PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Police are on the lookout for whomever dug up 100-year-old flowers from outside a historical house in the city.
Presque Isle police Detective Bill Scull said Friday that someone dug up between eight and 10 multicolored antique peonies sometime in the last two weeks from outside the Vera Estey House on Third Street. It was not noticed until this week, as the house is not open regularly and only offers one hour tours six times each year.
Because of their age, the flowers are estimated to have a total value between $500 and $1,000.
The Estey House preserves an entire home and its contents from the early- to mid-1900s to give visitors a chance to experience what life was like during that era. Vera Estey willed the home to the Presque Isle Historical Society with an endowment fund to help with upkeep and preservation projects at the site.
It contains a small period perennial garden outside the facility.
Scull said that Craig Green, president of the historical society, reported the flowers stolen Friday.
“Someone just came and dug them up, they were not pulled out of the ground,” said Scull.
He said that he was not sure if someone could know the age or value of the flowers just by looking at them.