The Plaza History Association of San Juan Bautista is offering a
no-questions-asked reward of $1,000 for the return or information
regarding two historic artifacts that were stolen from the tack
room of the Castro-Breen Adobe at the end of April.
The Plaza History Association of San Juan Bautista is offering a no-questions-asked reward of $1,000 for the return or information regarding two historic artifacts that were stolen from the tack room of the Castro-Breen Adobe at the end of April.
A pair of silver spurs and a rawhide headstall were stolen sometime around April 30 from the San Juan Bautista State Historic Park museum exhibit after an employee discovered the missing items.
“We are hoping somebody out there will have some information and they will come forward,” said Curtis Price, superintendent of the Gavilan Sector for the California State Parks Department. “Somebody out there may know somebody who may know something. We are looking at all the leads and information we get.”
Price hoped the artifacts were still in the area, and said he received one report about the items, but the person never called back.
“It didn’t happen,” he said.
Price said the theft of two artifacts from the San Juan Bautista State Historic Park museum exhibit was a rare occurrence and that the artifacts are not only important to the state park but the entire community.
“It’s a personal thing to a lot of people in the community, not just relatives,” he said. “It is not like stealing tires from XYZ tire store. The collection’s importance to the community makes it more sentimental. This is an intrusion into the of the history of San Juan and the Breen family.”
The rawhide headstall is approximately 15 inches long and 3 inches wide. The American-type spurs were made in Mexico and have distinguishable artwork of a silver person soldered onto each spur.
Investigators are asking western memorabilia dealers and those dealing in antiquities to beware of the artifacts. The historic items are a part of the Breen family collection that has been on display since the early 1960s. The Breens settled in the San Juan Bautista area during the 1850s.
Security measures at the historic state park include rangers patrolling the grounds during the day while an alarm is activated during the night.
According to the Plaza History Association, the artifacts are unique because members of the Patrick Breen family were California pioneers who were part of the Donner Party and survived the ill-fated journey.
If anyone has information about the artifact theft, contact Park Superintendent Curtis Price at 623-0610.
