Missing cornerstone was taken by sheriff

PORTSMOUTH, Va., Oct. 4 (UPI) -- The mystery of a missing cornerstone from a closed-down Virginia high school was solved when the sheriff revealed he took it for display at an annual event.

The cornerstone from Cradock High School in Portsmouth, which closed down in 1992, was reported stolen to police last week with the city listed as the victim, and Sheriff Bill Watson, a 1965 graduate of the school, revealed he had his inmate work crew remove the stone to save it from demolition and preserve it for the annual "Come Home to Cradock" event Oct. 22, The (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot reported Tuesday.

Watson said he discussed his plans with Deputy City Manager Richard Hartman, who "said he had no problem."

However, Hartman said he had briefly discussed the issue with Watson and told him the stone could be removed when the building is torn down, as it is soon expected to be to make room for a housing development.

"I didn't have any impression that he was going to go out and take it then," Hartman said.

Watson said the school's alumni committee is discussing possible places to permanently display the cornerstone.