The Repair of the Forks of Wabash Historical Marker
Forks of Wabash Historical Marker (35.1972.1 ) located on
US 24 Business, East of SR 9, Huntington, Huntington County—before and after restoration.
Mr. James C. Taylor, Director of the Huntington County Historical Society, was approached by Todd Armstrong a history teacher, coach, and sponsor of the Huntington North High School Junior Historians. Mr. Armstrong expressed the need for some historical programs and perhaps a hands-on project for the history club students to involve themselves in while at the same time performing a service to the community. Mr. Taylor suggested that the students take on the project of restoring the badly deteriorated historical marker near the Forks of the Wabash.
To get the project started the Huntington City Street Department removed the sign from the post and took it to the Industrial Technology Department at Huntington North High School. The students spent many hours and a lot of elbow grease removing all of the old paint from the marker.
Jessica Drewry (left) and Natalie Dyer using a wire brush to remove the paint from the marker.
Since the school year ended before the marker could be completely restored, Mr. and Mrs. Todd Armstrong took the sign to their residence in Fort Wayne to apply the navy blue background paint and the gold to all of the lettering on the marker. Mr. Taylor finished the restoration of the marker by painting the frame, marker cap, and post with an aluminum paint. The marker was reinstalled on the post on June 22, 2004.
The Historical Bureau wishes to thank Mr. James C. Taylor, Mr. Ted Stell, Superintendent Huntington City Street Department, Mr. and Mrs. Todd Armstrong, and students Casey Dunno, Jessica Drewry, Natalie Dyer, Nancy Hardin, Melissa Poehler, and Candace Stapp.
As one can see from the "before" and "after" photos of the marker these volunteers did make a difference!
Jim Taylor with restored marker. What a difference!
