Something is happening in Steinbach that we need to talk about. It is an evolving situation, but as of the moment I press “publish” on this post, there are five historical plaques that have gone missing in Steinbach.
Some might think the City of Steinbach is probably just gripped with a sudden urge to refurbish these plaques now, in the midst of their busiest season. (Which, like, COME ON — is not very likely.) Don’t worry, we checked — and no, it is not City crews removing the plaques for reasons of beautification and improvement. These plaques are being stolen!
The first was noticed by folks participating in the Barkman Marathon on April 18th — the plaque honouring former mayor K. R. Barkman at the “gazebo park” on Main Street was missing:
I noticed the second one missing when I walked to the Jake Epp Library for their yard sale on June 6th:
The third one I noticed when walking past City Hall last week — it had been a plaque about H. W. Reimer and the legendary Reimer Store:
The fourth one I noticed when walking down Main Street yesterday, at the Friesen intersection — it had been a plaque about the Regier family:
And then Andrew noticed the fifth one driving past the E. A. Friesen Park yesterday — a plaque about the history of the Kinsmen (who originally started that park many decades ago):
Are there any others that are missing? We did a plaque wellness check yesterday evening and did not find any others missing. Yet.
For me, the one that really makes me especially sad is the one by the library, along the historical walking path and Loewen flower garden. It had been a beautiful plaque detailing Steinbach’s original families and the plots they had owned. A plaque with a map of the original Steinbach village. Gone.
But you know what? I misspoke. The Bush Farm plaque went missing as well, a few years ago. It was replaced with a material that is, I suppose, perhaps not quite as likely to be stolen again.
So. What kind of pathetic fools would steal plaques?
But you know what? I have a bigger question to ask:
What kind of pathetic fool is making it PROFITABLE to steal plaques?
Who sees these plaques hauled in and thinks, “seems legit” and then shells out twenty bucks or whatever, no questions asked?
WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?
Plaques help us share and see the significance of place.
Especially the one that tells the story of how this city started out. Heck, you can even see the plaque in the dead centre of the top picture of this page on the City of Steinbach’s website. (Guess they should update that picture to show a totally empty frame, for reasons of accuracy?)
This is clearly a developing story and we’ll be continuing with the plaque wellness checks and update you as they continue to disappear. (And as I get angrier.)