The historical marker on the manicured lawn of the Old Courthouse in Lake George Village, while not nearly as old as the 1845 building it designates, has been showing signs of wear. The blue paint had faded and peeled. Rust speckled the exposed metal. On Friday, April 27, local officials and historical organizations will gather outside the Courthouse to unveil a restored marker. The ceremony is a kickoff to an initiative of municipal officials, the school district, and historical organizations to restore dozens of historic markers in the Lake George region.
The date of the unveiling is significant. Since 2021, the last Friday in April has been celebrated as National Historic Marker Day. The day, created by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, is a service-oriented event that offers those wishing to recognize and preserve history an opportunity to join with like-minded people to clean and maintain historical markers. In a press release, Lake George Historical Association President Alex Parrott says, “Restoring these signs helps the public to better understand the significant events that occurred in the Lake George region. This project illustrates the dedication of the organizations involved in bringing awareness to the importance of the history of the area.”
John DiNuzzo, President of the Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance, has expressed his belief that the Lake George area, in addition to being a recreation destination, has the potential to be a cultural hub attracting heritage tourists drawn by the region’s rich history and importance in the formation of the nation. In remarks about the historical marker restoration program, DiNuzzo says, “The historical markers collectively tell tourists the story of all that’s happened here, so it’s appropriate to have signage which attracts their attention by being easy to read and appealing to the eye.”
The unveiling ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. on the Old Courthouse lawn, 290 Canada Street, Lake George. Scheduled speakers include Village of Lake George Mayor Ray Perry, Town of Lake George Councilwoman Marisa Muratori, Lake George Junior-Senior High School Principal Francis Cocozza, President of the Lake George Historical Association Alex Parrott and President of the Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance John DiNuzzo.
Anyone wishing to help with the historical marker restoration program may email the Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance at info@lakegeorgebattlefield.org or the Lake George Historical Association at info@lakegeorgehistorical.org.
Featured image: The Old Courthouse historical marker before it was refurbished/Courtesy of LGBPA
There was a good chance the old courthouse would have been torn down for a new bar if not for a true preservationist. Paul Shaefer spent years fighting for its preservation.