Restoration of Spanish American War Cannon Taking Shape

Back in the cold months of December I was informed of the condition of the 1889 Spanish American War Cannon that was sitting in the beautiful Riverside Cemetery in Montgomery.

When I drove by to take a look I was sick to my stomach to see the condition the cannon was in. Rusted and deteriorating carriage, rotted spokes and fellis, wheels falling off, missing parts and 50 coats of rough paint.

I had to do something to help preserve this piece of history. With the blessing of Dieterle Memorial Home and the Village of Montgomery I went to work. I started a fund raising effort to refurbish and save the cannon.

I found Fox Valley Sandblasting Co. in Yorkville, (Jim Schwebke), Aurora Sign Co. (Brandon Weis) to lift and reset the cannon and a very special Wheelwright out in Johnstown, Colorado (Rod Henderson) and went to work.

We held a fundraiser and received donations from local interested people and organizations. We lifted the cannon on a very cold morning in late February. The project heated up and we are now down to the trimming out and detail work.

The cannon was completely torn apart, sandblasted, powder coated and reassembled. The new spokes and fellis took shape out in Colorado and were brought home this month.

On May 11 we will be holding a rim setting for the new wheels that are made from Kendall County white oak. We will heat the rims to expand them, set the rims over the new wheels and quench them to make them contract to the new wheels. This will take place at Lyons Farm on Route 71 between Oswego and Yorkville at 2 p.m. The public is invited.

The re-dedication of the cannon back in Riverside Cemetery will take place at 1 p.m.on May 26 with our guest speaker none other than the rough-rider himself Teddy Roosevelt AKA Joe Wiegand, followed by a picnic in the cemetery.

Bring your own basket lunch and the Village of Montgomery will furnish ice cream and bottled water.