Thief swipes plaque from Libertyville Civic Center

Two plaques, hanging side by side on a wall near the main entrance to the Libertyville Civic Center, had, after years, kind of blended into the decor.

On closer inspection, one might see the cast aluminum discs were actually replicas of a pair of images. Turn over a dollar bill and you'll see what they depicted: "The Great Seal of the United States."

In the scheme of things, the hangings were a small detail at the village-owned center, 135 W. Church St. But when one was stolen recently, a bit of history evaporated and raised questions of just what they meant.

"We all feel kind of sad about it, you know," said Anne Carlino, director of the center, which is a hub for senior and community events. "We knew it was special."

A worker discovered the theft early Sunday, May 9, Carlino said.

"He sat down at the front desk and there it wasn't," she said.

The missing plaque showed an American bald eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and a bundle of 13 arrows in the other, among other symbols. The partner seal, depicting an unfinished pyramid topped by the Eye of Providence, was left behind.

Carlino estimated the plaques, both pewter in color, are about 24 inches in diameter - hardly something someone could hide under their coat or slip in a pocket.

There had been a family birthday party at the center the night before attended by about 200 people, Carlino said.

Was it taken as a prank to be tossed aside? Is it now hanging somewhere else? Did whoever take it know what it was?

She said she contacted the person who had booked the facility.

"He felt bad about it but said he did not know" what happened to the plaque, she added. A search of the grounds also came up empty.

Libertyville Police Lt. Scott Fabbri said someone will likely have to turn it in as there were many people coming and going that night and no video to review.

"This hasn't even been assigned because we've got nothing to go on," he said.

What is known is the plaques have a lengthy though unknown tenure with the building.

The facility was built in 1935 as a post office, and the plaques hung on the outside on either side of the front door. When the post office moved to another location in 1992, the building was purchased by the village.

The plaques remained in storage for several years before they were reintroduced to the public.

"We decided we wanted to display them. We felt they had some historic significance," Carlino said. "We mounted them just inside the front door not expecting anyone would walk off with one because they weigh 20 pounds."

Libertyville Postmaster Jerry Hoglund, who as served since 1982, remembers the plaques.

"They were just always there," he said. "I've been in a lot of different post offices and a lot of old ones and I never saw anything like this."

He wasn't sure whether they were installed with the building or added later, and if that was the case, when that might have been.

Carlino said has no idea how much it might be worth or if it can be replaced.