Stolen Bethel AME Historical Marker Returned to Dept. of Archives and History

Church Member Calls it an Answered Prayer

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)- Historical Marker Coordinator Dr. Ehren Foley says he was surprised when learned Bethel AME’s marker was waiting for him at his office.

“Monday morning I had a voicemail message on my phone from the woman who works at the front desk. She was working here on Saturday and she said at some point during the day, two men came in driving an ambulance, brought the marker back, said they found it outside of the old Bethel AME downtown and brought it back here,” said Foley.

Church member Mary Skinner-Jones said she prayed in the church last Friday. Monday, she got an unexpected call from the state’s department of archives and history.

“I got the call that we got the marker back. I asked for a sign and that was the sign that came back, the one that was taken down so a prayer was answered,” Jones said.

Foley says historical marker thefts are rare but having a stolen marker returned is even more unusual.

“We’ve had a few that have gone missing under mysterious circumstances, presumably stolen or ripped down, taken away, but this is the first one that’s come back,” said Foley.

Foley says all markers are funded through organizations. This marker was erected by Historic Columbia, The City of Columbia and the Department of Transportation. Foley says it will cost around $900 to repair it.

For now the marker will stay at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, until the plans to re-erect it are finalized.