Examples of structures that may qualify for the Historic Plaque Program:

  1. Buildings and Structures with important connections to notable personages, events, movements, etc.
  2. Structures with features that show significant feats of design, engineering, and artistry, or that are representative of a particular stylistic period, school, or mode of construction
  3. Residences of important persons during either their formative/childhood or productive/adult years—productive years are given greater emphasis than birthplaces by the society
  4. Cemeteries are excluded from the program unless they contain significant and notable tombstone artistry. Churches may qualify if they possess architectural or historical rather than theological significance.
  5. Sites with outstanding, unique or irreplaceable prehistoric or historic features
  6. Locations of important past events, discoveries, etc. may be eligible
  7. Districts containing two or more connected structures, buildings, or sites which together form a cohesive unit and possess greater architectural or historical significance 
  8. Objects important to the history of the area or that have artistic, scientific, other significant value

Sites having outstanding, unique or irreplaceable prehistoric or historic features and having been the location of an important occurrence, event or discovery.

Districts containing two or more structures, buildings and sites which together may possess greater architectural or historical significance than any one of their parts, and which form a cohesive unit. 

Objects important in the history of the area or having artistic, scientific, other value.

Current Landmark Plaque Categories

Note: The original guidelines written by the Landmark Committee of the Wayne County Historical Society in 1976 were updated by the Landmark Committee in April 2001, and “Boyhood” was changed to “childhood” in November 2011. The definitions follow:

1.   Pioneer House– A house or residence that is 100 years old or more and was built before 1900.

2.   100-Year-Old House– A house or residence that was built in 1900 or later and is at least 100 years old.

3.   Century House– A house or residence that is 100 years old or more and has been continuously owned by the same family/bloodline.

4.   County Historical Landmark– Building or home that is 100 years old or more and has special architectural, cultural, or historic value; or Site, district, or object of historic importance (100+ years old).