Here’s a closeup of the tablet itself.
Anyway, while visiting the park just before Christmas (to photograph the city’s Nativity scene), I noticed that the boulder containing the tablet was not where it was in 2010.
I walked around the park and found the boulder. It was lying on the ground at the southern end of the park, facing the former fire station – minus one tablet.
I put a call in to Lorain’s Park Dept. and spoke with an employee about the tablet. She was not aware of the tablet being missing, or of its possible removal for cleaning or repair. She took my name and number and I haven’t heard back since.
Here’s hoping that the USS Maine tablet is merely being prepared for proper reinstallation, and not on its way to the auction block (and a private collection) like so many others.
It didn’t take long to get some answers as to what happened to the tablet.
I received an email yesterday from Loraine Ritchey. She explained that the Charleston Village Society, Inc. convinced the City of Lorain to remove the tablet after the group noticed that it has been vandalized (painted pink and attacked by scrappers). Apparently it was moved to City Hall where it was put on display for a time. (Loraine also posted a comment below.)
I also received an email from local historian Albert Doane, who passed along information that he received from Renee Dore. Renee confirmed that the tablet was removed a few years ago as a safety precaution against scrappers.
Today (Sunday), I paid a visit to Lorain City Hall, hoping to grab a photo of the tablet. The building was open, and I wandered around the lobby for about ten minutes without encountering anybody I could ask as to the tablet’s whereabouts. There was a display case full of student artwork, but no tablet.
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UPDATE (January 27, 2019)It didn’t take long to get some answers as to what happened to the tablet.
I received an email yesterday from Loraine Ritchey. She explained that the Charleston Village Society, Inc. convinced the City of Lorain to remove the tablet after the group noticed that it has been vandalized (painted pink and attacked by scrappers). Apparently it was moved to City Hall where it was put on display for a time. (Loraine also posted a comment below.)
I also received an email from local historian Albert Doane, who passed along information that he received from Renee Dore. Renee confirmed that the tablet was removed a few years ago as a safety precaution against scrappers.
Today (Sunday), I paid a visit to Lorain City Hall, hoping to grab a photo of the tablet. The building was open, and I wandered around the lobby for about ten minutes without encountering anybody I could ask as to the tablet’s whereabouts. There was a display case full of student artwork, but no tablet.
