Dan Stone from the city’s Parks Department reported that four bronze plaques have gone missing overall so far that he is aware of; one at the Fenton Mansion commemorating the centennial of the incorporation of the City of Jamestown; one from Arbor Day 1986 marking the Katsura Tree being planted; one at the boat landing at McCrae Point which is a Vikings plaque; and another on Harrison Street at the Worsted Mills site. All three are bronze plaques that had been mounted on rocks. The final plaque was at the National Comedy Center by the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad tracks leading to the Chadakoin Riverwalk. Stone also reported that the Historical Marker that had previously been presumed stolen has been found.

The issue was first announced as being on the city’s radar during an early November City Council work session by Mayor Kim Ecklund, who said she had been approached by Stone and the Parks Department and was looking to inform the public that it was something that was happening. The issue was brought up again at the late November council work session by Councilman Bill Reynolds, R-Ward 5.

“I’d like to reach out to the public, because maybe somebody knows where these bronze markers that are being pilfered and stolen are at,” Reynolds said. “We’re asking help from the citizenry to report any suspicious activity.”

City Historian Ashley Senske said she was the one who reported the marker on Harrison Street stolen a few weeks ago after it was brought to her attention by some of Jamestown’s citizens.

Pictured is the stolen bronze plaque marking the planting of the Katsura Tree. Submitted photo

In the meantime, Senske said the city is continuing to prepare to dedicate another historical marker this year, which will be the 80th in the city. She added that thankfully, even if the markers are stolen the city’s history will not be entirely lost, thanks to the historical marker booklet that she has made that is available on the city’s website in PDF format, found under the Parks Department’s page.

“I think it could be a good way to plug that the city and historical marker committee members, both present and past, take care and a lot of their own time to document and preserve the city’s history, and if citizens could help us keep an eye out for this happening and to report any missing to Dan Stone in the Parks Department, that would be a huge help,” Senske said.

Pictured is the stolen bronze plaque from the Comedy Center. Submitted photo

Pictured is the bronze historical marker, marking the location of Viking Pier at McCrea Point, one of the four plaques that have recently been stolen. Submitted photo