My father used to joke that every town square in the midwest had a cannon in it. He didn't know why, but supposed they were military souvenirs. When we moved here I was surprised to find it was true, lots of cannons! Old ones, new ones. A few years ago the military repossessed some of the newer ones, saying they had been obtained illegally. But this one is legal -- and has been hanging around Three Rivers since 1847! A nice big new two sided historical marker, topped with the city logo, has been recently put up by the cannon in Scidmore Park.
When I stopped to take the picture, an elderly man was encouraging his grandson to climb on the cannon. The old man probably had done the same as a boy.
The marker says--
THREE RIVERS TOWN CANNON
Before the Civil War local militias in Michigan were supplied with arms and equipment donated by the Federal Government under the Militia Act of 1808.
During the Mexican War (1845-47) the army's new artillery system was very successful and well reported in the press. In 1847 the State of Michigan chose to draw an accumulated share of military equipment in cannons. The State in turn loaned each cannon to a town which agreed to train men to use and maintain it.
This cannon was made by Ames Mfg. Co. of Chicopee, Mass and serial numbered 323 by inspector Jas. W. Ripley on August 26, 1847. It was part of a shipment of seventeen 6 pounder guns, with carriages and full equipment sent in late 1847 to Michigan, still a "frontier" state.
(Continued on other side)
State records after the Civil War show a bronze 6 pounder gun on loan to Three Rivers. It was probably used in Michigan for training during the Civil War. Local history indicates it was frequently fired for ceremonial events.
By 1888 the cannon was too obsolete for serious military use. The State ordered it back to Lansing for disposal. Instead, the village was allowed to purchase the bronze gun tube for 12 1/2 cents a pound according to the local newspaper of February 10th.
The cannon continued to be used for local ceremonies and celebrations until retired for safety reasons. It remains a local landmark.
At the bottom it says "marker given in memory of Matt J. and Mary L. Switlik.
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http://www.threeriversnews.com/articles/2009/08/04/news/local_news/doc4a784177df06f479507512.txt
Article in the local newspaper about the new sign. The son and daughter of the Switliks worked on the restoration of the cannon and casion.
It has been fired in somebody's (local resident’s) memory," Merritt Brown, city special projects engineer, said. "It blew a couple of windows out downtown."
Article in the local newspaper about the new sign. The son and daughter of the Switliks worked on the restoration of the cannon and casion.
It has been fired in somebody's (local resident’s) memory," Merritt Brown, city special projects engineer, said. "It blew a couple of windows out downtown."
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