Saint John mayor asks thieves to return fountainhead stolen from bandstand

CTV Atlantic
Published Wednesday, August 7, 2013 5:23PM ADT
Last Updated Wednesday, August 7, 2013 6:47PM ADT

Saint John Mayor Mel Norton has issued a plea to the thieves who stole part of the newly-restored King's Square bandstand ? a project completed only last week.

Sometime over the weekend, the original 1908 copper fountainhead was stolen from the bandstand.

?This is more than just taking a copper fountainhead. This is a violation of the entire citizenry of this city and we want that object back,? says Norton.

Norton issued an appeal Tuesday afternoon asking the thief, or thieves, to return the stolen fountainhead.

For a brief few days, the bandstand in King's Square was again the pride of the community after being restored by two local businessmen at a cost of $100,000, though some say the true cost of the restoration project was closer to $200,000.

Thousands of people celebrated the rebirth of the century-old landmark and some say the monetary loss is minuscule compared to the cultural loss.

?No, it?s not about money,? says restoration organizer Norm McFarlane. ?It?s just that everybody seen it that day. There were 3,000 or 4,000 people. It?d be nice to have that and put that back again.?

Merlin Hartman is visiting the area from Nebraska. He says copper thefts are rampant in his home state.

?I?m afraid we?re going to have to go to inexpensive memorials and other things that mark what we think is important?just to stay away from having things disappear,? says Hartman.

Norton says the thief can drop off the historic item anonymously.

In the future, city officials are not ruling out the installation of surveillance cameras in the area.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Mike Cameron

Source: http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/saint-john-mayor-asks-thieves-to-return-fountainhead-stolen-from-bandstand-1.1401646

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