106 - Parapet and Cannon at Glen Oak Park Lagoon
CJ may not have time to seriously blog, but apparently he’s available for useless trivia.
Parapet: An earthen or stone embankment protecting soldiers from enemy fire.
JW says: “10-11-1899 - Cannon dedicated. Spanish-American war cannon captured from Morro Castle, Santiago, Cuba. Made in Seville, Spain, June 25, 1845, weighing 1,275 pounds, with bore of 152mm. Cannon’s name is ‘Arapiles’.”
The book “The Grandest Views: A History of the Peoria Park District” confirms that on Oct 11, 1899 the “Cannon [was] dedicated at Glen Oak”
Unfortunately, this will soon be history. If you haven’t seen it lately, the whole thing is surrounded by a chain-link fence. It’s being torn down due to apparent budget restraints. The cannon is being relocated to a yet undisclosed location.
November 28th, 2006 at 9:44 am
Parapet and cannon at Glen Oak Park, overlooking the lagoon.
November 28th, 2006 at 10:42 am
Parapet. For the life of me I couldn’t think of that word. I was worried I’d have to go through the Park Board Minutes to find it.
November 28th, 2006 at 2:37 pm
Ten points if anybody knows the name of the cannon.
(note - “points” is not dollars, it’s points, which are worthless)
November 29th, 2006 at 3:59 pm
Arapiles.
November 29th, 2006 at 4:59 pm
CJ — No time to blog, but time to answer trivia?
November 30th, 2006 at 2:01 am
good thing I didn’t say “ten dollars”
November 30th, 2006 at 6:39 am
What is the history on this?
November 30th, 2006 at 2:23 pm
What I know…
10-11-1899 - Cannon dedicated. Spanish-American war cannon captured from Morro Castle, Santiago, Cuba. Made in Seville, Spain, June 25, 1845, weighing 1,275 pounds, with bore of 152mm. Cannon’s name is “Arapiles”.
There was also a cannon in Bradley park, and here is what I know about it…
1908 - Donated cannon added to park from Spanish-American war, captured in Maila, Philippines. Cast in Seville, Spain, on 12-3-1776. Given to Peoria by Brigadier General Lloyd Wheaton who had left Peoria in 1861 at age 22 for Civil War, returning with cannon on 11-3-1899. First placed behind city hall and sometimes fired. Donated to park district in 1908 and placed on cement platform in Bradley Park opposite Columbia Terrace next to an 80 foot flag pole. It was later removed, put in storage and disappeared for over 20 years. Found in use at Rockford, returned to Peoria, placed in front of Flanagan House and rededicated 07-10-1981.
November 30th, 2006 at 3:54 pm
You guys are making this way too easy for me.
November 30th, 2006 at 8:06 pm
you have the purdy pictures tho
November 30th, 2006 at 10:34 pm
What the hell is wrong with the powers-that-be in Peoria? Seems like the whole city has gone to hell and nobody cares anymore. Is the Park District being run by Halliburton? I’ll bet ya 10 bucks, er points, that the cannon ends up in some hotshots backyard.
December 1st, 2006 at 11:53 am
SOP for PPD
One perusal of “The Grandest View” will show that well enough. Rather than invest in regular maintainance if its grandness, it’s built, pictures are taken, submitted for awards, and then forgotten.
December 4th, 2006 at 3:57 pm
They’re tearing out the parapet?! What the h*** is wrong with the PPD?
December 4th, 2006 at 5:49 pm
I tried so hard to get a good angle without the fence (this one has the lens poking through the opening in the chain link) that I didn’t even think to take it WITH the fence and the warning signs. It would’ve been a nice addition.
December 10th, 2006 at 10:10 pm
jonny254
January 14th, 2007 at 11:50 am
What a shame. We used to play on this cannon as kids (50s and 60s). Not sure it was in the same place then, seem to remember it somewhere else in the park, maybe over by the zoo? Also, is the skating area still in Glen Oak (I haven’t been to Peoria since the 80s)?
January 15th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
Skating? If you mean at the Lagoon, not for many years. Was there another place for skating?
Currently the only place to ice-skate is at Owen’s Center near Lakeview.
February 3rd, 2008 at 10:20 pm
full tilt eur1million chall…
consigns Lowe?Augustan encodes trembled …