The Importance of
Marking Historic Spots
An Address
At Dedication of Marker
Nittany Furnace, Near State College, Pa.
October 30, 1922
Tribune Press
Altoona
Dr. Sparks, Dean Watts, Ladies and Gentlemen:
Probably the first attempts at marking historic spots inPennsylvania were made by the Indians many centuries ago.We of today are merely followers in their footsteps. Two of themost conspicuous examples are the hieroglyphic rocks on theAllegheny River, near Franklin, formerly called “Venango”, inVenango County, and the so-called Picture Rocks on MuncyCreek, in Lycoming County. Both were said to commemoratemilitary victories, though the rocks on the Allegheny River werechiselled at a much earlier period than the mural paintings ofMuncy Creek. The hieroglyphics are crude affairs, but thepainting on the “Picture Rocks” were said to be of rare beautyand marvelous coloration. The rocks of the Allegheny Riverwill defy time, but the rapacious lumbermen who insisted onrunning logs off the mountain top above the “Picture Rocks” atthat particular spot destroyed forever this master-work of theredman’s artistry. Unfortunately we do not know the particularevents which these early memorials were supposed to commemorate.All is shrouded in mystery so that the mere event of erectingand dedicating a marker does not insure its legend beingpermanent. When the white men came on the scene the Indiansrenewed their earlier custom of carefully marking historic spotsin several gruesome manners. After Major Grant’s defeat in 1757in Western Pennsylvania the victorious Indians (they were onthat occasion worthy of the appellation of savages) took particularpleasure in beheading all dead Highlanders who had participatedin that unpleasant engagement, and impaling their heads,draped with caps and kilts, on the stakes which marked theirrace ground, as they called the path where they made theirenemies run the gauntlet, near the stockade of Fort Duquesne.This was their way of marking an historic spot, and it was also awar memorial to the Highlanders who they looked upon as their[4]most dogged and unflinching foes. There was a kindly, almostfraternal feeling born of the hardships of forest life amongVirginians, Royal Americans and Pennsylvania Riflemen recruitedlargely among the borderers and the redmen, but the Highlanderslooked upon the Indians with an uncompromising hatred,and would give no quarter. When General Forbes’ Scotch regimentsapproached the scene of this grisly memorial several monthslater they were shocked at the sight which met their eyes; therewas too much realism displayed by the Indians in their choiceof mater