Schenectady in Schenectady County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
M-7 Day
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, December 29, 2011
1. M-7 Day Marker
On this spot representatives of the
British Eight Army
paid tribute to
American Locomotive Co.
Workers
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is April 10, 1863.
Location. 42° 48.896′ N, 73° 56.915′ W. Marker is in Schenectady, New York, in Schenectady County. Marker is at the intersection of Washington Ave. and State Street (New York State Route 5), on the right when traveling north on Washington Ave.. The marker is in Schenectady's Liberty Park. Liberty Park, a memorial park, is small triangular area of 0.20 (two tenths of an acre) bounded on one side by State Street to the North, Washington Ave. on the west side, and Water Street on the south side. . Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Schenectady NY 12305, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Southwest Corner of Stockade (here, next to this marker); First Site of Old Dutch Church (a few steps from this marker); Freemasonry (within shouting distance of this marker);
this page online
Regarding M-7 Day. ALCO played a significant role in two world wars. ALCO produced hundreds of locomotives for the home front and Europe in World War One. ALCO made an even greater contribution in World War Two by producing hundreds of locomotives and thousands of tanks and armored vehicles. ALCO even developed and produced the M7 ‘Priest’ self-propelled armored artillery vehicle, a weapon which gave Allied Armies in World War Two unprecedented firepower and revolutionized the employment of artillery on the battlefield even into our modern era. The M7 was the famed "tank destroyer", which helped to deliver a decisive victory over Rommel's forces in the battle of El Alamein, the turning point in Rommel’s drive through North Africa. The M7 was a completely secret weapon - no one had heard of it, even though it had
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, December 29, 2011
2. M-7 Day Marker
While the first M7s were produced for the U.S. Army, supply was soon diverted to support the Lend-Lease program. Ninety M7s were sent to the British 8th Army in North Africa, who were also the first to use it in battle during the Second Battle of El Alamein as well as their own Bishop,a 25-pounder gun howitzer armed self propelled gun. The M7 soon proved successful and the British requested 5,500 of them, an order which was never fully completed.
On April 10, 1943, a contingent from the British Royal Artillery and Royal Tank Regiments came to Schenectady and put on a parade in honor of the city's residents, who helped to end WWII. That day was dubbed "M7 Day."
Also see . . . M7 Priest. (Submitted on December 30, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York.)
Additional keywords. M7 Priest Tank ALCo ALCO American Locomotive Company Liberty Park Schenectady Gateway Plaza
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, December 29, 2011
3. Former Location of the M-7 Day Marker in Liberty Park
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, November 30, 2019
4. Gateway Plaza, New Location of M7-Day Marker
The Route 5 Transit Gateway Linkage Study had determined prior to November of 2012 that Schenectady's Liberty Park was overgrown, neglected, and suffered from security issues due to the berms in the park, as well as a design which was difficult to maintain. Liberty Park was subsequently redesigned and expanded into Gateway Plaza. During implementation of this plan the seven historic markers in the park were removed, and later, five of the seven were reinstalled. Here we see the M7-Day marker, at lower left in the photo, set beside the edge of the pedestrian walkway, with the familiar former-YMCA building in the background.
Efner Research Library
5. The Last M-7 Produced at ALCO
Female employees from the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) pose with the last M-7 produced by ALCO. One of ALCO’s unique contributions to the war effort was the design, development and production of the M7 “Priest” self-propelled armored artillery vehicle. It took ALCO only 19 days to meet the Army requirement for this vehicle. The M-7 was simply a 105mm howitzer mounted to an M-3 chassis. It turned out to be a weapon that gave Allied Armies in World War II unprecedented firepower and revolutionized the use of artillery on the battlefield even into our modern era.
Library of Congress
6. M7 "Priest" Tank
"New M7 Priest 105 mm self-propelled howitzer carriages roll down the production lines of the American Locomotive Company in Schenectady, New York”, photo by H.R. Hollem
Efner Research Library
7. ALCO's M4 and M7 Tank Killer
United States National Archives
8. American M7 self-propelled howizer vehicle in Carentan, France, June 1944
Photographed By Yellowute, June 2006
9. An M7 Preserved at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
Credits. This page was last revised on December 5, 2019. It was originally submitted on December 30, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. This page has been viewed 768 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 30, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 4. submitted on December 2, 2019, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on December 30, 2011, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
