Vandals struck the Michigan Street Baptist Church in Buffalo over the weekend leaving damage to the historic markers. WBFO's Eileen Buckley says the church is a reminder of Buffalo's connection to the Underground Railroad.
"Whoever did it is not of God," said Bishop Clarence Montgomery. Montgomery tells WBFO News a church deacon discovered the damage Sunday morning.
Two signs in front of the church indicating the historic spot at Michigan Avenue between Broadway and William were torn down.
"They could not remove the one in front of the church because I guess it maybe recessed a little deeper, so they twisted it and bent it down to make it parallel to the ground," described Montgomery.
The Michigan Street Baptist Church safe house for slaves who were seeking to escape to Canada in the 1800's. It was a stop along the Underground Railroad. The Church was also the site of a protest which led indirectly to the founding of the Niagara Movement.
"And then there was a Mary Talbert sign near the parking lot of the church, inside the fenced area, they removed that completely from the ground," said Montgomery.
Visit Buffalo Niagara, which works to promote historic sites, has established a Go Fund Me page to help pay for repairs.
"This is an important part of our African American heritage and culture for Buffalo,' said Patrick Kaler, President & CEO of the organization. "I just want to make sure it gets taken care of quickly and to get back to celebrating our part of that history," said Kaler.
"We felt it was very important as an opportunity to get these historic markers up. Our goal is $2,000 by Thanksgiving Day hopefully," said Kaler.
The signs will cost more than $1,000 for repairs. Buffalo Police are trying to find the person or persons responsible.
"I don't believe it's the homeless, because we have them all around the church all summer long and nothing like this is every done," noted Bishop Montgomery.
