OIL CITY, Pa. — On Saturday, October 14 this year, several free public ceremonies will be conducted throughout Oil City commemorating the history of Chief Cornplanter and the Seneca Nation of Indians in relation to the area now situated within the municipal boundaries.

At 11 a.m., the official Dedication Ceremony for a new blue/gold state Historical Marker will be held inside the Days Inn Conference Center at 1 Seneca Street. Remarks will be provided by representatives of the Pa. Historical and Museum Commission, the Seneca Nation, City of Oil City, and Oil Region Alliance.

Following the indoor program, guests will step outside to the marker location for the official unveiling of the marker, which will be just north of the top of the slanted concrete walkway on the east side of Seneca Street connecting to Justus Park. In accordance with instructions from PHMC, the marker text will not be shown until the dedication date.

Immediately after the unveiling, the public is invited to shift into Justus Park where the Bandstand Shell will be the site for a free outdoor performance by the “Allegany River Dancers” from the Seneca Nation. This group last visited Oil City when the Chief Cornplanter statue in Creekside Park was dedicated in 2001; many of its members are descendants of Cornplanter.

Funding for the Cornplanter Historical Marker and the special musical/dance performance has been assembled by the Alliance from the following: Oil City Heritage Society; Take Pride in Oil City; Cornplanter Township; In memory of Ramon Pacior; Lynn Pacior-Malys; In memory of R. I. Ziegler; Mary Ellen Boyle; and Oil Region Alliance. Donations are still being accepted. Related services and supplies have been donated by the City of Oil City and the Venango County Historical Society.

Because light refreshments will be provided at the marker ceremony, interested people are asked to notify the Oil Region Alliance of their planned attendance. Please RSVP to the attention of Ms. Nichole Morack, 677-3152, Ext. 100, nmorack@oilregion.org by October 8.