GRANITE CITY PARK FLAG POLE
June 20, 2020
LAST CRANE STANDING
June 20, 2020
THE OLD HALLOWELL CANNON
The Beeman Cannon, more locally known as “ The Old Thunder Jug” was an English artillery piece taken from a British ship ,the HMS Boxer, after a battle with the USS Enterprise in Portland Harbor in the war of 1812. The ship was towed into Portland Harbor for dismantling. On the the barrel is cast the royal coat- of- arms of King George lll of England. Additionally,the weight of the barrel reads 11- 3 – 23. This translates into 11 hundred-weight (112 lbs per 100 weight); 3 quarters weights, and 23 lbs) for a total weight of 1339 pounds.
The coming of the Cannon to Hallowell in the year 1839 originated in the mind of Captain John Beeman, a Hallowell citizen. That same year a wheelwright named Currier built a carriage and wheels for the gun and converted it to an artillery piece. Used for the purpose of firing salutes on each national holiday, it was also a memorial to the Hallowell Light Infantry Division and the Hallowell Artillery Company. Both served during the Revolution and the War of 1812.
Cannon restoration
For many years the historic cannon was mounted on the lawn of the City Hall and subsequently to the Powderhouse Lot. Time took it’s toll on the carriage and wheels requiring a major rebuild. ROW HOUSE, the active historic preservation organization in Hallowell, encouraged and funded the project.
ROW HOUSE was fortunate to engage Rob Saucier,Custom Carriage Works of South Gardiner to reconstruct all the cannon wooden structures.The wheel spokes and wooden wheel rims were manufactured by a wheelwright from the Amish country in Pennsylvania.
