The Independent

Petrolia Discovery officials say four people armed with a sledgehammer did significant damage to the historic site.

Around 8:40 pm Friday, the foundation’s security cameras on the site recorded four people enter the grounds at the south entrance using bicycles and flashlights. Using a sledge hammer, the group “inflicted extensive damage across the site,” officials said in a news release.

The foundation estimates several hundred dollars worth of damage was done as the group broke windows, discharged fire extinguishers, damaged and removed locks and doors.

Foundation Board Chair, Liz Welsh, says it appears the people have repeatedly targeted the site with their actions becoming more severe over time. 

“There have been three incidents and the other two were more of a mischievous nature….but this was clearly targeted. The weather was not nice on Friday night; nobody wants to go out in that so, they chose to go out and do a lot of damage.”

Welsh says the vandals have broken a lot of windows at the site.

“In the three incidents windows were broken in the Toll House, the Corey building, the church and the schoolhouse. This time was the blacksmith shop which took the bulk of the brunt of the breakages.

The vandals also broke off some locks on doors and stole some artifacts from the Toll House. Welsh says the artifacts don’t have a monetary value but are still important.

Welsh says the Discovery has extra glass on hand to eventually fix the broken windows however volunteers who were looking forward to a much needed break, are now spending even more time at the site to secure the buildings which have been damaged.

 In the board’s news release, the foundation says the acts of vandalism harm the site and threaten its role as a cultural and educational resource for the community.

“This escalating vandalism is not just an attack on our property; it is an attack on our shared history and heritage,” said Welsh. 

“The Petrolia Discovery site holds a special place in our community, and these acts of destruction deeply sadden and disappoint us.”

Welsh says the board is working with the OPP to figure out who caused the damage. It has turned over video surveillance and urges anyone who knows anything about the destruction at the Discovery Line site to call the OPP or Crime Stoppers.

Welsh says she’s not sure what the motivation for the vandalism might be but admits, “at night, it’s pretty dark up there,” allowing the vandals to operate under the cover of darkness.

 Welsh is urging anyone who might have information to speak with police.