Newburyport Police Investigate Targeted Theft of Historical Bronze Plaque From African American Memorial Site

Newburyport police are investigating the theft of a bronze plaque from an African American memorial at the Old Hill graveyard amid a series of local thefts.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 30, 2026, 4:10 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Boston.com

The Disappearance of a Landmark Commemoration

Law enforcement officials on the North Shore have launched a specialized investigation into the theft of a historical bronze plaque from the Old Hill graveyard. According to a press release from the Newburyport Police Department, the theft was officially reported on March 24 after the marker was removed from its mounting on Greenleaf Street. The 12- by -24-inch bronze plate served as a vital identifier for a historically significant section of the cemetery, dedicated to the memory of those who lived and died in the community centuries ago.

Honoring the Legacy of Unrecognized Residents

The stolen plaque held profound cultural and historical weight, specifically acknowledging the Black men, women, and children interred in the cemetery during the 1700s and 1800s. For generations, these individuals were buried without formal recognition, and the installation of the bronze marker was a modern effort to rectify that historical oversight. By designating the "historic African American section" of the graveyard, the plaque provided both educational value and a place of reflection for residents and descendants alike.

A Growing Pattern of Bronze Thefts in the Region

This incident is not being treated as an isolated case of vandalism. Newburyport police noted that the department is currently managing several other active investigations involving the theft of bronze plaques from various locations across the city. The targeted nature of these crimes suggests that the suspects may be motivated by the material value of the bronze or are intentionally striking sites of historical significance. The removal of these markers represents a systemic loss of public history and community identity.