Posted on 07/15/2002 9:55:42 AM PDT by stainlessbanner
FARMINGTON -- The City Council is once again trying to sell its old cannon.
The council voted to request proposals for the purchase of the cannon, which sits outside the Old Tithing House. The Old Tithing House will soon become the city's museum.
The cannon is a Confederate Iron Napoleon cannon, used in the Civil War. It has no place in Farmington's history, other than it was used during some city celebrations, and it is unknown how it arrived in Farmington.
Although the city has already received four offers to buy the cannon, City Manager Max Forbush has found other museums that also may be interested in it.
Those museums that have asked to purchase the cannon are Memorial Hall Foundation Confederate Civil War Museum in New Orleans, La.; Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum and Library, Philadelphia, Pa.; Drum Barracks Civil War Museum, Wilmington, Calif.; and The Museum of the Confederacy, Richmond, Va.
Mayor David Connors said the purpose of selling the cannon is to help fund the new museum.
"Our restriction is that it be sold to a museum," Connors said. "It has historic value, just not to this city."
Forbush found at least 17 other museums he wants to contact about the old Civil War cannon.
The council first decided to sell the cannon last year when it found it did not have a place in the history of Farmington, but a suitable buyer could not be found.
But Councilman Bob Hasenyager said the cannon does have some importance to the city -- "It was fired to start Festival Days," he said -- so he wants a replica to be provided to the city.
The council agreed on minimum proposal specifications, including a minimum sale price of $50,000, plus a replica to be provided by the purchaser. The price does not include shipping, which is the responsibility of the buyer.
The buyer must also be a legitimate museum or demonstrate that the cannon will be exposed to substantial public view.
Deadline for filing proposals is Sept. 30. All proposals should be sent to City Manager Max Forbush, Farmington City Corporation, 130 N. Main St., P.O. Box 160, Farmington, UT 84025-0160
Bids will be opened publicly on Sept. 30 at 5 p.m. at the Farmington City Hall.
To contact correspondent Ruth Malan, leave a message at 629-5220.
VetVetD - any guess on the price?
...and how did it end up not full of concrete a la every other courthouse cannon in America, courtesy of GCA '68?
Not to mention that most of those cannon that are demilled are easily returned to operational status.
Mike
Do I have to get another permit? ;o)
Awesome.....looks like it will end up in a museum somewhere else, hopeful back home in the South. Wonder who drug this bad boy all the way to Utah.....
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