Restoration Planned for Ford City Cannon
The Ford City High School Class of 2015 was the last to celebrate outside of - and paint - the distinguishable cannon outside of their school before it closed. Ford City Borough Council members hope the cannon will continue to be restored by VFW Post #4843 in Pattonville before it it moved to Ford City Memorial Park.
by Jonathan Weaver
A Ford City community landmark currently outside of the now-former Ford City Junior-Senior High School is moving back into the center of town.
But, before the distinguishable cannon moves from the corner of 4th Avenue and 11th Street to Memorial Park, council members want to make some restorations.
During last night’s special council meeting at the Ford City Library, council members voted unanimously for that to be performed by Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post #4843 personnel.
Council member Vicki Schaub applauded the group for their future efforts. The Post also requested the cannon following the school’s closure.
“They were happy that Ford City was getting it, and (the Post #4843 Commander) would like to know if we would like to have them pay to have it restored. I think that would be wonderful if they’re still considering to do that for the borough,” Schaub said.
School district officials officially agreed to donate the cannon to Ford City Borough in December 2014.
Schaub went on to say after the meeting that the rivalry with Kittanning during the past century.
“It’s been a landmark here, and the kids that grew up in town have played on it, taken pictures by it – the citizens feel it’s important to keep it in the community,” Schaub said.
Borough Council President Kathy Bartuccio said the cannon had “layers and layers” of paint on it by Ford City graduates.
“It’s just nice to keep it in Ford City – its part of our town,” Bartuccio said.
Mayor Marc Mantini also thanked the members for their volunteer donation.
“This cannon probably goes back to pre-World War I, and I don’t know much about it. Hopefully, we can find out country of origin or how we came to acquire it. It’s probably an interesting story,” Mayor Mantini said.
Last year, Ratliff and council members brainstormed parading the cannon into the Ford City park – where the cannon used to be.
Former Post commander Karl Swigart of North Buffalo Township first talked with Paul Lobby about the cannon to the Post nearly two years ago. His first recommendation was for it to be donating to the borough to be placed in Memorial Park.
“Regardless which area they put it in, I brought it up at the meeting to maybe donate some money and have it repainted or whatever it would take,” Swigart said. “With all the different classes coming back to Ford City and all the events in the park, at least people who went to Ford City High School throughout the years would see the old cannon.”
Schaub hoped the cannon could be restored to its natural color. No deadline for that restoration was discussed.
Applications are being taken by council members.
One of Council President Kathy Bartuccio’s first agenda items at last night’s special meeting was to announce that Scott Gaiser’s resignation from Borough Council was approved per Borough Code effective Thursday. A trio of applications have been accepted to fill his vacancy, but more letters of interest are being accepted.
Council President Bartuccio made the announcement before council members considered the agenda action items.
“On May 11, 2015, Scott Gaiser submitted a letter resigning himself from Council,” Bartuccio said. “Per the Borough Code, the resignation was deemed acceptable 45 days from the date of the letter, which was June 25.
“I think I speak for all of Council in thanking Mr. Gaiser for his dedicated service to the public. We wish (him) the best of luck in all of his future endeavors.”
Registered voters in the borough’s 2nd Ward - which Gaiser represented since January 2014 – interested in filling the vacancy can send a letter of interest to Bartuccio at the Borough Office along 4th Avenue.
Council members also agreed to advertise for the unexpired term. There were three letters received so far.
As Council Vice-President Jerry Miklos indicated, a special meeting was scheduled following last week’s town hall meeting at the Latin American Club, but elected officials were unable to after being left without a quorum.
Schaub indicated she would not have accepted Gaiser’s resignation last week.
“I personally would not have accepted it for the simple reason (that) when somebody says they’re going to do something, I understand sometimes there are illnesses or something that happens that you can’t fulfill your obligation, but every person should make every attempt to totally fulfill any obligation you have,” Schaub said.
An executive session was held prior to the meeting to discuss personnel matters, as well as an executive session to discuss personnel Thursday, June 25
At the conclusion of the meeting, Bill McMaster invited all elected officials and citizens in attendance to attend tonight’s crime watch meeting – which begins at 7PM at the Latin American Club.
Last night’s Ford City Borough Council Meeting will be rebroadcast on WTYM AM 1380 radio today beginning at 1PM.
By Just sayin, June 30, 2015 @ 12:31 PM
Paint it its original/authentic color —please no Howard Johnson colors! Pretty please with cannon balls on top?
By pharmon, July 1, 2015 @ 9:33 PM
Cannon showed up there in 1950
Looks like a German Pak 40 75 cm anti tank cannon
The 7.5 cm Pak 40 (7,5 cm Panzerabwehrkanone 40) was a German 75 millimetre anti-tank gun developed in 1939-1941 by Rheinmetall and used during the Second World War. The Pak 40 formed the backbone of German anti-tank guns for the latter part of World War II, mostly in towed form, but also on a number of tank destroyers like the Marder II and III. Approximately 23,500 Pak 40’s were produced.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7.5_cm_Pak_40
By Just sayin, July 2, 2015 @ 10:36 AM
pharmon:
Yikes! Maybe we shouldn’t keep it! Maybe it belongs in the Holocaust Museum. So this cannon killed American soldiers in WWII. So it was a trophy, of sorts, for the soldiers from town?