1993, the first small group of Salemtowne Historical Marker Volunteers traveled throughout Oregon, inspecting and repairing markers onsite. Volunteers soon discovered that many dilapidated markers required more work than could be performed in the field. Instead of climbing up dangerous ladders or staining in the rain, the group transported the markers back to the Salemtowne workshop, where supplies and shelter were more readily available. TIC purchased tools and supplies and the volunteers provided the labor, talent and time.
Over the past 30 years, new volunteers with special talents for wood working and routing were recruited from both Salemtowne and other communities. Today, the Salemtowne Volunteers have honed their techniques and developed a new set of best practices for restoring Oregon Historical Markers. TIC estimates that over the past three decades the group has volunteered over 8,000 hours of their time and traveled at least 18,000 miles around the state of Oregon. They effectively maintain all 112 historical markers in every corner of the state. This is a beloved volunteer program that represents exceptional service to the state.
Oregon Historical Marker Committee Chair David Porter says, “To say we rely on the Salemtowne crew for their help is an understatement. We wouldn’t be able to maintain these markers at the level of quality we do without them.”
Beth Dehn, Heritage & Community Assets Manager at Travel Information Council adds, “The legacy of the Salemtowne Historical Marker Volunteer Crew is remarkable. Their time and talent allow us to make history accessible to Oregon residents and travelers in the places it happened. We appreciate their dedication, professionalism, and generosity. We encourage Oregon residents to join us in thanking these volunteers for their good work.”
Current members of the Salemtowne Historical Marker Crew: Jack Carroll (foreman), James Childers, Howard Palmer, Herman Mitzel, Donald Conrad, Jr., Kenn Carter, Leonard Shultz, Owen Stockard, Alan Avery, John Mangini, Richard DuBois, and Stan Gregory.
The Oregon Historical Marker Program is administered by the Oregon Travel Information Council and a committee of dedicated volunteers from across the state. Oregon Historical Markers are designed to encourage motorists to stop and explore the state’s diverse regional history, culture, and geology. For more information regarding the Historical Marker program and how to submit a nomination for a new marker visit https://oregontic.com/oregon-historical-markers
