Historical LGBTQ+ marker found broken
A marker to recognize Columbus’ first lesbian bar has broken roughly a month after it was unveiled.
Chris Salvato, co-owner of Summit Music Hall, formerly known as Summit Station, said in an email that the staff at Cafe Bourbon Street notified Mysti Burris, the owner of Crunchwerks, about the broken sign around 9:30 a.m. on July 9.
Julia Applegate, former patron of Summit Station and key individual helping to get the historical marker, was also notified that morning.
“We don’t know actually what happened. It’s damaged and it’s unclear why it fell over, it’s broken essentially is what it boils down to,” Applegate said.
Summit Station received a historical marker for its dedication to the lesbian community that was unveiled at a June 10, dedication event, with the establishment being Central Ohio’s first historically recognized lesbian bar.
The sign is broken at the base where it connects to the poll, making it uncertain whether or not someone tampered with it on purpose or if the metal was faulty, Applegate said.
“We have video footage of someone pushing on it, and it falls down and they say ‘Oh ‘expletive’ and they keep walking,” Applegate said. “
The Ohio History Connection is investigating the situation while also trying to determine if it was a “metal failure,” or if it broke by other means by contacting the foundry that made the sign. They plan to take the sign for safe keeping, Applegate said.
The historical marker is insured so the Ohio History Connection will repair and/ or replace the sign regardless of the outcome of the investigation, Applegate said.
She is trying to stay calm and hopes that the incident was due to faulty manufacturing, rather than the alternative, Applegate said.
“Every time something goes wrong, because I’m a lesbian, I have to wonder, is it because I’m a lesbian? Or is it because I just had some bad luck,” Applegate said. “So, I’m trying not to get into that space of, of feeling like it’s a homophobic act until I know for sure.”
Applegate said she was hesitant to tell people that the sign was gone but realized that since it is a public monument now, people are going to notice. She added that she felt relieved when multiple people began reaching out about the situation because it showed that the community cares.
“So if it was a homophobic act, then we’ll just put it right back up again and see what happens,” Applegate said.
Applegate said she is in the process of filing a police report.
“I mean, either way you look at it, there was an act of vandalism because it didn’t fall on its own, it fell because someone smacked that sign hard,” Applegate said.
According to a document sent by Neil Thompson, manager of media and public relations of Ohio History Connection, historical markers are about 200 pounds, while the post adds an additional 35 pounds. They have a height of 48 inches, a width of 46 inches and the marker has a depth of one inch and the marker mounting cap is 5 inches in diameter. Thompson added that the historical markers are made of cast aluminum.
In 2010, the only gay historical marker in Dayton and Ohio in general at the time, was vandalized around 9 months after its installation, according to the Dayton daily News. The sign was vandalized and left at the scene.
Although it is unclear what happened to the Columbus sign, there is one thing that’s certain, the sign will go back up “no matter what,” Applegate said.