The "Landis Valley Firearms Recovered After 50 Years" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading about four antique weapons that were stolen from the nearby Landis Valley Farm Museum more than 50 years ago.  The firearms were part of a collection of antique and historic weapons stolen from six regional museums over ten years ago.  The firearms were recently returned to the museum this past December and April.  They were recovered by the FBI's art crimes unit as well as a few detectives from nearby Upper Merion Township.  The firearms were part of a collection of antique and historic weapons that were stolen from six nearby museums decades ago.  The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that a Mr. Thomas Gavin admitted that he committed the thefts during the 1960s and 1970s.  This past December, Landis Valley Farm Museum recovered four guns which had been part of the robbery years ago according to Landis Valley museum curator Jennifer Royer.  Now on display once again in the Landis Valley visitor's center are a six-shot, 35-caliber, percussion cap 1851 Colt Navy revolver; an 1860 six-shot, 44-caliber, Army model revolver; and two single-shot, 41-caliber cartridge Colt model Derringer pistols.  The 1851 Colt revolvers originally came to Landis Valley Farm Museum in 1914.  Henry Landis purchased them in New York City for $1.50.  He also purchased one of the Derringer in 1915 in New York City for $2.   These  weapons are now part of the collection of vintage farm implements and other antiques that were collected by Henry and George Landis to be part of the Landis Valley Museum.  

The two guns were recently retrieved from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia by Jennifer Royer to once again be part of the collection at Landis Valley.  The other two firearms were found last year in a cluttered barn owned by Mr. Gavin.  Mr. Gavin pleaded guilty to one count of disposing of an object of cultural heritage stolen from a museum. (Yes, we really do have laws to cover just about anything imaginable).  He spent a day in prison after pleading guilty to stealing a 1775 rifle from the Valley Forge State Park Museum in 1971.  If you care to see the firearms you can visit the Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum at 2541 Kissel Hill Road in Manheim Township.  The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday.  Fee is $12 and free to those under 2 years of age.  I have made many trips to the Museum in the past and enjoy every trip I make to it.  Try it sometime, you may enjoy it, also.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.