The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-09-22
Would Keep Cannon

The proposition 10 scrap the can
ron IN Prospect Park comes from
the newcomers on the salvage
committee who know nothing OF
its history or the many citizens
aud especially one family who had
much 10 do with the growth OF
ipsilanti and who We're active I'm
bringing the gun here To begin
with the cannon was not given to
Npsilanti by the War Department
but to Carpenter Post, GAR. on
the advice OF Mayor Oliver f.
Thompson. who worked for two
years to obtain Il.
Most cannons stuck in various
towns are products OF the Span
ish war or World War spoils, but
our cannon is an ancient coast de
Tense gun from Fort McCiery, Kit
terry, Me. II was found there by
Mayor Thompson I'm 1900, and on
learning its interesting history and
that il was to he replaced by
large gun. he applied for IT, II
took two years OF correspondence
because of government red tape
to get II assigned to lpsilanti, and
then the War Department decided
not to give any more guns. How
ever. ordnance Sergt J. f. Wolf
Of Fort McClery. who loved the
gun and hoped to find home for
il among people who appreciated
il as Ypsilanti certainly did, con
WINGED the department that the
cannon had been promised before
that order was made and in 1892,
the gun arrived here, Station
Agent b. NJ. Damon having secured
special transportation rate from
the Michigan Central Railroad.
There was only the gun. the gov
eminent not donating the carriage.
But City Engineer William Blsnch-
ard (who gave waterworks park
plants from his own garden. by the
way designed and made wood
end frames from which the present
carriage was cast in iron. The
hole community was deeply in
terested
The next thing was TO get the
cannon TO the Park. then just nice
ly under way. John Engel, a depot
merchant who also did teaming,
hitched an eight.horse team to the
gun and carried 1t TO the foot Of
r. Cross ST. hill-where II was
stalled Now the city had been
beguiled into buying a huge stone
crusher with tractor wheels. which
always broke II anything bigger
than pebble was put into it and
had been the butt OF many Jest
as the city white elephant. But
now it rose to the occasion nobly
and speedily yanked the gun to
the park.
The cannon and the Lake Luna
have been subjects OF snap shots
by hundreds of tourists and family
reunion members for 40 years and
have carried the name OF fpsilanti
to all parts OF the country For
years John Chapman. Civil War
veteran and first caretaker OF the
park. planted the flower bed along
Lake Luna to scarlet SALIVA, blue
ageratum and white alyssum that
blazoned the national colors TO all
who passed. Newcomers do not
know that this park was reclaimed,
planted and Handicapped by a neigh
borbood group before It was turned
over to the city. the lake being PAID
for by the ne:ghOorhood.
The cannon has also been the
loved resort Of hundreds OF chill
dren. local and visitors from many
states. 1t has been an integral
part Of the lives and happy mem
cries Of countless youngsters, who
climb up or are put up on II and
are thrilled at its touch. Pros
peck Park has always been a para
disc for children and the cannon
is n very special part OF II. II
would he shame to sacrifice this
source Of happy memories to
senseless fad that would mean lit
tie 10 the government. as there
Al