FLORISSANT, Colo.—Wheels stripped by thieves off vehicles near Florissant won’t be easily replaced.
That’s because they’re off historic wagons at the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument west of Colorado Springs. Officials at the Hornbek Homestead at the fossil beds say the bandits made off with six wagon wheels.
The Teller County Sheriff, antique stores and auctioneers are looking out for the wheels, which are sometimes used as yard decorations. The value of the wheels wasn’t known.
Two wheels damaged during the heist were still at the homestead. The wagons also were damaged.
The homestead acquired the wagons in 1976 as part of the restoration by the National Park Service. One wagon is from the original homestead property now occupied by the national monument.
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Information from: The Gazette,
![Newspaper advertisement offering reward for the return of an escaped man to his oppressors, Princess Anne, Maryland, April 1, 1861. Text reads: “0 Reward. Ranaway from the subscriber on Tuesday Morning, 26th Ultimo [last month], My negro boy calling himself Severn Black. The said negro is about 5 feet six inches in height, chesnut color, has a scar on his upperlip, downcast countenance when spoken to, blink-eyed, showing a great deal of white, long bushy hair, is about twenty years old, had on when he lefta [sic] blue fustian Jacket, pantaloons of a greyish color, blue striped shirt, a Black slouch hat and shoes nearly worn out. The above reward will be paid by me for the apprehension and delivery of the said negro in the county jail at Princess Anne, Somerset County, Maryland. April 1, 1861. Richard E. Snelling. Somerset Herald Print, Princess Anne, Md.’ The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 obliged citizens and lawmen of free zones to return escaped men to those whom they fled. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)](/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GettyImages-53262583-16x9-1.jpg?w=620 "GettyImages-53262583-16x9-1")
