STOCKTON - Thieves have made three attempts to steal a historic bronze plaque from in front of the Temple Israel Cemetery in Stockton.
The plaque, which was installed in 1961, marks the cemetery at Union and Acacia streets as a state historic site. The serene, lush cemetery rests on three acres and serves as a chronicle of Jewish history in the city over the last 163 years. It saw its first burial in 1851, when S. Friedlander was interred on Oct. 16 after he died in the Sonora goldfields.
"This is the oldest Jewish cemetery in continuous use this side of the Great Divide of the Rockies," said cemetery Superintendent Sheldon Barr.
Two weeks ago someone tried to pry the more than 100-pound plaque from a stone wall near the cemetery's north entrance.
"And they left a space big enough for me to get my fingers between the brass and the granite," Barr said.
Neighbors across the street foiled the attempt and two more over the next two weeks.
"It was wrong. That sign's been there for a long time," said neighbor Mary Altes, who also called Barr.
"Brass is being stolen in this city pretty quickly," Barr said.
Barr had the plaque removed and taken to Stockton Monuments for safekeeping. It may eventually be put on display at Temple Israel, whose board still has to vote on where the plaque will end up.
"This neighborhood can be tough and yet for the amount of vandalism and stuff we get in the cemetery, it's surprisingly small," Barr said, adding that the value of the bronze is what's lured would-be thieves.
The inscription on the plaque may eventually be inscribed in a block of granite too heavy to lift at the front of the cemetery.
The cemetery holds Union soldiers from the Civil War and Stockton notables, including one family that has been in Stockton for five generations.
Barr said he will be buried there someday and has already chosen his final resting place.
"I want it at the front gate. I figure if I'm going to be superintendent, I'm gonna be up front," Barr said, adding he hopes that won't be for awhile.
"It's going to be unoccupied for as long as possible," he said.
