A series of robberies in Pictou County, NS, pointing to historical plates and church bells for scrap, have left residents feeling unconsacted and frustrated.
In March, a 50 -year -old brass plate that belongs to the McCulloch House Museum in the city of Pictou was stolen. In recent months, brass plates were also torn from two different monuments of Cairn in the communities of Lorne and Churchville. The Lorne Cairn was built almost four decades ago in recognition of Clanbar, some of the first Scotland settlers in the community.
“They are just a little history, it’s everything. Nobody, never touched anything years ago, but now, nothing is sacred,” said Chester Dewar, resident of Lorne and the councilor of the County of District 12.
Dewar said he called local scrap in an effort to locate the plaque, but fell short. Now, it will cost more to replace the plaque of what it estimates for which it was sold.
“If they obtained $ 30 for this, I would really surprise me to discard, but it will cost $ 3,300 and taxes to replace it,” said Dewar.
Arlene MacGregor lives in Churchville and said that her neighbors noticed that the two missing plates of the CAIRN erected in the city more than 90 years ago that marked the first house in the community.
MacGregor said he never thought that no one would have any interest in some old brass plates.
“It was a great blow to our system, I guess you could say,” MacGregor said.
A church bell belonging to the Catholic Church of the Holy Name in Westville also disappeared and was finally found and returned. And a church bell in the Cala de Ballantyne in Antigonish County also disappeared and was discovered in Thorburn, Pictou County.
The residents began a Facebook group called Pictou County, staggered thieves in response to robberies in early April and since then has obtained more than 1,000 members. The group includes residents that document other articles stolen in the community, including a car battery and a truck. Others regret what they feel is an inadequate RCMP action.
“Maybe these vandals realize that they can get yours now,” MacGregor said.
Sergeant Curtis Mackinnon, the commander of the RCMP district for Pictou, said he understands why community members are frustrated.
“I also feel frustration, we are doing everything possible,” said Mackinnon. “They are very isolated areas of those that were taken. So we have made the bar and trying to obtain potential customers in the investigation, but we are still looking for the best possible to track them.”
Maritime noon53:00On the phone: our theme is cancer and listeners share their stories. And outside the top of the show, we listen to a woman in Antigonish County who recovered a stolen church bell. And we listen to an update on the Elver fishery in NS.
Saud Macregor The robberies have left a lasting impact on their small community.
“We were raped that someone would damage a community icon for us,” MacGregor said. “The thing is that people who are doing that damage … It means absolutely anything for them and simply feel they can damage what they want to get a few dollars.”
