Beaver sculpture and historical plaque stolen in Delaware County Robert Moran, The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Pennsylvania State Police on Tuesday asked for the public’s help in locating a stolen historical plaque and beaver sculpture in Delaware County that marked a fur-trading route used by native people and colonists during the 17th century.
“The Great Trail” marker was placed in 1926 near the intersection of Rose Valley Road and Traymore Lane in Rose Valley Borough to remember the route used for trading fur with the Susquehannock people, also known as the Minquas. The trail, alternatively called the Great Minquas Path, stretched from the Susquehanna River in Lancaster County to the Schuylkill in Philadelphia.
Smallbones/Creative Commons Bronze Beaver is the work of the late Philadelphia artist Albert Laessle. It was installed along with a historical plaque in Rose Valley Borough in 1926 to commemorate The Great Minquas Trail and its role in the fur trade between Native Americans and European settlers. The statue and plaque were stolen some time between Sunday, April 4 and Monday, April 5.
Rose Valley Borough is offering a $5,000 reward for the recovery of a beaver statue and historical plaque commemorating a fur trading route that dates back to the 17th century.
Pennsylvania State Police said Tuesday the statue and plaque were stolen from the tiny Delaware County town, located less two miles south of Media, some time between 5 p.m. Sunday and 5 p.m. Monday. The display is located near Rose Valley Road and Traymore Lane, close to the Thunderbird Lodge.