The life-sized statue of Amelia Earhart was stolen from the Harbour Grace park on April 23Published Apr 24, 2025 • Last updated 13 hours ago • 2 minute readThe Spirit of Harbour Grace park is without its most popular person after the bronze statue of Amelia Earhart was stolen overnight on April 23. Photo by Nicholas Mercer/The TelegramWhen Harbour Grace Mayor Don Coombs visited the Spirit of Harbour Grace park this morning, an eerie feeling washed over him. Standing on the small patch of grass in front of the airplane of the same name, Coombs couldn’t help but notice the park’s caretaker wasn’t where she normally was. The lifelike bronze statue of historic aviator Amelia Earhart had been stolen earlier Wednesday morning, April 23. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentOnly a pair of heavy-duty bolts sticking out of the top of the statue’s brick base proved she was there in the first place. Earhart had gone missing again. This statue in Harbour Grace is dedicated to Amelia Earhart, who departed from the community in 1932 on the first transatlantic solo flight ever completed by a woman. Photo by Andrew Robinson /Andrew RobinsonTaking the statue“It’s not the same without her there,” said Coombs. “She was a part of it. She was the caretaker.” The mayor learned of the statue’s disappearance early Wednesday morning when he received a phone call from town employee Don Regular just after 7 a.m. Regular told Coombs, “She’s gone.” The first thing he thought was that someone close to Regular had passed. Then, he learned it was Amelia that had been stolen. It was only earlier this month that the statue’s corresponding plaque had been stolen. “It’s like a friend gone. The place is unreal. It’s unreal,” said Coombs. The statue has been in the same spot since it was erected in 2007 after being donated by the family of Roger Pike to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Earhart’s historic transatlantic flight, which left from Harbour Grace in 1932. Article content The Pike family was one of the first people Coombs called with the news. “I’m devastated, to tell you the truth,” he said. Read More LETTER: Harbour Grace could use more signs, says Irish tourist The legendary Amelia Earhart JOAN SULLIVAN: Stemp deftly weaves Amelia Earhart’s life into Newfoundland girl’s adventures Police investigationAfter the theft of the plaque earlier in April, the town installed cameras at the park to help prevent future vandalism. Coombs said the footage from Wednesday shows a pair of men getting dropped off around midnight. They were picked up again a couple of hours later. The town has sent the recording to the Harbour Grace RCMP, which is investigating the theft. In a press release Wednesday afternoon, police said they are seeking the public’s assistance in the matter. The town has offered a reward for any information as well. “Bring it back,” said Coombs. “Leave it in the woods, leave it in a truck, leave it on the side of the road, we’ll come get it.” Article contentPlenty of concernSince news of the theft broke, Coombs has received calls from all over the country and from within the province from people concerned about what happened. The statue meant a lot to the town and the people who visited. During the summer months, people have taken countless pictures with the statue, which is one of a kind, according to Coombs, and the plane replica that rests behind it. He hopes the statue will soon be returned to its rightful place, gazing up at the airfield where Earhart became one of the world’s most famous aviators. “She should be where she’s at,” said Coombs. “She should be looking up at the airfield where she took off from.” Article content
Missing again: Amelia Earhart statue stolen from Harbour Grace park
