October 12, 2004

PHMC Approves New Historical Markers
Tuesday October 12, 12:02 pm ET

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- On behalf of Gov. Edward G. Rendell, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Executive Director Barbara Franco announced today that the commission has approved five new historical markers. The latest markers commemorate people, places and events in the Commonwealth as diverse as the late Arthur J. Rooney, owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers football team, to the last public lecture of African- American orator Frederick Douglass in Chester County.

"The Commission is proud of the Pennsylvania people and events that these markers recall, and we look forward to working with the sponsoring groups to add them to the more than 2,000 markers throughout the state," Franco said.

Newly approved markers acknowledge Negro Leaguers:

- The Harrisburg Giants was a premier Negro baseball team organized by Col. William Struthers in Central Pennsylvania in the early 20th century with some of the best players in the Negro League, who went on to play for other teams. Two of its best players were Oscar Charleston, elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and the great hitter John Beckwith.  The team disbanded in 1955.

The new markers will be dedicated throughout the year under the auspices of the nominating groups and local communities. More than 2,000 historical markers in Pennsylvania are maintained by PHMC. Information on how to nominate a person, place or event for a state historical marker is available at http://www.phmc.state.pa.us.

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission is the official history agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

CONTACT: Jane Crawford, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, +1-717-783-9882.