By Heather Gann
Two historical markers, one related to women’s suffrage and another to African American heritage, were recently damaged in the city of Decatur, according to a release from the police department.
While the department said it has not yet determined if the heritage marker was intentionally vandalized, it has confirmed that the National Votes for Women Trail marker was struck by a commercial vehicle.
The marker was erected in 2021 to pay tribute to Ellen S. Hildreth, who founded an early Alabama suffrage club in Decatur in 1892.
“We continue to investigate the damage caused to the African American Heritage in Old Town Alabama marker,” the release reads.
“Tire tracks were found near the sign.”
Historian Peggy Towns, who worked to get the heritage marker placed in 2016, said it “truly disturbed” her when she discovered it had been destroyed.
“Why this act of violence?” Towns recently wrote in a post to Facebook.
“Devastated is an understatement. I was truly disturbed to see the African American Heritage in Old Town Alabama Historical marker vandalized today.”
Efforts to reach Towns were not immediately successful.
Established in the early 1900s, Old Town is Decatur’s oldest property continuously occupied by African Americans, according to Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area.
In 2012 the neighborhood was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
“The marker was erected to call attention to the significant contributions the Old Town community had on Decatur,” Towns wrote.
“I am encouraging you to come forward if you know anything.”
Decatur residents have come forward on social media to express their outrage at the signs’ destruction.
“The destroyers do not understand that the history is written in our hearts, and we will not allow it to be erased,” one woman wrote.
“How very sad!” commented another.
“I hope this was an accident and whoever did this will come forward.”
