Museum Review

Stolen museum artifacts turn up in trash bag

OTTAWA (CBC) - They say one man's trash is another man's treasure, and treasure is exactly what Ed Wilson found when he tore open a garbage bag left outside the North Lanark Regional Museum in Appleton, Ont., on Monday.

Inside were historical artifacts stolen from the museum almost a year ago, including war medals, geology tools and three quilts.

Wilson, the museum's treasurer, had been working inside the museum building near Almonte, Ont., about 45 kilometres southwest of Ottawa.

He opened the back door to go outside, and found the large black plastic bag blocking his way.

Wilson pushed the bag out of the way for the time being, then returned about an hour later to take it home and throw out with the rest of his trash.

But he said he was curious about the contents of the bag because he presumed it was left behind after a euchre party at the museum, and those parties don't usually generate much garbage.

"I tore a small hole in the bag because I wondered what was being thrown out," Wilson recalled.

"Inside was a quilt - one of three quilts that were stolen."

He said had noticed that same quilt missing on Dec. 21, 2005, along with many of the other items found beneath it inside the bag.

Not all the stolen items were returned - a silver pocket watch is still at large.

But the artifacts that found their way home were in good shape, he said.

Police are investigating how the pieces were taken and who returned them.

posted by UltimateWriter @ 10:24 AM