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Historic New York

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New York, Niagara County, near Youngstown
The promontory at the outlet of the Niagara River into Lake Ontario was a strategic point for controlling the route to the interior Great Lakes region. The French early recognized its importance, and LaSalle, in 1678, and Denonville. In 1687, erected temporary fortifications.
In 1726 DeLery built, for the fur trade, Fort Niagara, an imposing structure with massive stone walls. Resembling a French chateau, it was called "The Castle." The fortification irritated the British as rivalry with France for control of North America intensified. Captain Pouchot, a French engineer, strengthened the fort in anticipation of a British attack. British troops, with colonials and Indians, assaulted it, and, after an 18-day siege, Sir William Johnson forced the French to surrender, July 25, 1759.
The British improved Fort Niagara, used it for fur trading, and, during the American Revolution, made it their base for raiding the New York frontier. They did not relinquish it until 1796. Following an American invasion of Canada in the War of 1812, British forces again captured Fort Niagara on December 19, 1813. The peace treaty of 1814 returned the fort to the United States.
Old Fort Niagara stands today as a memorial to soldiers who served here under three flags.

(Forts, Castles • War of 1812 • War, US Revolutionary) Includes location, directions, 1 photo, GPS coordinates, map.

Chestnut Consolidated School

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South Carolina, Horry County, near Little River
Chestnut Consolidated Schools, which was located here 1954-1970, was built under the equalization program of Gov. James F. Byrnes, intended to preserve segregation by building new schools for blacks. Named to honor Horry County educator J.T. Chestnut (1885-1967), it educated African-American students in grades 1-12.

This school, consolidating schools in several northeastern Horry County communities, was a one-story brick building with two wings. After county schools desegregated in 1970, it became North Myrtle Beach High School and later North Myrtle Beach Middle School. The 1954 building was demolished in 1995.

(African Americans • Education) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

John Peter Smith

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Texas, Tarrant County, Fort Worth
A native of Kentucky, John Peter Smith migrated to Fort Worth in 1853. He worked as a teacher, clerk, and surveyor before his appointment as Deputy Surveyor of the Denton Land Department in 1855, for which he received payment in property. Also a student of law, he was later admitted to the bar.

Although opposed to the secession of Texas during the Civil War, Smith raised a company of Tarrant County Men for the Confederacy and joined Sibley's Brigade in 1861. While in the war he served in the unsuccessful invasion of New Mexico, the recapture of Galveston in 1863, and was severely wounded at Donaldsville, Louisiana, later that year.

After the war Smith returned to Fort Worth, where he became involved in the development of the city. He helped organize a bank, gas light company, and street railway. He also donated land for parks, cemeteries, and a hospital, later named John Peter Smith Hospital. In 1882 he became mayor and directed the establishment of many public services, including the school system and the water department.

In 1901 Smith died in St. Louis, Missouri, while on a promotional trip for Fort Worth. He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, a site he donated to the city.

(Politics • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Nihonmachi

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California, Santa Clara County, San Jose

[This marker is composed of four panels, each located at one corner of the intersection of Jackson and North Fifth Streets in San Jose.]

[Panel 1, south corner] Pioneers
1890s to 1920s
During the 1890s, Nikkei (Japanese in America) migrant workers began to seek seasonal employment in the fields and orchards of Santa Clara Valley following the paths pioneered by Chinese. As the number of Chinese farm workers declined because of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, Japanese migrants were hired to meet the farming needs of this agricultural community. These migrant workers were largely single Nikkei men. By the turn of the century, these Nikkei men had formed a small Nihonmachi (Japantown) adjacent to the existing Chinatown in San Jose. Nihonmachi catered to the needs of a bachelor society by providing boarding houses, bathhouses, pool halls, and gambling establishments around Fifth and Jackson Streets. The arrival of Japanese women in the early 1900s and the subsequent growth of families led to the development of other services to meet the needs of the Issei (first generation) and Nisei (second generation). Nikkei farmers made significant contributions to the Valley’s agricultural production in spite of the state’s Alien Land Laws of 1913 and 1920 which made it illegal for the Issei to purchase or rent land. Nikkei families struggled to work on the land mainly as tenants or sharecroppers.

[Panel 2, east corner] Settlers
1920s & 1930s
The advent of families in the early 1900s changed Nihonmachi from a bachelor-oriented community to a family-oriented community. By 1930, Nihonmachi included Japanese food and retail stores, a soda works, medical offices, a hospital, a service station, and a saké (rice wine) brewery. Christian and Buddhist religions, as well as other civic and social groups, played and important part in the lives of the Nikkei. Weddings, funerals and festivals were held in Nihonmachi’s churches or in the community hall. Special sports activities such as sumó wrestling and baseball, held on the athletic field, were major community events. Nihonmachi grew increasingly diverse with the arrival of other ethnic groups, including Filipinos and Italians. Nihonmachi evolved as a self-sufficient, self-contained community largely because of widespread discrimination and prejudice directed against the Valley’s Nikkei. On the national level, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the Issei the right to become naturalized citizens. In 1924, Congress passed the Exclusion Act, adding Japanese to the list of Asians prohibited from immigrating to the U.S. This anti-Japanese movement lead to the mass removal of Nikkei from the Santa Clara Valley and the West Coast during World War II.

[Panel 3, north corner] Internees
1942 to 1945
On the eve of World War II, Nikkei farmers were making steady economic gains even in a continuing climate of discrimination and distrust. The events of December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor fueled anti-Japanese sentiments and dashed hard-fought Nikkei progress toward self-determination. On February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, authorizing the forced removal of all person of Japanese ancestry along the West Coast. As a consequence, over 110,000 Nikkei - women and men, the elderly and children, citizen and noncitizen – were summarily evicted from their homes and confined in ten concentration camps in isolated areas of the American interior from 1942 to 1945. This action was later recognized as an unprecedented violation of Japanese American civil rights, motivated by “race prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership,” by the U.S. Government. Strong anti-Japanese feelings continued through the war years. While the Santa Clara Valley Nikkei were interned, most at the Heart Mountain concentration camp in Wyoming, other groups filled the farm labor need, took over Nikkei land, and settled in Nihonmachi. Local governments of San Jose, Morgan Hill and Santa Clara County passed resolutions in May, 1943 opposing the return of Nikkei to the Valley. Despite that sentiment, Nikkei returned to San Jose and Santa Clara Valley to rebuild their lives and their community.

[Panel 4, west corner]

Heirs
1945 to 1980s
By 1947, most of Santa Clara Valley’s Nikkei had returned to the West Coast. Many has lost land or property during their absence and had to begin again, although a great number were unable to regain their former positions. Through the strength and perseverance of the Nikkei, San Jose’s Nihonmachi once again became the center of Japanese culture in the Valley. Religious and cultural festivals were reestablished, and new community organizations and activities begun by the Nisei and Sansei (third generation), building upon traditions of the Issei. In the 1980s, the U.S. Congress and local governments of San Jose and Santa Clara County publicly expressed regret over their role in the wrongs of World War II. Efforts were launched to bring recognition and life to Nihonmachi.

(Asian Americans • War, World II) Includes location, directions, 9 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Fort Moore

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California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles
On this site stood
Fort Moore built by the
Morman Battalion during
the War with Mexico
This memorial honors the troops who helped to win the South West.

The Flag of the United States was raised here on July 4th 1847
by United States Troops at the First Independence Celebration in Los Angeles.
The United States 1st Dragons who fought at San Pasqual.

The New York Volunteers who came by sea.

The Mormon Battalion which made one of the longest and most arduous infantry marches in history.

(Forts, Castles • War, Mexican-American) Includes location, directions, 14 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Henry's Hi-Life

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California, Santa Clara County, San Jose
Henry’s Hi-Life, once known as the Torino Hotel, was opened in 1960 by Henry Puckett (1914-1986). Originally a boarding house for dozens of newly immigrated Italian workers, the building was first named the new Progress Hotel.

Charles Sacco, a cook, was the owner of the new Progress Hotel, moving the existing structure to this site after the 1906 earthquake and adding a six room, two-story addition in 1908. The architectural style and building materials used in construction are typical of the buildings originally built in the 1880’s.

The business changed hands in 1914 and was re-named the Torino Hotel. Owner Bartolomeo Vinassa, who immigrated to San Jose in 1903 and operated a nearby hotel, moved his business into this structure. Early directories list the address as the northwest corner of San Augustine and Pleasant Street, or 301 San Augustine Street. The Torino Hotel, operated by Bartolomeo and Caroline Vinassa, was widely known for serving generous portions of Italian food and providing fellowship for immigrant workers. A bocce ball court was located just north of the hotel.

Henry Puckett acquired the abandon hotel in 1960 and restored the building, adding a bar that was built in 1933 and salvaged from an old San Francisco hotel. Doris Puckett, Henry’s widow, carried on the tradition of Henry’s Hi-Live by serving great food and supporting good times for nearly five decades.

(Industry & Commerce) Includes location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

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California, Santa Clara County, San Jose
Shivaji founded Pune (circa 1640). He was the first modern warrior who successfully fought the foreign invaders for 40 years and established a Maratha Kingdom that lasted 200 years with Pune as its Capital.

(Notable Persons) Includes location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Tom & Mary’s Snack Shop & Dr. Watanabe’s Office

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California, Santa Clara County, San Jose
The first Japanese American surgeon in San Jose was Dr. Lee Watanabe. His office was above Tom and Mary’s Snack Shop. He was pretty short, but when he was standing on his box doing surgery, he was a giant.
Sue Inouye

(Asian Americans) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Wing’s Chinese Restaurant

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California, Santa Clara County, San Jose
Dad would teach us things, but we were not interested in the restaurant. We saw how hard he worked. He started working at ten in the morning and wouldn’t stop until two the next morning. Every day. Seven days a week.
Dr. James Chan, 2006

(Asian Americans) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Tanizawa Grocery

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California, Santa Clara County, San Jose
We had everything in our store for the farmers. Dry goods. Work clothes. Japanese zori, tabi, pots and pans and dishes. We opened at seven in the morning and closed at ten at night everyday. Christmas day was one of the busiest days we had. New Year’s was the only day we were closed.
Jun Tanizawa

(Asian Americans) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Gran Oriente Filipino Masonic Lodge

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California, Santa Clara County, San Jose
This is a picture of second generation Filipinos. Pacita Todtod who was also known as “Pacing” was famous for being a singer appearing at the beginning of the 1948 movie, “They Were Expendable,” starring John Wayne.
Curt Fukuda, 2007

(Asian Americans) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Jackson Drugs

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California, Santa Clara County, San Jose
I have been at this corner most of my life being born in the midwife house across the street. Nothing has changed in the neighborhood, except the people. I’ve seen Tokunaga go, Hashimoto’s Drug store across the street become a golf shop, Tom and Mary’s closed, that was the coffee shop across the street. I’m the only one left.
Bill Furukawa

(Asian Americans) Includes location, directions, 5 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Bryan Grimes

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North Carolina, Pitt County, near Grimesland
Major General, Confederate Army. His service spanned the Peninsula Campaign to Appomattox. Family plantation called “Grimesland,” was here.

(War, US Civil) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Dobashi Market

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California, Santa Clara County, San Jose
“... you come upon the boiled eel, the quail’s eggs, the dried seaweed, and the squid like root called gobo, as well as the crinkly cabbage Japanese call napa and Korean pickled radishes packed in Hawaii and small cans of shrimp paste imported from Luzon.”
James D. Houston

(Asian Americans) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

The Smith Flat House

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California, El Dorado County, near Placerville
A hotel originally built in 1853 with substantial additions including a blacksmith shop in 1863. In the cellar is the famous opening to the Blue Lead Mine. Known early as "3 Mile House" the building has served as a stage coach stop, general merchandise store, hotel, post office and community hall for 135 years. This building is perhaps the best preserved frame structure of its size in the entire Mother Lode. The earliest owner of record was Elihu Meredith who owned hotels in Coloma and on Green Valley Road. According to the Mountain Democrat, this house also served as the voting precinct headquarters from 1854 until after the turn of the century.

(Industry & Commerce) Includes location, directions, 5 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Our Lady of Mercy Chapel

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New Jersey, Morris County, Whippany
Carpenter Gothic structure was mission parish of Madison and Morristown until 1883. Oldest standing Roman Catholic chapel in Morris County. Home parish of Father Cornelius Clifford.
New Jersey Register of Historic Places

(Churches, Etc.) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Great Wagon Road

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North Carolina, Forsyth County, Bethania
Frontier road from Pennsylvania to Georgia in 18th century. A major avenue for settlers of the N.C. backcountry. Passed near here.

(Colonial Era • Man-Made Features • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers) Includes location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Upper Saura Town

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North Carolina, Stokes County, Walnut Cove
A village of the Saura Indians, abandoned by that tribe in the early 18th century, was on Dan River, two mi. S.

(Colonial Era • Native Americans) Includes location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Bethania Freedman's Community

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North Carolina, Forsyth County, Bethania
The community established along this road in the Bethania Town Lot was built by African-American men and women who began acquiring land here following the Civil War. Many of these people had been enslaved on the Oak Grove plantation, from which they had purchased much of this land. The area became a thriving historic African-American community, and included a church, school, stores, canning factory, farms, and a popular fishing lake. The nearby church, established by Bethania Moravians in 1850, became Bethania A.M.E. Zion Church in 1875, and continues to serve at its original location. Descendants of early families continue to live in this historically significant community.

(Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Civil Rights • War, US Civil) Includes location, directions, 5 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

David Williams Memorial

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New York, Schoharie County, Schoharie


Facing Fort Road (Southeast Side):

Here rests the remains of
David Williams,
One of
the Captors of
Major Andre.
Died
in Schoharie County
August 2nd, 1831
Aged 76 years
6 m's 8 days.

He with his compatriots, John Paulding and Iassic VanWart
on the 23d of September 1780, arrested Major John Andre
and found on his person treasonable papers in the hand
writing of Gen. Benedict Arnold who sought by treachery
to surrender the military post of West Point. into the
hands of the enemy. In resisting the great bribes of their
prisoner for his liberty they showed their incorruptible
patriotism; the American army was saved, and our
beloved Country became free.

DAVID WILLIAMS
The Northeast side (to the right):
Amor
Patriae Vincit

Gen. Washingtons letter to the President of Congress
October, 1780 "The party that took Major Andre acted
in such a manner as does them the highest honor,
and proves them to men of great virtue."

Back side (facing the Fort): Nancy Benedict
Wife of
David Williams.
Died
Aug. 5, 1844.
aged 87 years
6 m's 8 days.

This monument was erected by the State of New York
From an appropriation made in the centennial year
of 1876 By a bill introduce by Senator W.C. Lamont.
Under the following State Commissioners:
Daniel Knower, Ralph Brewster, Charles Holmes.

[Carved by] H.R & Z.J. Brown.

Facing Southwest:
Fidelity

By authority of Congress in 1780, a silver
medal was voted to them and presented
to the captors by Gen. Washington at a
dinner to which he invited them while the
army was encamped near Ver Planks Point.



(Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Patriots & Patriotism • War, US Revolutionary) Includes location, directions, 5 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
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