John Wilkes Booth marker stolen?

[LincolnMan]

I really shouldn't be surprised- given the decline in morality and ethics that I believe are culture is currently experiencing- but I am.

[L Verge]

What was amazing to me is the feat that it took to dislodge that sign and carry it away. Years ago, in someone's infinite wisdom, the sign was removed from the easily accessible median strip (just feet from what would have been the porch of the Garrett home) and moved to the opposite side of the highway -- and dangerously close to the right-hand lane, with no pull-off space.

That meant that whoever did the dastardly deed of stealing the sign was/were putting themselves in danger. Furthermore, I have first-hand knowledge of how heavy those signs are. It took a lot of WD40 or a blow torch to get it loose from the pole and at least 2-3 strong men to do the dirty work.

Too bad that some people cannot channel their skills into more productive lines of work. But, why bother when you know you are unlikely to get caught and that your next meal is coming via food stamps... I keep remembering the email from the man who reported the problem to me: "I'm just a truck driver, but I love history." Then we have those who don't want to work for a living and are ready to destroy our history.

[LincolnMan]

Couldn't have said it better Laurie.

[Eva Elisabeth]

What was amazing to me is the feat that it took to dislodge that sign and carry it away. Years ago, in someone's infinite wisdom, the sign was removed from the easily accessible median strip (just feet from what would have been the porch of the Garrett home) and moved to the opposite side of the highway -- and dangerously close to the right-hand lane, with no pull-off space.

That meant that whoever did the dastardly deed of stealing the sign was/were putting themselves in danger. Furthermore, I have first-hand knowledge of how heavy those signs are. It took a lot of WD40 or a blow torch to get it loose from the pole and at least 2-3 strong men to do the dirty work.

All the Beatles signs (Strawberry Fields, Penny Lane, Abbey Road) have so frequently been stolen that "Strawberry Fields" is only painted on a wall now after several replacements (about the others I don't know). Once even the 8ft high iron gates of the Strawberry Field Salvation Army children's home (the song refers to) were stolen. Two men put the gates into a van and drove away. Some children saw this and informed members of staff. They immediately went to the end of the drive only to find the gates were gone. (The gates were worth £5000 ~8000$ - in the late 1960s.)

[Rsmyth]

I took a picture of Billy the Kids grave circa 1975. Even then collectors had begun chipping away pieces of the stone. The complete marker (and very large) had been stolen more than once in the past. Today it is has been placed in a cage where it cannot be touched.

[L Verge]

I took a picture of Billy the Kids grave circa 1975. Even then collectors had begun chipping away pieces of the stone. The complete marker (and very large) had been stolen more than once in the past. Today it is has been placed in a cage where it cannot be touched.

Sort of like the Plymouth Rock.

[RJNorton]

The guns which were once part of the Boston Corbett monument (Concordia, Kansas) have been stolen.

Credits:

Photo: Bob Cook
Information: Dave Taylor and Steve Miller

http://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussio...n#pid19628

[Wesley Harris]

I live not far from the granite marker noting where Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker were killed. So many pieces have been chipped off by souvenir hunters that the text is hardly visible. The historical markers like the one at Garrett's Farm are terribly expensive. I've been working on a project to replace missing markers in my parish (what we call counties here in Louisiana) and the price of a marker plus the post plus the Highway Dept's labor to install it is about $2,500 each. With the price we've been quoted for a replacement, sounds like we're getting "free installation."

[wpbinzel]

In order to call attention to the issue, I also posted a request for funding in a thread under "Assassination" (and sent a check to Laurie). Hopefully, we are close to raising the necessary funds. My thanks to Roger for his initial post; to Dave Taylor for his efforts on his website; and to Laurie and the Surratt Society for taking the lead to replace a historic sign that was mindlessly removed.

[L Verge]

I am happy to announce that we are within $400 of reaching our goal on this. Dave, KateH, and Jennifer Loux rewrote the text, and I believe it is under review by the committee right now. I am now trying to find the original email that was sent to me by the truck driver reporting the sign missing. I want to keep him in the loop also. Anyone who writes, "I'm just a truck driver, but I love history" wins my heart right away!

[LincolnMan]

Upon a recent visit to the Cleveland Soldiers and Sailors Monument I was very saddened to hear that it had been vandalized. Fortunately, the event was caught on camera. There is a criminal case pending.

[Gene C]

People with little or no self respect, tend to have no respect for anything else either.

[Rsmyth]

Napoleon etched his name into one of the pyramids. Wes, don't let it all disappear! I have been meaning to visit the area for pictures. Years ago I drove all over Texas taking photos of the gangs graves including victims like the motorcycle police gunned down in Grapevine which has a similar monument on the spot.

[L Verge]

I am happy to report that we are within sneezing distance of reaching our goal of $1800 to replace the marker at the Garrett farm site! I just received a $250 pledge from the truck driver who first alerted me to the sign's disappearance.

[RJNorton]

Laurie just sent this:

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The truck driver who first alerted me to the missing sign at the site of the Garrett farm over a month ago had sent a photo of the white rag that the thieves had left behind. He sent a larger view yesterday because he (and now I) are intrigued with the unusual way the cloth is tied in multiple fashions. Does anyone have a clue as to whether the form of knotting might have some symbolism? Our friend's name, btw, is Gareth Denham, and he's a Marylander -- and now has a one year, complimentary membership in the Surratt Society because of his actions on behalf of our "cause."