Marker not stolen after all
By ROGER ADKINS and JOLENE CRAIGWILLIAMSTOWN - The historical marker reported stolen from Tomlinson Park on Highland Avenue was removed for cleaning and not taken, a state highway official said Thursday morning.
"We took it down, along with a lot of others throughout Wood County," said Tom Potts, supervisor of the West Virginia Division of Highways District 3 sign shop. "They are being refurbished."
On Wednesday, Williamstown police Chief B.D. Adkins said the sign was reported missing by City Councilman Ron Erb.
"Nobody told us what was going on," said Mayor Jean Ford.
Potts said he did not contact the cities from which the signs were taken because the signs do not belong to the cities.
"They are historical markers and the cities really have nothing to do with them," he said. "I should have called, though."
The 2-by-2-foot sign tells Williamstown's history and has been in the park as long as Ford said she can remember.
"I really don't know how long it has been there or who even put it up," Ford said. "As long as I can remember, it has been here."
The West Virginia Highway Historical Marker Program placed the marker, as well as another 1,000 throughout the state, according to the West Virginia Division of Culture and History.
The program was implemented in 1937 to encourage tourism during the Great Depression.
Potts said markers are being repaired by Sewah Foundry in Marietta as part of a grant the West Virginia State Archives received.
All of the markers will be returned to their respective spots when the restoration is complete.
That could take a couple of weeks, Potts said.
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buffster1
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11-22-08 8:45 PM
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Its pretty sad when officials have no idea whats going on in thier own town. And west virginia wounders why all the other states make fun of them. LOL
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Satchmo
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11-21-08 8:15 PM
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Our State Highway department should have made a courtesy call, or at least notified the news to make people aware of the upcoming marker repair work. Hats off to those folks in Williamstown who were alert enough to notice the sign was missing.
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sleepyeye
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11-21-08 6:42 PM
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I see where a new marker is in place now
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Linda1
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11-21-08 6:53 AM
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Oh yea...this is too funny...
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opinionator
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11-21-08 6:09 AM
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Our mayor should have known this was on State Highway property. That should have been her first call. But this is more a comical story than anything to get upset about.
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