After years of exile, World War I-era cannon returns to Lake Anna

• When operable, cannon had range of 12 miles
• Cannon recalled to service as landmark at Lake Anna
• 'Was my jungle gym,' mayor recalls

After years of exile from Lake Anna, the Barberton cannon is back and on firm ground next to the city's War Memorial.

A concrete base, that is, courtesy of the city's VFW Post 1066.

For years, the fate of the cannon was undecided. At one time, City Council tried to donate it, with the World War I-era weapon ending up in the hands of the Barberton Historical Society and placed at the Anna Dean Farm Pig Barn on Robinson Avenue.

There was even talk of scrapping the 14-ton artillery piece.

"At one time, they were going to dismantle it," said Alex Zelovic, a retired firefighter and Vietnam War veteran.

A multipurpose cannon for generations

But the cannon was too rooted in Barberton tradition to remain in exile.

Last month, it returned to its longtime home where kids climbed the 20-foot barrel and adults pondered where it had seen action.

"I played on it when I was a kid," VFW post Cmdr. Ernie Penko said in a recent interview. "Everyone has crawled on it."

Barberton Mayor William Judge was one of those. He helped expedite the move back to Lake Anna and has memories similar to Penko and Zelovic.

"That was my jungle gym," Judge said.

A durable artillery piece through two world wars

The Barberton cannon, and others like it, arose from a French design developed during World War I.

Using that design, the U.S. built its version of the cannon, but only 16 complete units made here made it overseas before the end of the war.

It has a range of about 21,300 yards, or about 12 miles.

Fewer than 40 are known to exist in 2023, with one of those at easy firing distance 4 miles away at the American Legion Post 566 in Coventry Township.

More work to be done

Now that the Lake Anna cannon has a home and a solid base, Post 1066 wants to give it a makeover, Penko said.

"She needs to go to the beauty shop," he said.

The post wants to raise the $3,500 needed to have the cannon sandblasted and is seeking donations to have that happen. Donations can be made at the post, located at 75 Sixth St. NW, Penko said. To learn more, call (234) 706-2009.

"(It's) 106 years old," said Penko. "Boy, if she could talk."

Leave a message for Alan Ashworth at 330-996-3859 or email him ataashworth@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @newsalanbeaconj.