Pixley-Fulford Mausoleum vandalized in brazen robbery
Annie Pixley was considered one of the most famous actors on the planet in the late 1800s, and she had ties to the area.
“The best way to put it is, imagine if somebody like Tom Hanks was buried here in London. She was on the same level of fame as any A-list or Hollywood star today,” said Historian Joesph O’Neil.
Pixley was known worldwide, but also performed at the original Grand Theatre in London, Ont. When she died, her husband Robert Fulford built the mausoleum in her honour, which also holds members of their family.
"To this very day, that is considered one of the finest private mausoleums in any cemetery anywhere in Canada," O’Neil said.
Fast forward to February 24 of this year, staff at Woodland Cemetery discover the damage left behind by thieves who targeted the bronze door.
“They cut a circle. There's a really ornate piece of metalwork in the center of those circles. And therefore, it looks like maybe it was targeted,” says Woodland Cemetery general manager Ken Portery.
He added that the thieves returned the next night and brazenly cut out the circle of the second door.
This undated photo shows damage done to the bronze doors on the late actor Annie Pixley’s mausoleum in Woodland Cemetery in London, Ont. (Source: Ken Porter)
“We have the police involved, and they've been investigating. They left the frame and they cut pieces out of it and they cut the circle out of it,” said Portery.
Woodland has undergone a security audit and will be intensifying security on the property, as this has not been an isolated incident.
With no living decedents, Woodland Cemetery has begun the process to repair the doors of Pixley’s mausoleum.
"We've already secured a craftsman, metalworking craftsman. And the plans are already being implemented," said Porter.
If anyone notices the ornate pieces, they are asked to contact police. Repairs to the site are expected to be completed by the fall.
This undated photo shows damage done to the bronze doors on the late actor Annie Pixley’s mausoleum in Woodland Cemetery in London, Ont. (Source: Ken Porter)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Israel attacks Iran, Reuters sources say; drones reported over Isfahan
Israel has attacked Iran, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters, as Iranian state media reported early on Friday that its forces had destroyed drones, days after Iran launched a retaliatory drone strike on Israel.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.