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The cannon were obtained through the influence of Hon. George A. Loud, member of Congress from Oscoda who represented this district.
(Photo Courtesy of Bay-Journal)

BATTERY PARK: Century-old Park May Rise From Obscurity, Maybe With Cannon

June 11, 2015       Leave a Comment
By: Dave Rogers

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Bring back Battery Park!

That's the goal of Donald J. Carlyon, Bay County Library Board trustee, and County Executive Thomas L. Hickner, who want to restore the historical site -- cannon and all.

Battery Park, at the intersection of Jefferson and Center, would again have a diamond-shaped sidewalk spanning the streets, wrought iron fencing, benches, historical kiosks and also a cannon or two as it was in 1907.

(Note: In photo above the Bay City Club is the building appearing back of the cannon.)

The huge cannon came from Ft. Sumter in Charleston harbor, where the first Confederate shots of the Civil War rang out. The cannon were mounted on concrete foundations and stood as iconic sentinels for thirty five years, from 1907 until 1942.

The cannon were obtained through the influence of Hon. George A. Loud, member of Congress from Oscoda who represented this district.

Rep. Loud, working with members of the Grand Army of Republic, (GAR) then the most numerous and powerful veterans' group in the land, and got a Southern solon Rep. George S. Legare, from South Carolina, to grease the skids for the cannon to be relocated in Bay City.

The cannon arrived from San Francisco (perhaps having been stored in a federal arsenal) and Congressman Loud paid the freight, "The guns are not regarded as safe from firing purposes but as relics of the equal value of American soldiers and they will be cherished with pride by Bay City," commented The Bay City Times.

The cannon were mortars from Ft. Sumter weighing 7,500 pounds each. One mortar was placed in the southeast corner of the park, "being hauled on rollers from the Pere Marquette freight house,' The Times reported June 28, 1907. The other was in the northeast quadrant of the park.

"First of all they would help set the park off and secondly, Cong. Loud needed votes in Bay City to be re-elected and at that time the G.A.R. was still a lively and very politically minded organization," the Times commented.

Battery Park also had two cannons from the USS Hartford, located in the park's northwest and southwest quadrants. Other historic cannon were displayed at City Hall, Sage Library which sported two each from the USS Portsmouth.

In 1942, as World War II raged, eight old cannons "were ceremoniously lifted from their resting places of years, hauled to the H. Hirschfield Sons Co. yard, and in a couple of hours were loaded on cars bound for the smelter to be contributed to the war effort. The cannon were turned over to the Bay County Salvage Committee several weeks ago by the city commission," according to The Times.

"The total weight of the eight cannon was approximately 25 tons. Following removal there was a parade of the old cannon through the city streets."

Originally called Park Place, the junction of Jefferson and Center consisted of four plazas 100 x 100 feet each. City fathers said they were laying claim to the title "Park City." Other parks being developed in 1884 included Carroll Park, donated by Daniel Fitzhugh, 15 acres east of what then was Carney Road and north of Center.

Washington Park was bounded by Washington, First, Jefferson and Second streets. It was 600 feet by 300 feet with a circular walk uniting diagonal walks prolonging with Adams Street. During World War II Washington Park was the site of numerous quonset huts housing war industry workers.

Madison Park (now Birney Park) is bounded by Madison, Ninth, Jackson and Tenth streets.

South Bay City Park (now Roosevelt Park) at 35th Street was acquired by the city council for $3,500 and improvements were slated in 1885. That park is the final resting place of Chief Ogemaw-ge-ga-to, marked with a stone and brass plaque placed by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1928.



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Dave Rogers

Dave Rogers is a former editorial writer for the Bay City Times and a widely read,
respected journalist/writer in and around Bay City.
(Contact Dave Via Email at carraroe@aol.com)

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