A World War I-era cannon that has graced the northeast corner of the Liberty County Courthouse Square in Liberty for generations is getting a facelift thanks to an Eagle Scout project by Luke Robinson of Troop 727 in Kingwood. On Thursday, Robinson and his team of supporters braved the heat to scrub and paint the old cannon.
Together, Robinson and his team worked quickly and now expect to finish by Friday, July 8, a day ahead of schedule. Using wire brushes and a power washer, they thoroughly cleaned the cannon Thursday morning and began painting it Thursday afternoon.
A couple of hours after starting the painting process, they had finished the first of two coats of blue-gray, oil-based paint that should preserve the cannon for the enjoyment of future generations.
Robinson, who lives in Kingwood, picked the cannon restoration for his Eagle Scout project as Robinson has family ties to the Liberty community and believed it was a project that would be appreciated and supported by the community.
The restoration is another chapter in the cannon’s history. In the 1940s, during World War II, people in the Liberty community began calling for the cannon to be added to the scrap heap. During World War II, scrap metal drives were a way for folks back home to help in the war efforts abroad. Despite the push to scrap the cannon, it survived.
The cannon was brought to Liberty County after the war by the American Legion with citizens of Liberty helping to pay for the transportation costs.
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Regarding the canon, I had always heard and believed the WW I canon was scrapped during the WW II scrap drive. I don’t have a source other than oral history within my family. My mother in high school through 1943 was an enthusiastic scrapper. She said, for those on the home-front, apart from the terror of awaiting a telegram with horrible news about a loved one and strict rationing, life in Liberty was at its best during WW II. Everyone, she added sincerely, came together and supported our country in every way possible – savings bonds, letter writing, sock and Christmas boxes shipped overseas. Her memory was vivid and proud to have been among those who lobbied for scrapping that WW I artillery piece. I always assumed it was scrapped.
During the 1956 Bicentennial and thereafter, I’m pretty sure there was no canon on that corner until there was. I’m unsure when that was.
Onthetrinity you are correct , the cannon on the square is a ww2 3 inch M5 on a M6 carriage. It was developed in 1943 to be a Tank buster & was delivered to Tank buster battalions. There is one parked at FT. Sam Houston .
Fantastic Job Done . Great to See our Youth Take An Active Role In Keeping Our Past Alive. Awesome Way To Say Thanks To Our Veterans!! Great Job Guys.