From: Jason L Tish <jason.tish@wisconsinhistory.org> Subject: Re: Having a plaque made for an historical downtown building, any legal restrictions from the State of WI ? Building located in an historical designated area. Date: Mon, 13 Jun 2022 21:59:00 +0000 Message-id: <SA0PR06MB6844CC257C3D6E220A5B357CE6AB9@SA0PR06MB6844.namprd06.prod.outlook.com>
Hi Maureen-
There are no state or federal rules on how or where you can install histori
c markers. And the content of markers is completely up to the person or org
anization designing/installing them.
Surprisingly, there is very little guidance on establishing a historic plaq
ue program, or the technicalities of fabrication and installation. I'll rei
terate Rick Berstein's referral to Erie Landmarks<https://www.erielandmark.
com/establishing-a-plaque-program/#:~:text=Plaque%20programs%20provide%20
one%20of,purchased%20by%20the%20owners%20of>, a plaque fabricator.
Here's what I share with folks thinking about a community-wide signage prog
ram for historic properties. Some of this may be relevant to your situation
.:
1. Criteria
* Make a policy on which properties are eligible for a plaque under
your program. Also consider whether property owners will be required to ap
ply for a plaque or will plaques will be offered to all eligible property o
wners.
2. Funding
* Decide how plaques under your program will be funded. Be transpare
nt about this when you advertise the program so applicants are aware of fun
ding limitations
3. Ownership
* Think about who will own the actual plaque after it is installed.
Will it be donated to the property owner, or will the city/organization ret
ain ownership after installation.
4. Permission
* It's best to get the consent of the property owner prior to design
ing the plaque. Again, consider whether property owners will be required to
apply for a plaque or will plaques will be offered to all eligible propert
y owners.
5. Material
* Once the decision has been made to install a plaque, the specifica
tions of fabrication and installation must be worked out. Plaques can be ma
de of a variety of materials including aluminum, steel, metal alloys, and e
ven ceramic. Costs vary widely, so shop around for fabricators to compare m
aterials options and costs.
6. Content
* The content is up to you. Again, there are no rules or standards f
or the content of there markers, except the proper name of the National Reg
ister of Historic Places.
7. Location (of installation)
* Before a plaque is made, consider where it will be mounted. There
are many options: on a post, double or single-sided, on a concrete slab on
the ground, on a rock, on a building.
8. Method (of installation)
* Fabricators will help you determine how to mount their plaques. On
e important consideration is that if a plaque will be mounted directly on a
building, the mounting hardware should cause as little damage to historic
materials as possible. For example, if mounting on a brick building, bolts
should be drilled into easily repairable mortar joints rather than into bri
cks.
Hope this is helpful .
-Jason
[cid:5d00665e-eea4-4717-b1c4-41e6a0292675]<http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/
>
Collecting, Preserving, and Sharing Stories Since 1846<http://www.wisconsin
history.org/?utm_source=Email%20Signatures&utm_medium=email&utm_campaig
n=signature%20clicks>
JASON TISH
CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT COORDINATOR
PRESERVATION EDUCATION COORDINATOR
Wisconsin Historical Society
816 State Street, Rm. 305
Madison, WI 53706
608.264.6512
________________________________
From: localhistory-request@listserve.uwec.edu < <localhistory-request@listser
ve.uwec.edu> on behalf of Olive Gross <gross622@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2022 15:37
To: localhistory@listserve.uwec.edu <localhistory@listserve.uwec.edu>
Subject: Re: Having a plaque made for an historical downtown building, any
legal restrictions from the State of WI ? Building located in an historical
designated area.
Maureen,
You might check with the Jefferson County Parks & Recreation Department,
listed under Jefferson County to Google.
Olive - BRWHS
On 6/11/2022 11:02 PM, Maureen Giese wrote:
> Any information regarding placing a plaque stating when the building
> was established/built. Historical use of building in the past. Do not
> need a Wis Landmark sign, just an informative brief sign telling of
> early use and when built to brighten up our local downtown historic
> district.
>
> Any information is appreciated. Also places where a sign company is
> located.
>
> Maureen Giese Waterloo Area Historical Society & Waterloo Business
> Association
