Thousands of dollars in damage to the historic cabin at the Gilliland Historical Resource Center is being investigated by Shelbyville Police to determine if the vandalism qualifies as a hate crime.
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JAMES WOOD
Staff Writer
The historical Gilliland cabin has undergone substantial damage recently as on Nov 17, a little over a month after its Ancestry Day celebration on Oct 10, the building was vandalized with broken windows and the interior items either being moved or damaged. One meat cleaver has gone missing, however no other items have been reportedly stolen.
According to Rosie Biggs from the Gilliland House Historical Resource Center, repairs are now underway, however it is unknown how long it will be until the cabin is fully restored. The Shelbyville Police Department is actively investigating the situation but as of the start of December, there are no likely suspects as of yet. Based on observation of the damage, multiple people are suspected to have been involved in the vandalism.
Neighbors in the area reportedly heard noises and saw children the night before the damage was discovered however there is not enough conclusive evidence to determine whether or not those accounts are related to the crime.
A GoFundMe page has been created by The Fly Arts Center to assist in the repairs that are estimated to cost approximately $9,000. The announcement for it can be found on The Fly Arts Center’s Facebook and Instagram pages. All events happening at the site will be cancelled depending on the status of the repairs on the windows that have been broken.
Cookies with Santa & Mrs. Claus will be held December 13 from 11:00am-1:00pm. Gilliland Historical Resource Center 803 Lipscomb St., Shelbyville.