Two $2,700 historical markers have been stolen from Limestone County, and historic society members are hoping the signs will be returned unharmed.

Both signs were stolen Thursday or Friday of last week, said Richard Martin, historical marker and tour director for the Limestone County Historical Society, who reported the thefts to the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office Monday. He said he learned the signs were missing Saturday.

The two-sided metal signs mark the Sims Settlement and Gourdsville/Gilbertsboro, which are about 4 or 5 miles apart in Limestone County.

The Sims marker was located in the 25000 block of Easter Ferry Road in west-central Limestone County. The marker describes a group led by William and James Sims who traveled to the area and attempted to settle on Chickasaw land.

The Gourdsville/Gilbertsboro marker was at 13078 Gardner Hollow Road in northwestern Limestone County. The marker also describes early settlements, with Gourdsville being home to a settler who sold and served corn liquor in gourds, while Gilbertsboro was home to the Gilberts family in the 1800s.

Images and the full text of the markers can be found at https://bit.ly/SimsSettlement and https://bit.ly/Gourdsville.

Martin believes it would have taken more than one person to remove the 80-pound metal markers from their poles. Each marker cost the historical society $2,700 to make, he said.

Anyone with information about the markers is asked to call the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office at 256-233-0111.