Historic cannon will be removed from Brantford park
The Alexandra Park cannon is seen in this undated image. (Courtesy: City of Brantford/Facebook)
A cannon captured during the Crimean War will soon be removed from a Brantford park.
The cannon has been a staple at Alexandra Park for years. The Russian cannon was taken during the siege at Sevastopol, between Oct. 1854 and Sept. 1855, and donated to the City of Brantford by the British. Originally, it was placed in Victoria Park but moved to its home on Dalhousie Street before 1900.
The city said the cannon has been deteriorating, partly due to years of snowmelt and salt spray. If left outdoors, the city believes it would only last another 10 to 15 years, even with remediation efforts.
In March, city staff recommended the cannon be removed from the city's public art collection and donated to the Canadian Military Heritage Museum on Greenwich Street in Brantford.
The cannon will leave Alexandra Park on Thursday and a conservator accredited by the Canadian Association of Professional Conservators will get to work preserving the piece of history so it can be properly displayed in a museum.
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