Remember back when we reported on our 100th Anniversary visit to the property in Pittston, Pennsylvania at the center of the seminal regulatory takings case Pennsylvania Coal Co. v. Mahon, 260 U.S. 393 (1922)?
What we didn’t note was that the visit motivated us to seek approval for the placement of a roadside marker recognizing the significance of the property and the Supreme Court’s decision from the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission.
We recently received word from the Commission that it has approved of a marker, which means that, at a future date to be set, the Commission will be placing one of those metal roadside marker. The Mahon marker, is one of the 45 markers approved by the Commission. These markers “commemorate significant people, places, events, and innovations … that tell the story of Pennsylvania’s rich and diverse history.”
We all know of the significance of the case, but now the public will. As the Commission notes:
This was a landmark Supreme Court decision that helped define constitutional property rights in the United States. While the case itself unfolded largely in courtrooms, its roots in Pittston give the town a meaningful connection to a ruling with lasting national impact.
What’s next? The Commission and its staff will settle on the wording of the marker, and then get the marker itself fabricated. It will inform us of the date for the dedication ceremony.
When we learn more details, we shall release them here, and hope you can join us in Pittston for the unveiling!