Mystery in the Wolmirstedt district of Elbeu: Town sign disappears and reappears elsewhere

Here’s a news item from the “It doesn’t exist” section: the disappearance of a town sign – and its miraculous rebirth, albeit in the most inappropriate place imaginable. This little farce took place in the tranquil district of Elbeu in the town of Wolmirstedt.

The town sign in Elbeu, coming from the direction of Jersleben, was recently stolen. That alone was enough to make people sit up and take notice: It wasn’t just the sign itself that disappeared – which is unpleasant enough – but the entire ensemble of sign and tubular sign frame. A rather unusual degree of thoroughness that almost borders on professional ambition.

Even more astonishing, however, is the latest development: the lost place name sign has reappeared. However, not where it belongs, but in the wrong place – a return, so to speak, with an idiosyncratic sense of geography. One could speak of a creative reorganization of the street space if the matter were not so dangerous.

It always remains a mystery. Only the perpetrator could provide clarification – but we can hardly hope for that. After all, this is by no means a harmless prank, but a dangerous interference with road traffic, which is punished accordingly. As we all know, humor ends where road safety begins.

And yet the city is trying to find a certain, albeit narrow, positive side to the whole thing: Sign gone – high costs, considerable effort. Sign back – no new purchase, manageable expense. You could almost think it was a win-win situation. Almost.

Martin Holly, Site Manager, City of Wolmirstedt