[CPProt.net] STEALING OUR HISTORY: MISSING MARKERS DISTURB KEEPERS OF STATE'S PAST

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STEALING OUR HISTORY: MISSING MARKERS DISTURB KEEPERS OF STATE'S PAST


Larry Douglas shows a formerly missing marker that found its way back to the
State Historical Society.

CHUCK NOVARA / THE SOUTHERN
 
BY NICOLE SACK 
THE SOUTHERN
MURPHYSBORO -- Illinois State Historical Society members are concerned and
angry over the continued theft of historic markers from sites important to
Illinois history.

During a press conference Monday morning at the John A. Logan Museum,
members of the Illinois Historical Society discussed a growing problem of
missing and stolen historical markers leaving the state, particularly
Southern Illinois, poor in its institutional memory.

Larry Douglas, board member of the Historical Society of Southern Illinois,
said there are more than 400 locations designated to have historic markers
around the state to inform residents and tourists of the historical
significance of sites.

But with a trend of thefts, the information offered by the markers is
evaporating.

Jon Musgrave, advisory board member of the historical society, said half the
historical markers in Southern Illinois are missing. Musgrave said some
counties, including Williamson County, are completely void of the
informational signs.

"Markers are important because they help educate people that something
important happened here or near here," Musgrave said. "They offer a vast
history that is otherwise locked away in a book or some archive."

Musgrave theorized it might be the perceived value of the signs' metal that
has prompted the theft. To fight against the lure of thieves salvaging the
metal from plaques for cash, the historical society will install the first
non-metallic composite marker in Springfield later this week. It is hoped
thieves will find the new markers less attractive.

It costs about $2,500 to replace a stolen historic marker. That includes the
cost for casting, mounting and erecting the markers.

Some historic markers are being recovered.

Michael Batinski, member of the historical society and professor at Southern
Illinois University Carbondale, recovered a marker believed to have been
stolen as a college prank. A recovered sign from the Kaskaskia Reservation
was on hand at the museum awaiting its rededication

"Very few people realize we had an Indian reservation right here in Southern
Illinois just southwest of here in Jackson County," Musgrave said.

Douglas pointed out that while there was a wave of markers erected in the
1930s, there are still no signs indicating the Tri-State Tornado of 1925
that devastated Murphysboro, De Soto, Gorham and West Frankfort, or
designating the site of the first coal mine in Southern Illinois.

To help promote awareness of the state's rich history, Gov. Rod Blagojevich
proclaimed this week as Illinois State Historical Society Markers Awareness
Week.

For more information about how to contribute to the Illinois State
Historical Society go to http://www.historyillinois.org.

Nicole.sack at thesouthern.com 618-351-5816