"Friends of Barnes" Shocked At Vandalism Of Their Merion Signs
MERION, Pa. (CBS) - The Friends of the Barnes Foundation, a group which has been trying for years to stop the famed art collection from being moved to a new home in Philadelphia, is wondering whether a recent string of vandalism is related to the ongoing battle.
The third and latest incident occurred Wednesday, when, according to the group, a recently installed sign on nearby private property on Latches Lane in Lower Merion was stolen.
The sign, featuring the message "Keep it real. Keep it in Merion," was outside the home of Nancy and Walter Herman, longtime advocates for keeping the multimillion-dollar collection in its current home.
Herman says he would find it hard to believe the Foundation was somehow involved.
"I have honest disagreements with them -- I think what they are doing is a terrible, terrible thing -- but I don't think that they would really stoop to vandalism to prove their point," he says.
He admits it could just be an act of vandalism involving high school or college students, whom he says are always roaming around the street.
The Hermans are asking Lower Merion police to investigate. Last week, the same sign was ripped down, and back in December a different sign was vandalized with red spray paint (top photo).
Reported by Brad Segall, KYW Newsradio 1060.
