To the Editor:

Despite our best efforts to obtain funding for a historic marker honoring two pioneer women from the early days of Guilderland, we simply do not have enough  primary sources to make our case with the William G. Pomeroy Foundation.

To date, we have secured from the foundation more than $20,000 for 11 historic markers.

Why is this marker important?

Of all the markers in Guilderland, only one mentions a woman. That is Cornelia Knower, who is mentioned on the Knower House marker in Altamont as having married Governor William Marcy there.

We would like to honor the Terpenning sisters, Maria and Elizabeth.

The sisters married Henry and Levi Van Auken, two brothers who farmed along the Bozenkill and fought in the Revolutionary War. We have secured a marker for the Van Auken brothers, located on the grounds of the Mohawk-Hudson Conservancy on Westfall Road.

But what about those women of those early days? Once you get past Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, Dolly Madison, Betsy Ross, and Jane McCrea, not much is known about individual women in Revolutionary War times.

To rectify this, we wish to honor women of the past in our town beginning with the Terpenning sisters. To do this, funding from individuals and/or organizations will be required.

Here is our suggested (but not written in stone) wording for this marker.

Pioneer Women

1775-1840

Maria & Elizabeth Terpenning,

Wives of H & L Van Auken,

Raised families, kept house and farmed

For more than 50 years.

What we are asking for is a donation to cover the cost of a marker, which is estimated at $1,900.

Four checks of $100 each have been received already. All donations will be acknowledged.

Won’t you help? Please send a donation to Guilderland Historical Society, Post Office Box 282, Guilderland Center, NY 12085. Please write “Terpenning” on the memo line.

As Abigail Adams said, “Remember the ladies.”

Thank you for your help.

John B. Haluska

Vice President

Guilderland Historical Society