The former custodian of the National Registry of Known Surviving Civil War Artillery had recorded that three 100-pdr Navy Parrot Rifles were donated in 1897 to "village selectmen" in York, Maine.

“A Noble and Dignified Stream” The Piscataqua Region in the Colonial Revival, 1860-1910 was published by The Old York Historic Society in 1992. In chapter 18, on page 91 we find information concerning the founding of the Old York Historic and Improvement Society and a cannon: “Founded in 1899 largely by summer residents, the organization had two purposes: to beautify the village and to preserve York’s past.”

‘The restoration of the village green was a major part of the Improvement Society’s activities. Reformers knew exactly what they had in mind for the new common. In 1899 (June 9), the editor of the York Courant wrote that “it is hoped that another season may see the village green handsomely graded into a neat triangular park with the cannon mounted in form of a monument and a curb placed around. “     

The three large cannons had been stored on that village green since arriving in town by rail in 1897 and York citizens were ready to see something done with them. The November 2, 1899, York Courant article indicates that: “The one with the history, that came from the ship of war Pawnee and was fired 483 times in one engagement will be placed in the middle of the Village triangle.”  

That cannon also gave good service as the first war monument in York Village until the Soldiers’ Monument arrived in the spring of 1906. Our historic 6.4” Parrott Rifle Naval Cannon No.206 along with its granite carriage were moved to the side of the ever-shrinking grass triangle and the Soldiers’ Monument was erected on the same spot the cannon formerly occupied. No.206 probably had a loose stone and lime-based mortar foundation similar to the two found in front of the town hall. That cannon’s foundation was most likely broadened to accommodate the larger footprint of the Soldiers’ Monument. That rough stone and mortar foundation would explain the observed degradation of the Soldiers’ Monument’s lower base and the necessity to move the monument onto a more supportive foundation. York’s historic cannon No.206 was moved to Gaol Hill later in 1906 where it has sat, pointing North ever since.   

The two other 6.4” Parrott Rifle cannons were mounted either side of the front of the town hall entrance by January 1, 1899. As of October 1, 1901, less than two years later both cannons and their granite carriages had been moved to the back of the First Parish Cemetery. Remembering the word “cannon” was used as both singular and plural, this following article from the September 5, 1942, edition of the Portland Press Herald provides further illumination.

“Before the erection of the building on the Kittery Navy Yard where in 1905 the famous treaty between Russia and Japan was signed there were several of these old cannons that had been mounted in strategic points around the Navy Yard. The room they took up was needed. Members of the Grand Army of the Republic in adjacent towns were notified that these cannons might be theirs for the asking. The Town of York, through its post fell heir to three of the cannons. One was placed on a triangle in the center of the square in York Village, where it remained until GAR veterans wished to use that particular spot on which to erect a Civil War memorial. 

The other two mounted on granite carriages, were placed either side of the entrance to the town Hall, where they were the delight of small boys on the glorious fourth as they attempted to shoot off crackers through the mouth of the cannon, until the holes were cemented.” 

“When the Old York Historical and Improvement Society came into existence (1899) - the two cannons in front of the Town Hall moved to a place on the edge of the woods in the rear of the village cemetery, where they have remained unloved, unwanted and forgotten, until now when once more they come into service.”

This article was written in 1942 and conveniently brings us forward into the beginning of the Second World War and our next chapter on Scrap Drives.

Pictures compliments of Town Hall Building Committee Chair Wayne Martin