A vintage garage door was destroyed during a recent break and enter at Sunnybrook Farm Museum.
Executive director Ian Warwick said damage to the historic garage donated by the Bower family occurred overnight on Sept. 6.
“Someone backed their truck into the garage door and smashed it. It’s just sad that they would go to those lengths. There was nothing to steal,” Warwick said.
“Now, we have a 1940s garage door that can’t be repaired. That was Norman Bower’s original garage door.”
RCMP Cpl. Michael Evans said sometimes, criminals will use vehicles to crash their way into a building, but said there hasn’t been a recent increase in the practice.
Thankfully, there was nothing stolen from the farm museum, he said.
“It’s one of those situations where folks are desperate and trying to get ahead for themselves, trying to find anything that’s not bolted down,” Evans said.
He said the break-in occurred between 6 and 9 p.m., and anyone with information about the crime is asked to contact Red Deer RCMP at 403-343-5575.
Warwick said a new garage door won’t fit, so volunteers will have to replace it with a wall. Repairs could cost about $500.
“It’s just frustrating. We’re trying to preserve things that were built in the ‘40s and ‘50s that are part of the historic site.”
The Bower family purchased the land about 120 years ago and donated the original farm site, and farm buildings, to Red Deer Museum in 1988, and is now owned by the Friends of Sunnybrook Farm Society.
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The museum, located on 10 acres at 2879 Botterill Cres., has about 10 buildings, big and small, filled with farm artifacts. Tractors and farm equipment are also displayed on the grounds.
Warwick said this summer, day camps for children were held in small groups to meet COVID-19 social distancing rules.
Groups that usually hold meetings in Calder School were instead meeting outside, near the school.
Volunteers have also gathered in small groups to prepare for the Nov. 24 Ladies of Sunnybrook Farm Pie Sale.
szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com
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