CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – The Clarksville Rotary Club is celebrating their 100th anniversary and part of the festivities included the firing of a replica of a Civil War cannon.
The cannon was made by the Clarksville Foundry and donated by Rotary to the community. The cannon will hold a permanent place on the lawn of the Montgomery County Courthouse at the corner of North 2nd St. and Commerce St.
Several hundred people, including students from Clarksville-Montgomery County schools were on hand for the firing of the cannon. Smaller replicas of the cannon here cast by Clarksville Foundry and one was presented to Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett. The cannon was fired by Porters Battery, a local Civil War Reenactment group
Charlie Faust, President and CEO of Clarksville Foundry talked about the cannon. “This cannon represents the 170 link between this area and Clarksville Foundry. The foundry pre-dates the Civil War having begun operations in 1847. The foundry manufactured cannons and munitions during the Civil War and in the 150 years since the foundry has remained a vital part of the community. The placement of this cannon on the courthouse grounds continues a great American tradition as we honor the sacrifices of our military in times of war and in times of peace,” Faust said.
The cannon is a replica of a 1841 six-pounder field gun which would have been used in the Mexican-American War and during the Civil War by both the North and the South and was produced until 1862. Faust asked everyone to visit the Clarksville Foundry website to learn more about the historic cannon.
