You might drive past one every day or see one on a city building. Maybe you've even stopped to read a few of the inscribed words.

But few know the real story behind the names, places and events that are forever commemorated on blue and gold historical markers found throughout the county.

According to Karen Galle, historical marker program coordinator for the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, there are about 2,000 such markers across the state. Those include about 150 bronze plaques that predate the museum commission's founding in 1945.

Butler County is peppered with 14 markers approved through the program. The oldest, dedicated in 1917 at the Butler County Courthouse, honors Gen. Richard C. Butler, for whom the county is named. The most recent denotes Civil War chaplain Rev. Richard C. Christy. That marker has stood in Fenelton since 2004 at St. John Roman Catholic Church.

With brief snippets of history, the markers denote the people and events that have shaped community as well as national heritage.

"The markers can't tell the whole story, they are a little brief explanation of the subject and we hope they will encourage further study," Galle said.

"It is definitely educational for not only Pennsylvanians to take pride in their own history and community, but it is also informational for tourism as well," Galle said, noting the markers recently were featured in a Visit Pa. tourism promotion.

The markers highlight a range of subjects, from war to religion. The marker for Christy covers both. As the first Catholic Civil War chaplain in the country, he faced prejudice from many soldiers, according to Lou Bauldoff of Fenelton. Bauldoff was a member of the St. John council five years ago when the marker was installed.

Christy served at St. John until the war broke out, when he enlisted as a volunteer with the 78th Regiment based in Kittanning.

"Most of the regiment was not Catholic and they were a little upset about Fr. Christy as their chaplain, but as time went by, he earned their respect both on and off the battlefield," Bauldoff said.

"He would go out after the battle to the surrounding neighborhoods and forage for food and blankets or anything for the wounded. ... And it didn't matter the color of uniform they wore."

For churches like St. John and communities like Prospect, the marker program is a chance to showcase their contributions to history.

"The program has gotten very popular and competitive over the past decade," Galle said. "So we want to make sure we are approving the most significant subjects."

Galle said about 75 applications for a marker were received last year, and 25 markers were approved.

Applications for a marker can be submitted throughout the year, she said. The annual deadline is Jan. 5. The nominations are reviewed by a panel of historians throughout the state. New markers are approved at the commission's March board meeting based on recommendations from the panel.

"There is a fair amount of research required," Galle said. "That is another part of the criteria. We do require that the person not just cite their sources, but also include excerpts: pertinent excerpts from both primary and secondary resources."

Galle said some applicants are denied markers because their subjects are significant only on a local or regional level.

"We are looking for subjects that have state or national significance," she said.

Such is the case with Prospect's favorite son, George Edward "Rube" Waddell. Raised in the small town, the left-handed pitcher went on to become one of baseball's most colorful and recognized figures. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1946. A marker denoting his career was placed in front of Moraine Elementary School in 2003.

A community dedication was planned and hosted by the Prospect Preservation Society. Jim Harmon, president of the society, said the application for the marker was submitted by author and researcher Dr. Alan Levy, who published a book on Waddell. The marker was financed through the team where Waddell pitched from 1902 to 1907, the Philadelphia Athletics, now the Oakland Athletics.

"They had gotten in touch with the borough and said 'This marker is coming. Can you plant it?'" Harmon said. The dedication ceremony was July 26, 2003.

While there is no fee to submit an application for a marker, Galle said there is a cost for the marker itself if the application is approved.

"Up until last year, the sponsoring organization was required to accept and pay for the entire invoice," Galle said, "but they could apply for a matching grant." Due to current state budget cuts, she said those grants could be ending.

A roadside marker costs about $1,800; smaller city markers are $1,400. Applicants can select the size they wish to install, but Galle noted the city-style markers accommodate less text.

For Waddell's marker, the preservation society wanted to select an appropriate site, Harmon said.

"It was a toss up, because he (Waddell) liked to fight fires and also liked to play sand lot baseball and play marbles with the kids, so we had a choice of the fire hall or the school. We picked the school."

He said the society selected the elementary school location to help pass Waddell's story to a next generation.

"The older citizens, of course, knew of Rube. He was my parents' generation, back in the '20s. They're just about faded out. This will be a constant reminder for the new generations. If word-of-mouth doesn't pass it along, they will have the marker there as a permanent reminder that a baseball hall of famer was raised here in Prospect."

"It's really gratifying," said Galle of the community response she sees to the program. "I attend a handful of the dedications every year and the community pride that the marker inspires is pretty moving sometimes. It's very popular and a great source of community pride. "

More information about the state's Historical Marker Program is available at www.phmc.state.pa.us or by calling the museum commission at 717-787-3362.

A listing of Butler County's 14 historical markers as featured on the PHMC's Web site include:• Butler County — located at the county courthouse on Main Street in Butler and dedicated June 11, 1982. Commemorates the county itself. GPS Coordinates: LNG: -79.89545, LAT: 40.85857• Gen. Richard Butler — Also at the county courthouse and dedicated May 1, 1917, this plaque honors the Revolutionary War major general for whom the county was named. GPS Coordinates: LNG: -79.89545, LAT: 40.85857• George Edward Waddell — Located at Moraine Elementary School in Prospect and dedicated July 26, 2003, this marker honors a Hall of Fame pitcher who was one of baseball's earliest national heroes.• George Washington — Dedicated on Feb. 15, 1970, this marker is currently listed as missing from its location along Route 68 north of Evans City.• Harmonist Cemetery — Located on Route 68 in Harmony and dedicated Oct. 3, 1947, this marker denotes the burial site for the Harmonist Society from 1805 to 1815. GPS Coordinates: LNG: -80.1237, LAT: 40.80177• Harmony — Dedicated Oct. 3, 1947, this roadside marker on Main and Mercer streets in Harmony marks the first home of the Harmonist Society, founded in 1804. GPS Coordinates: LNG: -80.12785, LAT: 40.80267• Harmony Mennonites— On Route 19 north of Zelienople, this marker dedicated Oct. 3, 1947, commemorates the church, which was organized 1816.• Invention of the Jeep — Dedicated on Oct. 17, 1993, on Hansen Avenue in Butler, this marker commemorates the 1940 invention of one of the most recognized vehicles in history. The American Bantam Car Co. manufactured 2,675 jeeps in Butler. GPS Coordinates: LNG: -79.9116, LAT: 40.85713• Old Stone House— Two markers are located at the Old Stone House, at the junction of Routes 8 and 173. Both markers at the historic landmark were dedicated in 1968.• Rev. Richard C. Christy— Located at St. John's Roman Catholic Church in Fenelton, and dedicated in 2004, this marker commemorates the first Catholic Civil War chaplain who later became the church's first permanent pastor.• Roeblings— Dedicated on Oct. 06, 1947, in Saxonburg, the marker honors John Roebling, inventor of steel wire rope and designer of the Brooklyn Bridge. He was the founder of Saxonburg. Son Washington A. Roebling, builder of the Brooklyn Bridge, was born in the town. GPS Coordinates: LNG: -79.81798, LAT: 40.75503• Venango Path — Dedicated on Feb. 18, 1995, at Franklin and Mars Crider roads in Cranberry Township, this marker denotes a major Indian path between what is now downtown Pittsburgh and the Seneca town of Venango, now Franklin. George Washington passed through returning from a scouting mission. Site of an early wagon road. GPS Coordinates: LNG: -80.07512, LAT: 40.6856• William A. Smith — Dedicated Jan. 1, 1955, along Route 356 between Saxonburg and Marwood, this marker honors "Uncle Billy" Smith, who drilled the world's first successful oil well in 1859. He is buried near the marker. GPS Coordinates: LNG: -79.78732, LAT: 40.7684• Zelienople — Dedicated Oct. 03, 1947, this marker honors the town that was founded in 1802. It is located on Route 19 just north of the town. GPS Coordinates: LNG: -80.13795, LAT: 40.8