Amelia Earhart missing again, this time her statue in Harbour Grace
Mayor Don Coombs says the bronze sculpture is 'worth a fortune'
The town of Harbour Grace is on the lookout for a stolen statue of a beloved historical figure.
Amelia Earhart, an American aviation pioneer, started her 1932 transatlantic flight from Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador. Five years later, she disappeared while flying over the Pacific Ocean.
Harbour Grace Mayor Don Coombs says a bronze statue in Earhart's likeness was stolen overnight.
"Two people were dropped off at 12 o'clock last night and they were picked up at 2:43 in a red SUV," Coombs told CBC News.
Coombs says the statue is "worth a fortune," both because of its material and historical significance.
The Earhart statue was erected in 2007, designed by Lorne Rostotski and donated to the town by pilot Roger Pike, who also donated the Spirit of Harbour Grace plane for display.
Earhart's statue stood just to the left of the Spirit of Harbour Grace, looking up at the airfield where her plane took off from in 1932. The statue was an attraction and inspiration for children in the area, as well as tourists, says Coombs.
"She brought girls to a new level, that the sky is the limit," said Coombs.
"We're devastated, devastated. There's no other word."
It's not an easy lift, according to the mayor.
"That's a heavy, heavy statue," Coombs said. It weighs about 315kg, and won't fit in the trunk of a car.
The goal is to retrieve the statue before it's destroyed, said Coombs.
Harbour Grace-Port de Grave MHA Pam Parsons — also the minister responsible for women and gender equality — calls Thursday a hard day for the town, which takes pride in its aviation history.
"Obviously theft is not good on any occasion, but this is literally a piece of our history," she said, adding that the province only has three statues commemorating women.
"Amelia Earhart, it's a permanent fixture there. It's sad that things have come to this."
The theft comes just two weeks after another act of vandalism in the Conception Bay North town when two bronze plaques marking the anniversary of Earhart's take-off from Harbour Grace were stolen from a park.
The mayor is working with police to seek information and footage from last night's theft.
The town plans to offer a substantial reward for the statue's safe return, he says.
"Let's find out who did it, and let's get her back where she deserves to be," said Coombs.
Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Click here to visit our landing page.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from Terry Roberts
