Roots took 75 years to grow, minutes to steal

NORTH CANAAN — Somebody stole John Palmer’s horseradish. He is outraged and knows it may sound trivial, but it was about a lot more than eight or nine plants dug out of the ground.

Palmer is an amiable, hard-working Lakeville resident who would have likely shared some horseradish roots had he been asked. Instead, he wants to know who drove onto his Sand Road property and pilfered a very special crop.

"That horseradish has been there about 75 years," Palmer said. "My father-in-law planted it, or it could have been someone before him. The land has been in the family for about a century."

Palmer said it is obvious the property is not only private but is used by someone. One of his businesses is landscaping, and he is there regularly to keep the property in top shape. A real estate sign shows the small lot at the Boinay Hill Road intersection is for sale.

It has been mostly vacant since the 1972 fire destroyed the home of his father-in-law, Theodore Johnson. He was badly burned and died not long after.

"It’s a sentimental thing for me," Palmer said. "All that’s left is the shed. There used to be a much bigger garden, but I’ve kept the horseradish going. It takes years to establish a crop. You harvest the roots and transplant the tops. In about two years you can harvest them again."

Palmer noticed the theft on Friday.

"They were in a hurry. They drove right onto the grass and left tire marks. They left big holes in the ground where they dug up entire plants. They didn’t even bother to try to hide that they were there."

He did not call police, figuring it wasn’t an important crime to anyone but himself. Instead, he decided to contact The Journal, hoping someone saw something or the thief will come forward.

"It’s just not right. Nobody’s ever bothered anything on that property before."

The section of pilfered horseradish is visible from the road. There were roots ready to harvest, even this time of the year. The plants grow about 2 feet tall with broad, green leaves, probably not easily recognizable to just anyone.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Journal at 860-435-9873 or at karenb@lakevillejournal.com.