DEARBORN (WWJ) - A rare artifact that mysteriously disappeared from Dearborn 60 years ago has been found and returned to its rightful owner.
The powder horn was stolen back in 1952, according to the FBI, and popped up at auction last November with a starting bid of $13,000.
Tuesday afternoon, reporters snapped photos and bystanders clapped as Special Jacob Archer, with the FBI Art Crime Team, officially presnted the horn the Detroit Historical Society.
Made at Fort #4 in Charlestown, New Hampshire, on June 30, 1757, for a soldier by the name of Lt. Abel Prindel, the horn is engraved with Lt. Prindel’s name, rank and the date on which it was made.
It also has the following verse carved into it:
"I powder with my broth ballA heroe like do Conquer allTis best abrod with foreign foes to fightAnd not at home to feel their hateful spiteWhere all our friends of every sex and ageWill be exposed until their creuel rage"
The artifact disappeared from Dearborn Historical Museum in 1952 shortly before an exhibition entitled “Saga of a Settler” was open to the public. At the time of the exhibition, the powder horn was on loan from the Detroit Historical Society.
"It turned up at an estate (in Philadelphia) of a person who had recently passed," explained Stan Kolakowski of Dearborn police. Although that person is not beleived to have been involved in the theft.
As for who did steal the horn, that's still unclear.
"After getting that lead from the auction house records, we were able to track (the item's source) down to a person who we had prior experience with...who's again, a potential unwitting person in this..." Archer said.
The horn will be on short-term display through Spring 2019 at the Detroit Historical Museum. After that, it will be used in “Frontiers to Factories,” a permanent exhibit that focuses on the city’s early history.