University of Michigan will replace vandalized plaque marking Jewish cemetery
This damaged state historic marker will be replaced, the University of Michigan said. The U-M Department of Public Safety has both pieces of the plaque, which was damaged July 10.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
The vandalized historic marker that pays tribute to the first Jewish cemetery in Michigan will be replaced, the University of Michigan's Record Update reported.
The metal plaque snapped in half after being tampered with in the early hours of July 10, according to the U-M Department of Public Safety. The plaque was located on the southwest corner of East Huron and Fletcher streets near the Rackham Graduate School.
The metal plaque’s two pieces are now in the possession of campus police, the Record Update reported.
"The university will work with appropriate state officials and ensure the plaque is replaced as soon as possible," Hank Baier, the associate vice president for facilities and operations, told the Record Update.
There are no suspects, said public information officer Diane Brown. It could be that the vandals were attempting to take the metal for its perceived value. Those with information can contact DPS at 734-763-1131 or U-M’s anonymous tip line at 1-800-863-1355.
Ann Arbor resident Helen Aminoff’s research led to the placement of the plaque in the early 1980s.
According to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, the cemetery was established between 1848 and 1849 when the Jews Society of Ann Arbor acquired burial rights to the land, which was next to what was a public cemetery.
In prior years, German and Austrian immigrants began the first Jewish community in the state, holding religious services in the homes of the five Weil brothers.
The original Jewish community no longer existed by the 1880s, and in 1900, the remains of those buried were reinterred at Ann Arbor’s Forest Hill Cemetery, according to the housing development authority’s description of the site.
Juliana Keeping covers general assignment and health and the environment for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at julianakeeping@annarbor.com or 734-623-2528. Follow Juliana Keeping on Twitter
Comments
Trepang674
Tue, Jul 19, 2011 : 7:18 p.m.
Atticus...is on to something here. Why not make the scrap guys responsible to track their purchases of copper pipe, and bronze statues and plaques...
bedrog
Tue, Jul 19, 2011 : 8:36 p.m.
Actually most scrap metal people dont deal with bronze ,and in any case bronze statuary , big or small, is so costly to produce that any that came on the ( hard to find) scrap market would doubtlessly be a theft or vandalism .... theoretically scrap bronze might come from old plumbing fittings, but the particular alloy that was used in these is usually not that used by modern foundries. .Bronze is also so heavy that you could track the thief by looking for anyone sketchy with a hernia.
Atticus F.
Tue, Jul 19, 2011 : 5:57 p.m.
they should increaes the penalties for stealing scrap metal, and for knowingly buying stolen scrap metal. There are neighborhoods in wayne county that heve been absolutely destroyed by scrap meatal theives. 100k Homes ruined for $200 worth of copper.
Atticus F.
Tue, Jul 19, 2011 : 7:58 p.m.
Haran, I think you are missing the bigger picture. These scrap metal theives are here to steal metal without ANY concern about its historical value, or without concern for how their actions can destroy an entire community for a couple of dollars. Yes the penalties should be greater for people who destroy historical monuments. But if we would increase the penalty for scrap metal theft, it would go along way in preventing crimes like this, as well as the decimation of entire communities.
Haran Rashes
Tue, Jul 19, 2011 : 6:25 p.m.
Unfortunately, the statutory penalties for destruction of a Michigan Historical Marker are a joke. A misdemeanor with up to 93 days in jail and a fine of up to $5,000. They are provided for in MCL 399.158(4): "(4) A person or agency shall not damage, destroy, deface, remove, tamper with, alter, or possess an official Michigan historical marker displayed at a historic resource or site without the department's written permission. A person or agency that violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 93 days or a fine of not less than $500.00 or more than $5,000.00, or both. A person who pleads guilty or nolo contendere or is determined guilty under this subsection is liable to this state in an amount double the cost of repair, replacement, and restoration of the official state historic site and official Michigan historical marker."
Joslyn at the U
Tue, Jul 19, 2011 : 5:28 p.m.
How sad hatefull and disrespectfull. My heart weeps for the souls of those whose memory finds itself desacrated
Lovaduck
Tue, Jul 19, 2011 : 5:17 p.m.
A sad story! I'd hesitate to attribute it to any Antisemitism, since where I moved in the Southwest, thieves steal anything metal that they can during these economic times. Some of the above suggestions about alternate formats and materials are helpful.
Stupid Hick
Tue, Jul 19, 2011 : 5:55 p.m.
if the motive were to steal the metal, why would the thieves leave behind the (larger) piece they broke off?
Haran Rashes
Tue, Jul 19, 2011 : 2:29 p.m.
The text of all Michigan Historical Markers, including the "Michigan's First Jewish Cemetery" marker, is online at <a href="http://http://www.michmarkers.com/" rel='nofollow'>http://http://www.michmarkers.com/</a> As an interesting side note, the site mentions that this was one of only three markers in the state mounted on the ground. The complete text of the marker read: "Michigan's First Jewish Cemetery At this site the first Jewish cemetery in Michigan was established in 1848-49. The Jews Society of Ann Arbor acquired burial rights to this land adjacent to what was then the public cemetery. Several years earlier, immigrants from Germany and Austria had organized the first Jewish community in the state. Their first religious services were held in the homes of the five Weil brothers in the vicinity of the family tannery, J. Weil and Brothers. Members of the Jewish community participated in all aspects of the city's life. Jacob Weil served Ann Arbor as alderman from 1859 to 1861. By the 1880's this original Jewish community no longer existed. In 1900 the remains of those buried here were reintered in Ann Arbor's Forest Hill Cemetery." There is a Jewish custom of visiting graves right before Rosh Hashanah called Kever Avot. Perhaps the replacement marker can be installed before then so the site can be rededicated at what would be an appropriate time.
bedrog
Tue, Jul 19, 2011 : 1:29 p.m.
The advantage to a bronze plaque---if done in the lost wax method from a template of raised letters , easily doable on wood or rubber with laser technology...is that a rubber mold is part of the casting process that can be reused for ready replacement in the event of future problems. An excellent foundry in Clarkston that has done a number of jobs on campus ( e.g. the panthers in front of the exhibits museum) will probably get the job if that's the route that's followed.
Charlie Brown's Ghost
Tue, Jul 19, 2011 : 12:41 p.m.
Whatever you do don't make it out of copper!
Huron74
Tue, Jul 19, 2011 : 12:38 p.m.
Make the next marker out of carved stone. It might still get vandalized but metal thieves won't bother it.
xmo
Tue, Jul 19, 2011 : 11:44 a.m.
Art Fair homeless coming to town and creating a crime wave in Ann Arbor!