PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Wondering why those blue-and-gold historical markers in your area might be missing? According to the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, they’re probably just getting patched up.
There are more than 2,500 historical plaques throughout the Commonwealth, and the PHMC conducts cyclical maintenance on them over a 10-year rotation. Now it’s Philly’s turn for its roughly 400 cast aluminum markers to get a little love.
Allie Davis, the Historical Marker Coordinator at PHMC, says they have a small business contractor they hire to do the maintenance.
“It’s just him and one other guy. They’ll collect eight to 10 of them, take them back to their shop, if there is any damage to the marker or if it is cracked, they’ll weld it together, bend it back into shape,” Davis explained. “Usually the worst thing that is happening is they’ll need a fresh coat of paint.”
She said that it usually takes them about six to eight weeks until they’re able to return the refurbished plaques to their posts.
In the meantime, yellow vinyl tags are being attached to the empty posts, showing the public that a historical marker has been officially removed for maintenance.
The roughly 400 markers in the area are being taken down eight to 10 at a time, returning with a fresh coat of paint after several weeks
The roughly 400 markers in the area are being taken down eight to 10 at a time, returning with a fresh coat of paint after several weeks
