Bronze bust of German literary giant stolen from western NY park; sculpture unveiled in 1950

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – A bronze bust of German literary giant Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (GUR'-tuh) has been stolen from its pedestal at a western New York park.

Monroe County parks officials tell the Democrat and Chronicle of Rochester (http://on.rocne.ws/1CXAx0O ) that a member of a neighborhood group reported the theft early Thursday morning.

Officials say someone chiseled the sculpture from its granite pedestal located on a hill in Highland Park.

The bust was unveiled 65 years ago after it was commissioned by Rochester's German-American community to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Goethe's birth in 1749 in Frankfurt, Germany.

Goethe was a novelist, poet and playwright who is considered one of the leading figures in Western literature.

County official are asking anyone with information on the theft to contact the sheriff's office.

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Information from: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, http://www.democratandchronicle.com