(Arnolds Park)– A historical marker stolen many years ago from the Abbie Gardner Sharp cabin in Arnolds Park is back in its rightful place.
The marker was placed on the site in 1928 by the Daughters of the American Revolution, or D-A-R.
The bronze marker was discovered on sale on the internet auction site, E-bay, by the national D-A-R office, which contacted local members. Dickinson County Sheriff Greg Baloun conducted an investigation and tracked down the seller, but efforts to contact him were unsuccessful. Authorities then obtained a search warrant on the seller’s residence in Tama county…where the plaque was recovered. The seller, who didn’t know the plaque had been stolen, said he purchased it at an estate auction for a local doctor. The seller was warned that he was dealing with stolen merchandise, and he turned the plaque over to authorities.
A special event was held Thursday at the Gardner Cabin Historic Site in Arnolds Park to commemorate the return of the marker. It will be put in a more secure setting in a locked display case in the museum at the Gardner Cabin Visitor Center.
A similar historic marker was also stolen from the site where the former Luce cabin stood. That marker remains missing. The Luce cabin was also attacked by indians in the late 1800’s…during the same massacre at the Gardner cabin.
