Monumental spelling error tops Macy's marker

An engraving that says "historcal" — the first word in the Marysville monument — isn't the fault of the Smartsville company that provided the Yuba Blue Boulder or the firm that did the lettering, says the Native Sons of the Golden West.

"Yes, we made a mistake," said Art Worledge of Sutter Parlor 261. "All we can do right now is laugh about it.

"I know how to spell 'historical,'" he said.

More than 40 people at the Saturday dedication of the $3,000 monument didn't notice the error, Worledge added.

Bob Barkhouse of the Native Sons said he provided the wording after he ran the message by almost 20 people who didn't detect the problem.

"Bill Gates let us down," he added. "Microsoft didn't catch it on spell check."

Ralph Mullican of Yuba Blue Boulders said he cut and polished the large stone delivered to the site at First and D streets in Marysville, and the engraved lettering was added later.

"I make them as perfect as I can," he said of his work.

Peggy Vander Ploeg, owner of L&L Monuments in Yuba City, said Thursday that the engraved words match what the Native Sons submitted, but that her company will correct the error.

"I'll do it for free," she said. "I don't' want my name out there with misspelled words."