Statue of Revolutionary War-Era Soldier Beheaded At Central Ohio Courthouse

BUCYRUS, OH — Vandals have beheaded a statue honoring Revolutionary War-era Col. William Crawford that stands in front of the Crawford County Courthouse in central Ohio. One former resident isn’t standing for it, and is putting up $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest of whoever is responsible.

The attack on the Crawford statue occurred sometime after Sunday, said attorney Joel Spitzer, who grew up in Bucyrus but now lives in Powell, a suburb of Columbus. Spitzer, who was in town for last weekend’s Bratwurst Festival, has pictures from Sunday that show the statue intact. Since then, though, vandals struck.

“I’m just really disappointed,” said Spitzer, who posted pictures to his Facebook page of the vandalized statue. It’s on Facebook that he posted his reward offer.

“I love my hometown,” Spitzer wrote. “I don't know much of the history of Col. Crawford, but for the fact that he was a surveyor and a soldier of the Revolutionary War and French and Indian War.”

And, indeed, it is perplexing who—and why—someone would attack Crawford. While statues in the southern United States recently have been targeted because they represent the Confederacy, Crawford predates that history. Messages left for more information at the Crawford County Prosecutor Matthew Crall's office and the Crawford County Sheriff's office were not immediately returned.

In addition to Spitzer, other residents have joined him to offer a reward. As of this afternoon, they collectively were offering about $1,350, Spitzer said. "This whole community is frustrated by this," he said.

According to OhioHistoryCentral.org, Crawford fought in the Revolutionary War and key battles against Native Americans, including the Battles of the Sandusky and Olentangy in 1782. Crawford, however, was captured in the fighting, and was tortured and burned at the stake by the Delaware Indians. A historic marker is placed near the site of where Crawford was put to death.

Image courtesy of Joel Spitzer