Cannon Park

Cannon Park. . , This park was constructed by the citizens of Stillwater as a symbol of Stillwater's rich military history and the sacrifices Stillwater veterans made for their country. The property has been the site of monuments that celebrate local involvement in military conflicts from the American Revolution to World War II., The Cannon and Major Bradt , Major Harmon Bradt came to Stillwater when his father took charge of the tollgate at the newly completed covered bridge over the Hudson River in 1832. He attended the Stillwater Academy, was a devoted member and Service Warden of St. John Episcopal Church and clerked in a dry goods store in Troy until 1851 when he retired and returned to Stillwater. Major Bradt was Village Treasurer when Watervliet Arsenal issued a notice that a surplus of cannons would be given out to communities for commemorative purposes. He acquired the cannon, which arrived in Stillwater by canal boat., The Land , This plot of land was once known as Lansing Park in honor of Gilbert and Fanny Lansing, who donated the property in 1874 to the old Methodist and Episcopal Churches. The land was swampy and unsuitable for building, but a Park Commission was formed to develop the site. Due to an ebb in civic engagement as well as the financial effects of the 1893 depression, it was some time before the swamp could be infilled to construct a park. Major Bradt, then Park Commissioner, made some repairs to the site in 1904 during a labor shortage, but the site remained undeveloped until the Stillwater women became involved., Improvement and Memorialization , In 1907, the Village Improvement Society was formed, with the approval of the Village Board, to take over the beautification of the park. The swamp was filled and graded, three flower beds were laid out, and the elms along the street were trimmed. The cannon was cleaned and painted, then placed on a foundation in the center of this park. Since then, several other monuments have been installed, but they all pay tribute to the men and women who served their country from the time of the American Revolution to the present., [Captions:] , A View of Cannon Park , Cannon Park looking south on Route 4 with elm trees lining the streets and a horse-drawn wagon driving along the road lined with trolley tracks. Photo provided by the Stillwater Historian's Office, world war two Honor Roll , This World War II Honor Roll used to sit in Cannon Park, but it was removed when it fell into disrepair. It listed the names of Stillwater's residents who served. Photo provided by the Stillwater Historian's Office, Village Improvement Society , Some of the women of the Village Improvement Society who undertook the task of cleaning up Cannon Park in 1907. Photo provided by the Stillwater Historian's Office, Burleigh Map of Stillwater , This detail of the 1889 Burleigh map of Stillwater, N.Y. shows the undeveloped land at the corner of Park Street and Main Street across from the Methodist and Episcopal Church. Image provided by the Library of Congress, Earl J. Manning , A photograph of of Earl J. Manning, a Stillwater serviceman who died in France during World War I. Photo provided by the Stillwater Historian's Office,