04/17/2026
Waverly Historical Society Receives Pomeroy Foundation Historical Marker Commemorating 1903 Endurance Run
Waverly, N.Y. — The Waverly Historical Society was awarded a grant, in 2025, from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation for a New York State historical marker commemorating the 1903 Endurance Run.
The fully-funded marker highlights the historical significance of the 1903 Automobile Endurance Run, which served as a marketing test for American manufacturers, a shift toward automobile adoption, highlighting the need for better road infrastructure. It was a pioneering 800-mile, 8 day competition, from Weehawken, NJ to Pittsburgh, PA. The automobiles overcame severe mud, rain, and mountainous terrain. The public’s confidence in the early American cars, from 17 American makers, was bolstered due to this race. It has been said the 1903 Run was part of the birth of automobiling. The first autos passed through Barton, Ellistown, East Waverly, Waverly, and Chemung on October 9, 1903.
Amy Zehr, one of the founding board members of the Waverly Historical Society, was in charge of research and applying for the grant. She asked fellow board member, Dawn Campbell, to assist her in writing one of the sections of the grant. The idea for the 1903 Endurance Run historic marker came from Jeff Barber, also a board member, and owner of State Line Auto Auction in Waverly. The marker, which was installed in November of 2025, can be viewed at State Line Auto’s employee parking lot, with easy access in and out of the parking lot, from NY-17C. Jeff would like to see the entire route of the 1903 Endurance Run marked with historic markers. "Our Historical Society was very excited and grateful to have received the grant for the marker,” said Amy. “The Pomeroy Foundation was very amicable and obliging to work with,” said Amy. After excitedly obtaining the grant from the Foundation, the Foundation worked with Amy on coming up with the correct wording for the marker.
The Pomeroy Foundation’s New York State program provides fully-funded grants for historical markers commemorating historic people, places, things and events in the Empire State. The program also fills a gap, as New York State stopped funding their roadside markers in 1939.
Information about the program as well as how to volunteer for National Historic Marker Weekend (April 24, 2026 Friday to April 26, 2026 Sunday), are available on the Pomeroy Foundation’s website, wgpfoundation.org.
About the Waverly Historical Society
The Waverly Historical Society was founded and created in 2015, by the late Donald L. Merrill. It is a 501(c)3 corporation. Their mission is to create a lasting museum dedicated to preserving and displaying historical items and events from Waverly and surrounding areas. Their museum at 435 Chemung street Waverly, NY is open Saturday’s and Sunday’s from 1 - 4 pm, excluding holiday weekends. Private group tours can also be arranged by emailing to [email protected]
About the Pomeroy Foundation
The William G. Pomeroy Foundation® is committed to supporting the celebration and preservation of community history; and working to improve the probability of finding appropriate donor matches or other life-saving treatments for blood cancer patients. Established by Trustee Bill Pomeroy in 2005 to bring together his two greatest passions, the Pomeroy Foundation is a private, philanthropic organization located in Syracuse, N.Y. As the nation’s leading funder of historical roadside markers, the Pomeroy Foundation has awarded more than 3,000 grants for markers and bronze plaques in 49 states and Washington, D.C. To learn more about the Pomeroy Foundation, visit wgpfoundation.org.
