#FarmingtonNH Civil War Cannons-What's Their Story?

With our Farmington Civil War cannons now listed in the Living History Registry, in Arlington, the Farmington Historical Society thought you might be interested to know how the cannons got to where they are, one, in Edgerly Park, and two cannons in the Pine Grove Cemetery. 

There is a wonderful archived Historical Farmington, Puddledock Press article written by Marion Gardener about the cannons, their life after use, and how they ended up where they are.




Historical Farmington
BY MARION GARDNER
MM CANNONS DELIVERED TO TOWN

In 1902, through the efforts of the G.A.R., the Brooklyn, N.Y. Navy Yard donated three Parrott cannon to Farmington to be used as decorative pieces in tbe town, the only expense being that the town pay the freight charges.

Among the historical society files Is a record showing these charges were paid by several local business and professional men, among them are the names of W.W.Roberts, the druggist who lived on Garfield Street in the house now occupied by Sgt. Richard Bailey, and that of Dr. H.P. Wheatley, who lived in the Robert Lefavour house on South Main Street.

One of the cannon was placed In the cemetery, one in Edgerly Park on North Main Street and the third on the site of the present telephone building. I'm not the name of the area was official, but I found one reference to it as "Little City Park". In 1918 the park ceased to be and the cannon was removed and placed at the foot of Band Stand Hill (the junction of Spring and Central Streets). By 1942 the cannon had out lived it's usefulness as an ornament and so was removed end added to the war time scrap drive.

It is interesting to note that this particular type of cannon was invented by Robert Parrott, a native of Lee, N.H. and a graduate of West Point. He act only was an inventor, but was also a soldier who became superintendent of the West Point iron and cannon foundry. It was while he was there that he invented the cannon which bears his name, and which was used by the Union army and navy during the war between the states.
I hope you are enjoying the excepts we are providing from past editions of the Puddledock Press during their celebration of 40 years of being Farmington's "Good News Paper."

Kyle Leach, Curator
Farmington Historical Society
Museum of Farmington Historyhttp://farmingtonnhhistory.omeka.net


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