The Library

“The park board today agreed to turn over four World War I cannon to the government-the one at Phelps Grove and three at Grant Beach.
 

“Another relic, at Smith Park, ‘belongs to the government now, I guess,’ mused Superintendent Oscar Knocke, who will write Fort Wood authorities to see what disposal they wish to make of the guns.

 

“Request for the old cannon came in a telegram from Mayor LaGuardia of New York to Mayor Carr. Board members suggested that arrangements should be made so the Army can pick up all the Springfield guns -- at the American Legion, Drury campus, Frisco office building and the parks -- at the same time. Mayor LaGuardia’s telegram promised replacement of the relics ‘After the war is over with tanks and guns taken from the enemy.’
 

“The board today also agreed to endorse the Springfield Flying Service’s report to Washington on progress of the CPT [Civilian Pilot Training] program here. This is necessary, Manager James Johnson explained in a letter to the board, so the CPT can continue to operate, even though the Army or Navy takes over this airport, or the entire area.
 

“Chairman C. J. Kunz said the board’s ‘verification of actual operations by the flying service will not interfere with civilian flying here. In fact, it might prolong it. In previous instances, airports have been shut down for two or three weeks after the Army and Navy took over before the case could be reviewed in Washington. Now the government will have maps and all data on operations here and there’ll be no delay in operations.’”

The photograph of two boys on the canon, above, is from the August 9th Sunday News & Leader.  The caption read: "This old gun in Grant Beach Park and others similar to it scattered in other public places here may soon go into the melting pot and emerge a newer model to slam explosives at the Axis. For several years it has slumbered in the park with grass growing up around it and its heavy, solid rubber tires -- also valuable as scrap -- the target of many an initial-carving youngsters. The two boys on the gun -- not initial carvers -- are Billie, 12 and Jimmie Barrett, sons of Joe Barrett, of 2023 North Missouri. Ray Kelly, park board president, said yesterday that he was sure the park board would gladly yield up any ornamental ordnance requested for salvage. The salvage committee here is now under instructions to defer such collections until they're told to make them."