BlastfromtheRiverCity’sPast!byDavidHendriks

August27th2010.Thesetting–AustinHighSchoolversusDecaturHighSchoolatOgleStadium.

10,000peoplefilledthehallowedgroundsascrosstownrivalriesbattleonthegridirontoclaimbraggingrightsforthenextyear.Theflagisliftedtothetopofthehighmastinthesoutherncornerofthe

stadium.Asthegatheringrisestotheirfeetthe“StarSpangledBanner”issungbythechorusfromthebothschoolsandtheoldergeneration,theirrighthandplacedfirmlyovertheirhearts,sangalong.Sadly,manyoftheyoungergenerationofAustinandDecaturHighschoolclassmatesseemtohave

forgottenthistraditionasseeninthisphoto.

ThecrowdisreadyforanotherDecaturversusAustinHighSchoolgame.Theteamsenterthefieldandgatherbehindtheirrespectiveendzones.Austin’sFootballteamrunsonthefieldfirst.TheDecatur

HighSchoolteamisgatheredbehindthegoalpostatthenorthsideofthefield“BOOM”thecannoneruptswithahugegunpowderexplosion.

Decaturtakestothefieldwhilethesomewhatdazedandconfusedcrowd;reacttotheman‐madelightningbolt!

TTThhheeeDDDeeecccaaatttuuurrrRRReeedddRRRaaaiiidddeeerrrssstttaaakkkeeetttooottthhheeefffiiieeellldddwwwiiittthhhttthhheeeBBBlllaaassstttiiinnngggooofffttthhheeeCCCaaannnnnnooonnn!!!

August27,2010–PhotobyKevinNaumann

“Whattheheckwasthat?”saidBillCooktheMunicipalJudgeforDecatur.BillwassittinginfrontofmeandIwatchedashebroughtthetipsofhisshouldersdownfromhisears!“OhthatwastheDecatur

HighSchool’scannonbeingshotoff.”Iexclaimed.“It’salongstory”asIbegantorelatetohimabriefhistorybehindthecannon.Buthedidn’theartheentirestory.Andthereisastorytobetoldaboutthecannonwehearblastedthatnightthatisdeeplyrootedinthecrosstownhighschoolfootballhistory

andfolklore.

Fiction,Fact,FolkloreorFable?Manystorieshavebeentoldandretoldovertheyearsbyboth

DecaturandAustinstudents,faculty,friends,mothers,fathers,newspapersandtelevisionnewsbroadcastsabouttheDecaturHighSchoolCannonanditsrichandcolorfulhistory.

Themoretimesthestoryistold,thetallerthetalebecomesandnowit’sapproachingPaulBunyanstatusinourlocaltownofDecaturAlabama.Somuchfactionalfictionandfictionalfactshavebeen

addedovertheyearsthatmostpeopleareindeedconfusedaboutwhatreallydidhappen.Sadlythereareeventhosewhodon’tevenknowthereisastorytobetold.Thisstoryisforyouandforsettingtherecordstraight!

Whatisatthebottomofallthistalkthat’sbeengoingonforforty‐fiveyears?Shouldwestartatthebottomandworkourwayuporweshouldwestartatthebeginningandworkourwaytothepresent?

EarliestmadepicturesoftheDHSRedRaiderCannonin1965.

Let’sgoback,wayback,intothehistoryofthiscannon.

FromTheDecaturDailyArticle–July14,1998byKarenMiddleton‐BobHunter,DecaturHighClassof1965wasPresidentoftheKeyClub,whenmembersdecidedthattheywantedto“leavesomething

permanenttotheschool.”“Itwasthefallof’64andwewentuptoUnionCity,TennesseetosomethingcalledtheUnionGunWorksandboughtthecannon,”saidHunterinthearticle.“Itwasn’tarealCivilWarcannonbutareproduction.“MydadownedHunterFurnitureandwetookoneofthedelivery

trucksuptheretogetit.Webroughtitbacktomygrandfather’sfarmandfireditoffafewtimestoseeifitwouldwork.”ThecannonwasstoredattheStateBondedWarehousebeforeitwashauledovertoDecaturHighSchoolaccordingtoKeyClubmemberMarkLovelace.“Itwasfiredthefirsttimeatour

gamewithMuscleShoals.ItwasHomecominggamehere.”

ItbeganatraditionoffiringoffthecannonaftereachDecaturHightouchdownandtheKeyClubwasresponsibleforlightingthefuse!

DecaturHighSchoolYearbook

Theseriesdatesbackto1965whenDecaturdefeatedAustininthefirstmeeting27‐7.Thismarkedthebeginningofarivalrythatfansscheduleandplaneventsaround.The2010gamewasagreatgameforDHSwhocameoutthevictor,50‐21butfortheAHSfansit’sanotherheartfeltloss.Decaturhighleadstheseries33‐14.

DecaturHighSchoolYearbook

ItmusthavebeengreatfunfortheDecaturHighSchoolcrowd!FromtheAustinHighSchoolperspectivethefiringofthecannonaftereachtouchdownwasgettingontheirnerves.EverysingletimeDecaturscoredatouchdowntheyfiredtheircannonoffandtheDecaturcrowdwouldgowildwith

celebration!YearafteryearAustinHighSchoolstudentshadtolistentothisblamedthingfireagainandagainaftereachtouchdown,sothetensionhadbeenbuildingforyears.

DecaturHighSchoolAnnual

Togetabetterunderstandingofthecross‐townrivalryIthinkitisimportantthatwelookbackalittlefurtherintothehistoryofDecaturAlabama.

TheDecaturHighSchoolKeyClubispartoftheDecaturKiwanisClub.TheDecaturKiwanisClubis

deeplyrootedintheannalsofDecatur’sHistoryandwasanintegralpartofthejoiningofthetwosistercitiesofDecatur,Alabama.

Fromthesourcewww.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decatur,_Alabama

NewDecatur,AlabamawasacitythatroseoutoftheashesofformerDecaturwestoftherailroadtracks.NewDecaturwasfoundedin1887andincorporatedin1889.ButresidentsoftheolderDecatur

resentedthenewtown,foundedandoccupiedbypeoplewhomovedfromthenorthernstates.AnimositybuiltuntilNewDecaturrenamedtheirtownAlbany,afterAlbany,N.Y.,inSeptember1916.Theimpetustomeldthetwotownscamefromtheneedforabridge,insteadofaferry,acrossthe

TennesseeRiver.TheDecaturKiwanisClubwasformedwithanequalnumberofmembersfromeachtowntoorganizeeffortstogetthestatetobuildthebridge.In1925,thetwocitiesmergedtoformone

CityofDecatur.Thereisanoticeabledifferencebetweenthetwosidesoftown.Thecitiesdevelopeddifferentlyatdifferenttimes,andstilltothisdayhavesomewhatdifferentcultures.

FromtheDecaturKiwanisClubwebsite‐http://decaturkiwanis.org/history.htm

Sometimeduringtheyear1919,thirtymenfromthetownofDecaturandthirtymenfromthetownofAlbanymettogetherfortheavowedpurposeofachievingtheconsolidationofthosetwowarringanddivisivemunicipalities.Thesewereleaderswithforesightdedicatedtobuildingabettercommunityforthemselvesandforthosetocomeafterthem.Theycastaboutforanorganizationtoserveasavehiclefortheireffortsandafterreviewinganumberofformsoforganizationsandclubs,decidedthatKiwanisInternational,withitsmotto"WeBuild"wastheorganizationmostlikelytobeeffectiveintheirendeavor.

Membershipwasoriginallylimitedtosixtymen,thirtyfromDecaturandthirtyfromAlbany.Attimestherewasawaitinglistformembership.WhenKiwanisInternationaldiscoveredthesixtymemberlimitation,somefifteenortwentyyearslater,theyrequiredtheDecaturclubtoeliminatethatrequirement.

Eventuallyin1927,aftertirelesseffortandKiwanisinfluenceinthestatelegislature,DecaturandAlbanywereunitedintotheexistingcommunityofDecatur.ItissafetosaythattheconsolidationwasbroughtaboutbytheKiwanisClubofDecatur.

BridgeDedication–Ca1927–TheDecaturPublicLibrary

KellerMemorialBridgeConstruction–Ca1927–TheDecaturPublicLibrary

FormoreofthehistoryofDecaturbesuretocheckoutthiswebsite.http://decatur‐al.gov/livework/decatur_then.html

Thuswehavealittleofthehistorythatstartedthisinter‐cityrivalrythatstillexiststothisday!Withthe

completionofAustinHighSchoolin1962,thecitywasagainsplitintwo.YoueitherlivedontheeastsideoftherailroadtracksandwenttoDecaturHighSchooloryoulivedonthewestsideofthetracksandwenttoAustinHighSchool.

1965AustinHighSchoolAnnual

1967DecaturHighSchoolAnnual

TheDecaturHighKeyClubwasresponsibleforthepurchaseofthecannon.TheKeyClubwasresponsibleforthecannonandtheirdutiesincludedkeepingthecannoninsoundorderandfiringit

aftereachtouchdownthefootballteamedscored.

TheKeyClubisaninternationalstudent‐ledorganizationwhichprovidesitsmemberswithopportunitiestoprovideservice,buildcharacteranddevelopleadership.

TheKeyClubpledge–

“I pledge, on my honor, to uphold the Objects of Key Club International; to build my home, school and community; to serve my nation and God; and combat all forces which tend to undermine these institutions.” Underscoreplacedherebytheauthorofthisarticleasanotationtoremember.

DecaturHighSchoolAnnual

DecaturHighSchoolAnnual

NowletmetellyouthestoryofwhathappenedtotheDecaturHighSchoolcannonin1977.

Theideabegantospringupamongstagroupofyoung,seventeenyearoldmenfromtheAustinHighSchoolClassof1978.Theyhadheardenoughofthecannon!Theyweregoingtosilenceitforever!The

fouryoungmenwere,JayJenkins,DarrylMitchell,JeffCoffeyandBobQuarles.BobactuallywasfromtheAHSClassof1979.

DarrylMitchell(AHSClassof1978)offersthesedetailsfromhisperspective.“WeoftengatheredtogetheratJeff’shouseon16thStreetjustdownthestreetfromAustinandwouldwalktoschool

togetherinthemorning.”Duringtheirgatheringstheideahatchedandbegantogrowthattheyweregoingtosilencethecannononceandforall.TheyweregoingtosnatchthecannonfromDecaturHighSchoolbeforetheAustinvs.Decaturgame,whichwastobeplayedonNovember4,1977.Backthen

thegamewasthelastregulargameoftheseasonforbothteams.

AccordingtoBobQuarles,theoriginalideabehindthesnatchingofthecannoncamefromJayJenkins.Theplanwasschemedandplottedandbanteredamongsteachotherastheydaredeachotheron.TheyhadthoughtaboutborrowingoneofJay’sfather’scranetrucksthenhoisttheentirecannonintothe

backofthetruckbutthatplandidn’tworkoutwhenthetruckwasonajobatthetimerightbeforethebiggame.

Thewordeventuallygotaroundtothe“RedRaiders”thatthe“BlackBears”weregoingtotakeoffwithDecaturHigh’sprizedcannon.DarrylMitchellwasdatingagirlfromDecaturHighSchoolandhelether

knowoftheirintentionsbut“Ikindofbrusheditofflikewereallywerenotgoingtodoit”.

PicturedhereareMollyWilliams,DarrylMitchell,JeffCoffey

beforethe1977HomecomingParadeforAHS.

DarrylstatesthatwhenitcametimetosnatchthecannontheyfoundthatsomeDecaturHighSchool

studentsweregatheredaroundguardingthecannonwhichstoodinthecornerofthefieldatOgle

Stadium.Itappearsthatthesomeofthe“RedRaiders”studentstookitseriousenoughthattheypostedguardsthere‘roundtheclock’toprotecttheirprizedcannon.Howeveritbegantosprinklelate

thatFallSaturdaynightin1977sowhoeverthe“guards”were,theythrewinthetowelandwalkedoff.Mr.JohnRolandJenkins,Jay’sfather,sayshethinksthattheywenttoHardeestograbacoke.

BobQuarlesdoesn’trecallbeingforewarnedaboutany“guards”beingondutythatThursdaynightbeforetheAustinvs.Decaturgame.Bobremembersthattheydidn’tseeanyoneatall.Insteadhe

remembersthattheyheardthatstorylateronthattheremighthavebeensomeoneinthebleacherswatchingthecannon.Hesaidthatiftherewasanyonekeepinganeyeonthecannon,thentheyweregonebythetimetheyarrived.Dr.RobertQuarlesnowpracticesnuclearradiology,diagnosticradiology

andnuclearmedicine.

Darrylrelatesthestory.“Itwasacold,rainy,nastynight.”ThisgroupoffouryoungmenwerecirclingaroundtheDHScampusinJayJenkinsfather’s1973ElCamino(whitewithwoodgrainsides).Canyouimaginethemsittinglikesardinesinthislittlecar‐truckonthisdrizzlynightwaitingfortheopportunity

toseizetheDecaturHighcannon?

“Wewerewellprepared.”saysJeffCoffey,oftenreferredtoas“Theo”byhisfriends.Jeffsays“WehadathreefootlongboltcuttertocutthelockandchainonthegatetotheOglestadiumfield.”Thesedaringyoungopportunists,rushedinquickly,togathertheirtreasureintheearlyeveninghoursof

November3rd,1977.SwiftlytheyparkedtheElCaminoandJay,Bob,DarrylandJeffrushedinhopingnoonewasaround.Butnoonewasaroundatleastnonethatcouldbeobserved.Buttheywerestillatriskofsomeonecatchingtheminthemiddleofwhattheyweredoing!

Theirwelllaidplanssoonturnedouttohaveafewproblems.Theygatheredaroundthecannonsitting

thereallbyitself.Theytriedpushingitbackandforthabitbutitwasheavy!Theyponderedfirsttothemselvesthentoeachother.Howdoyougeta900poundcannon‐wheelsandall‐intothebackof

anElCamino?Eveniftheygotitbacktothetruck,theywouldn’tbeabletoliftitupintothebednorwouldithavefit!

SoyoungMr.DarrylMitchell,beingthecleveryoungmanhewas,startedtuggingandtwistingonthebarrelanditslowlystartedtoslipandgive.Theyquicklyundidthestrapsthatheldthebarrelofthe

cannontothecarriage.Allfourheavedandliftedthe350poundcannonbarreloffthelargewoodenwheelsandwalkedtogethertothebackoftheElCamino.

Theyleftbehindthecarriageandwheels.Mr.RolandJenkinsremembersthatJaytoldhimthathis

adrenalinewasflowingsofastthat“Wedidn’tevenfeeltheweightofthecannon”asthefourranoffwithit.

Offtheyroaredintothedark,tiresspinning,withthecannonslidingaroundandbangingintothesidesofthebedoftheElCaminotruck/carastheymadeeachturn.Jayhadtheforesighttotakeoneofhis

mother’squiltswithhimwhichtheysupposedlyusedthattowrapupthebarrelofthecannon.Theydiscussedamongstthemselves“Whatarewegoingtodowithitnow?”JaysuggestedthattheytakeitbackHisfather’sbusiness,“ValleySteelConstruction”ontheriveronHwy20andfillitwithconcrete.

ThentheywouldreturnitbacktoitsrightfulplaceonthefieldatOgleStadium,nevertobeblastedagainafteratouchdown.

DarrylMitchellsaid“Let’sgoovertoMadisonandgetsomebeerandwe’llfigureoutwhattodowithitafterthat.”

Atthetime,Decaturwasadrytownandifyouwantedanybeer,youhadtocrossthe1and3/4mile

wide,TennesseeRiver,togoovertothewetcountyofMadisontobuybeer.Thereweretwobridgescrossingtheriveratthistimein1977.Onewasreferredtoatthetimeasthe“newbridge”builtin1963andtheotherwastheold“KellerMemorialBridge”builtin1928,namedinhonorofHelenKellerfrom

Tuscumbia,Alabama.

DecaturAlabama’sBridges–Fall1977

So“thebestlaidplansofmiceandmen”seemedtoerodewhentheycametothebridge.“Lookaround.Thereisnotacarinsight,notanyone”saidDarryl.Jeffsuggested“Let’sjustgetridofitnowandtossit

offthebridge”andquicklyallfouragreed.TheyweredrivingnorthonthenewbridgeheadingoutofDecatur;theystoppedtheElCaminosomewherealongthetopofthebridge.AllfourjumpedoutofthecrampedElCaminoandgrabbedthecannonbarrelinthebed.Allfouroftheboysliftedthecannon

andhurriedlysetitontherightside(eastside)oftheconcreterail.“Alltogethernow–heave!”Darrylsaid.Theyheardabellringingsound.“Ithinkitshungup”.Darrylthoughtithadlodgedonthelargemetalstructurerunningdirectlyunderthebridgebecauseitmadeitlarge“gong”bellsound.

“No,no,Ihearditsplash”saidJayJenkins.Notwantingtostandaroundanddiscussitanyfurther,they

wentofftoMadisontogetsomebeer.“We’rewantedmen,we’llstrikeagain,butfirstlet’shaveabeer!”asJimmyBuffettimmortalizedinhis1973song,“TheGreatFillingStationHoldUp.”

JeffandDarrylreturnedtoDarryl’shouseandBobandJaywenthome.Darryl,JeffandDarryl’sbrotherTimMitchellsatarounddiscussingthenight’seventsattheMitchellresidence.Soontheconversation

cameabout,thattheyshouldhaveacheertoshoutoutatthenextnight’sAustinversusDecaturHighSchoolfootballgame.WiththehelpofDarryl’sbrother,Tim,theycameupwiththischeerorrather

shouldIsay,insult!

“Givealittleshake”

“Givealittlequiver”

“Your’redamnedole’cannon”

“Isinthebottomoftheriver.”

ToaddinsulttoinjuryanothergroupofAustinStudentshadputtogetheraplanoftheirown,not

knowingaboutthecannonscheme.TheyweregoingtopaintabigAustin“AA”onthefieldonThursday

nightbeforetheNovember4th1977game.DannyGibsonfromtheAHSClassof1979recalls“I’mnotsayingIknowwhostolethecannonbutthesamenightthecannonwasstolensomeonepaintedabig

AustinAonDecatursideofthefield.“Ittookabouttwelvecansofblackpaintandfourguystopaint

it."JimBreedingaskedtheartteachertohelphimmakeastencilfortheAandshedid.Itwasa10footcardboardcut‐out.MikeKrueger,JimBreeding,RickyWatson,andDannyGibsonsnuckoutthatnight.TheboysfromAustinclimbedthetallfenceoftheDHSstadiumaroundmidnightandwiththestencil

andspraypaint,paintedtheAustinAonthefootballfield.

AsDannyGibsonexplains“Ihadbrokemyleg(tibiaandfibula)infootballpracticeearlierintheyear

afterhavingacastuptomyposterior,itwaslaterputinacastuptomyknee.Iwasinthatstupidcast

forthreemonths.Imanagedtoclimbthefencewiththerestoftheguys.WepaintedthebigAnearthesidelineswheretheDecaturHighFootballsquadwouldbestandingsotheycouldseeit.”Theymanagedtogetthejobdoneandsneakbackintotheirrooms.Thenextdayitbegantorain,anditappearedtothemthattheirhandyworkhadbeentrampledandstompedtonothingbutablackmess.

Thesewerethesortofthingsthatwentonbetweenthetwohighschools.ArrivingatAustinone

morningthestudentsandfacultyaregreetedwiththisview.Someonehadrearrangedthewords,justalittle.

DecaturHighSchoolchangesthelettersontheAustin“ComingEvents’sign.

Theplotthickens…amodernday“CivilWar”breakout.JeffCoffeyrelatesthestory.“IwasonhiswayhomethatThursdaynightaftertossingthecannonintheriverandasIwentbyAustinHighSchool,near

myhome,Inoticedacarandagroupofboysbashingoutthewindowsattheschool”Jeffsaid,“ItookdownthecartagnumberandcalleditintotheDecaturPoliceanonymously.”Whathadhappenedwas

thatthesupposedDHSguardsondutyatOgleStadiumcamebackandfoundtheircannongone!Soinretribution,somemembersofDecaturHighcametoAustin’scampusandbustedoutnearlytwohundredglasswindows.Iremembercomingtoschoolandseeingallthebustedoutwindows.Itwas

quietascandal.ThenamesofthevandalsweresoonfoundoutandtheyorshouldIsay,theirparents,hadtopayforreplacementofallthewindows.Itrulydon’tknowwhowasinvolved.

AnotheranthemwasquicklyputtogetherbytheboysfromAustin.

“Youbrokeafewwindows,

Youplayedalittleprank,

Whataboutthecannon,

thedamnedthingsank.”

FridaymorningcamearoundandasthegroupmetatJeff’shousetheywalkedtoschool.Darrylexplains,“Evenbeforewehadcrossedthestreet,studentswerecominguptousandsayingthatthey

hadheardthatwewereinvolvedinthestealingofthecannon!”JayJenkinswassaidtohaveexclaimedtothestudentswhoaskedaboutit,“Whatareyoutalkingabout?Youthinkwewereinvolved?”Jayhadaknackfortellingthetruthandbeingabletoskatearoundthedirectquestionsaccordingtowriter

ofthisarticle.“JayandIwerebestfriends”recallsDavidHendriks,sothisshortstoryisdedicatedtohim.

JayJenkinsDied–June23rd,1978inaonepersoncaraccidenthavingfallenasleepatthewheel.Jayhaddiabetesandsometimeswentintoinsulinshockandwouldbecomegroggy.

Thewordquicklyspreadandtheculpritssoonspreadwordtoeachotheratschoolthattheyneeded

somedamagecontrol.DarrylcalledameetingattheAHScampus“Keepalidonit.”Darrylexplainedthatnoonewithinthegroupwastosaytheyhadanythingtodowithit,especiallyinlightofwhathadhappenedtothewindowsofAustin’sschool.Therumorssoonswirledandbeforelongtherewaseven

anAustinstudentwhoactuallytookcreditforsnatchingthecannon.Stillothershaveclaimedthattherewasanentiregroupthathadgatheredaroundthebridgeandwatchedthecannonasitwasthrownoff!

Talkaboutlyinglow,thesefouryoungmendidtheirbesttokeepoutofthelimelightandtotheircreditnotmanypeopletothisdayknowwhowereinvolved.Butthescandalwasalreadythetalkofeveryone

atAustinHighonthedayofthe“biggame.”Everyonewasasking“Whodidit?Whostolethecannon?Whereisthecannonat?”Keepingthelidoniteventuallyledtomorerumorsandthelistofculpritssoonexpanded.

TheAssistantPrincipalofAustinHighSchoolin1977wasMr.LorenzoJackson.CoachJacksontaught

CivicswhileIwasatAustinandwaswellrespected.Hetaughtwithanairofauthorityandknewhissubjectwell.Hewasknownforhisinterestinglessonsandforhisfairnessbuthewasalsofearedforhisabilitytodishoutapaddlingonthebuttthatyouweren’tsoontoforget.Youdidn’twanttobecalledin

tohisofficeforaconversationasIcanpersonallyattest!

Mr.JacksoncalledWilliamLittrellintohisofficethatfatefulMondaymorning.EveryoneknewtheLittrell

brothersincludingMr.Jackson.HewasespeciallyfamiliarwithWilliam.

WilliamisseenhereinoneofhismugshotsbehindbarsandwearinghisWillieNelsont‐shirt.TheBruin1976

IhadaconversationwithWilliamandheexplainsthestorytomethisway.Mr.LorenzoJacksonasked,“William,didyouhaveanythingtodowiththis?Williamknewthevastconsequencesofwhatwould

happentohim‐hadhebeenapartytothisillustriousevent.Hepleaded“NoMr.Jackson,Iswear,Ididn’thaveanypartofit.IwassickasadogathomeandyoucanevenaskmyDad!”ThisconversationwentonlikethisforaboutahalfhouraccordingtoWilliam.Williamhappenedtobeguiltyby

associationonly.PooroleWilliamwasthinkingtohimself“WhymeLord?WhatdidIeverdo?”

“Don't cross him, don't boss him. He's wild in his sorrow:

He's ridin' an' hidin his pain. Don't fight him, don't spite him;

Just wait till tomorrow, Maybe he'll ride on again.”

Willie Nelson “The Red Headed Stranger”

“Iswear,itwasn’tme,Iwassickathomeinthebed”saysWilliam.CoachLorenzoJacksonkeptasking

me“Whereisthecannonat?”Williamfinallyofferedup”Idon’tknowbutifyouwanttofindoutforyourself,you’dbettergetyourskinsuitonandgolookingforitintheriver!”AccordingtoWilliamasapersonaltestimony“Ineverrattedoutmyfriends”whomheknewwereinvolvedinthisescapade.And

no,hedidnotgoaroundsayinghehadanythingtodowiththecannonbeingtossedoffthebridge!

Mr.Jacksonsaid“William,Ibelieveyouinspiteofyourself.”Mr.JacksonletWilliamgowithouthavingthefacethebroadsideofalargewoodenpaddlekeptinhisdesk.Somethirty‐fouryearslater,WilliamLittrellconfessedtome“IwouldhavebeenpartofitifIcould,butItrulywassickthatnight.”William

residesinVinemontAlabamawherehewiththehelpofhisfivebrothersrunthe“LittrellBrothersLumberCompany”HecanbefoundeverySundaymorningsinginginthechoirathischurchandplaystheoccasionalguitar.Perhapsifyou’llhumafewbarsto“TheRedHeadedStranger”he’llwhipouthis

guitaranddemonstratehistalent.

Buttheinvestigationwasfarfromover.Mr.BearlWhitsett,PrincipalofAustinHighSchoolcalledJayJenkinsintohisoffice.

Mr.WhitsettaskedJayalotofquestionsandfinallylethimgowithnoformalpunishment.Jay’sfather,Mr.Jenkins,askedJaylateronifhehadtoldMr.Whitsettthetruth.Jaysaid“Yes,Itoldthetruth,hejustdidn’tasktherightquestions!ApparentlyJayhadarealtalentforskirtingaroundtheissues.He

wouldhavemadeagreatlawyer.

Mrs.JenkinssaidshethinksanotherreasonJaywasletgosoeasilythatdayisthattheJenkins’wereneighborswiththeWhitsett’safewyearsbeforewhentheywerelivingon12thAvenue.Mrs.Jenkinssaid“Bearl,justreallydidn’twanttoknow.”Shethinksitwasbecauseoftheirrelationshipwithhim.

TheJenkinshadmovedfromSouthwestDecaturtoSoutheastDecaturandtheywerelivingonCountry

ClubRoadbackin1976.JaycontinuedatAustinHighSchoolandhisyoungersister,Jan,transferredtoDecaturHighSchoolhersophomoreyear.JanwasaJuniorCheerleaderatDHSwhenallthishappenedandshehadtoendurequiteabitofsuspicionandcriticismherself,fromherolderbrother’s

involvementwiththedisappearanceofthecannon,hermotherexplainedtome.Mr.andMrs.JenkinsnowresideinMariettaGeorgiahavingmovedtherefromDecaturin2005.

Butthequestioningdidn’tstopthere.“Itmusthavebeenaweeklater,whenPoochieO’Haracallsmeonthetelephone”recallsGlendaJenkins.“Isee,un‐huh,dotell,youdon’tsay!”ishowIimaginethe

conversationwent.Glendawas38yearsoldatthetimeandshespeakstoherhusband,JohnRolandJenkinsabouttheincidentassoonasshecould.Mr.Jenkinssaid“Ihadalotofsortingouttodo!”

Mr.andMrs.JenkinsrecallthattheysatJaydownandaskedhimaboutthecannonincident.“Jaytold

me,thatDecaturwasgoing‘BBang,bang, bangang,bang, bang ’’ everytimetheyscoredatouchdown.”Mr.Jenkins

continuesthestory,“DadwejustgottiredofhearingthatcannongooffallthetimeagainstAustin.”Mr.JenkinsaskedJay‐“Whereisthecannonatnow?”Jaybeingevasiveashewas,said“Well,DadallIcantellyouisthatnobody’sgoingtostealitagain!”

Thatexplanationwasn’tgoingtoworkthistime.Mr.JenkinsaskedJayagain.“Whereisthecannonat?”

Jaysaid,“Well,it’sinsomewatersomewhere.”Mr.Jenkinssaid,“Whatdoyoumean?”Jayreplied“Wellifyouaregoingtogofindit,you’llhavetoswim!”Jaywasliterallyoverabarrel,thistimenotthebarrelofthecannonbutthebarrelhewassoongoingtobetarredandfeatheredin,ifhedidn’tcome

upwithsomeplausiblefacts.

Mr.Jenkinsgettingalittlemiffedbythistimesays“Ok,JayI’mgoingtoaskyouonemoretime,whereisthecannonat?”Jaysays“Well,doyouknowwherethemiddleofthebridgeiscrossingtheriver?It’sthereatthebottomoftheriver!”Thenonly,then,Jay‘fessesup’tohisparentsthewholestory.

Thatdidn’t“settle”toowellwithRolandJenkins.Jay’swas“grounded”andpartofhispunishmentwas

thathewasgoingtohavetofindawaytogetitoutoftheriverandreturnittoDecaturHighSchool.Mr.JenkinsrecallsthatbothheandJayhadbecomecertifiedscubadiversin1976.Mr.JenkinsplanwasthatheandJaywoulddivedowntothebottomoftheTennesseeRiverandfindthecannon.Hetoldme

thattheywouldrigaballoonbagandfloatittothesurfaceortieachainarounditandhoistituptotheirboat.TheynevergotaroundtodoingthatasJaydiedinatragicaccidentsoonaftergraduatingAustininJune1978.

Gamenight–November4,1977.AustinfacedDecaturatOgleStadium.Tensionwasreallytight.

DecaturHighSchoolstudentswerenotamused,notintheleast!Thenightwasdampenedbyacoldhardrain.Thankfullynofightsbrokeoutthatnight.

Irememberthisnightverywell.Asa17yearoldstudentofAHSatthetime,IhadtakenontheroleofphotographerfortheAustinHighSchoolannualstaff.Thephotographbelowisoneofthepicturesthat

appearedintheAustinyearbook.Itookthispicturethatnightwithmyfather’sCanonF‐1camera.IrememberitwellbecauseIfoundoutlaterthe135mmcameralensewasnotwaterproof!Ihadtopay$135.00tohavethelensecleanedupfromthejobIhadworkingatagasstationon6thAvenue.

PhotoandCommentsmadeatthetime‐DavidHendriks.

“Takeoffyourpants

GetonaBoat,

Gottagoswimming

Causeyourcannonwon’tfloat.”

AbannerwasmadeanditwasplacedoverthefencerailsfortheDecaturHighstudentstosee.Kelley

O’HaraHollowayrecalls“IremembermakingabighugesignthatsaidBANG!EverytimeDHSscored

duringthegameweheldupthatsign.Notmuchconsolation.Austinwent3and9thatyearinfootball.

DecaturHighSchoolYearbook‐1978

EventhoughthehecklingcheersfromAustinstudentshelpedencouragetheteam,theBlackBearswentdowntotheRedRaiders,21‐0asthefinalbuzzersounded.TheRedRaidersgotthefinalsayonwho

wascitychampsthatyear.TheAustinBlackBearswentdown,butyouwanttoknowsomethingelsefriendsandneighbors–sodidthecannon!Thecannondidnotgetfiredafterthethreetouchdownstimesthatnight.Andformanynightstocome!

Fromthe1998DecaturDailyarticle.“FormerDecaturHighprincipal,JamesMilnerisreluctanttopoint

fingers.”“Onenightitjustcameupmissing.”“ItwasrumoredthattheAustinBoysjustgottiredofhearingitshotoffandtheyranoffwithit.”“WehadthatcaissonrollingaroundwithoutabarrelforIdon’tknowhowlong,thenwehadanothermade.Butitneverdidlookthesame.”Truthis“Itlooked

awful.”accordingtoJohnGodwin,DHSClassof1979–Johnsaid“SomeDadhadtakenawhitePVCpipe,sprayeditblackandmountedittothecarriage.”“TheytriedshootingafewM‐80sinitbutitwasneverthesame.”TheoldDHSKeyClubcannon,minusthebarrel,wasunseenandunheardofforyearsand

yearstocome.Thetraditionofshootingoffthecannonhaddiedbutthetensionremained.

Astheoldsayinggoes“Whatgoesaroundcomesaround.”Therearealwaysconsequencestoourbehavior.NotonlyhadabunchofwindowsbeenknockedoutatAustinHighSchool,theshenaniganscontinuedbackin1977.ArrivingatAustinHighSchoolsoonafterthisillustriousevent,thewordsoon

spreadaroundtheAustincampusthattheheadofourillustriousmascotfigure,theAustinHighBlackBear,wasamiss!

TheBlackBearstoodaboutsixfoothighandeightfootlonginthefoyerofthegymnasiumwhichistodaycalledthe“JoeJonesGymnasium”inhonorofCoachJoneswhohadmadeareputationforhard

workandwinning.

SomeonehadcuttheheadcompletelyofftheAustinHighBlackBear,muchtothechagrinoftheAustin

studentsandfaculty.Studentsweregatheredaroundandtalkingamongstthemselveswonderingwhathadhappenedandwhocouldhavepulledoffsuchatumultuousstunt?

DecaturHighSchoolhaditstraditionofhavingitscheerleaderswiththecannonasthebackgroundofmanyphotographsasshownhereinthesephotographs.

1966DecaturHighSchoolAnnual

1966DecaturHighSchoolAnnual

AustinHighSchooltoohaditstraditionofhavingitscheerleaderphotographstakeninfrontofthebig

BlackBear.

LeeMiles,wasasophomoreatDecaturHighSchoolinthefallof1977anda“Classof1980”graduate.Hedescribesthestoryofthecaperthisway.“MarkKingcameupwiththeidea.”“HeandIwerebuddiesatthetimeandI’mnotsureofthemonthbutitwasonaFridaynight.”Markclimbedupthe

sideofLee’shousearound2:00AMtoLee’ssecondfloorbedroom.MarkandLeehadsnuckoutseveraltimesinthepastandthiswasnotunusualforthem.Mark,knocksonthewindowandwakesLeeupfromasoundsleepandsays“Heywakeup!Wearegoingtogosomewhere!”Leeexclaims“Huh,what,

where?”Marksays“WearegoingtoAustinandwearegoingtogetbackatthoseguysforthrowingthecannonintheRiver!WearegoingtogettheBear!”

“That’sfine,let’sdoit”Leesays.Inthepre‐dawnhoursMarkandLeerideovertothecampusofAustinHighSchool.Markdrivesaroundtothebackofthegym.Nowonfoottheywerelookingforan

entranceintothegym.Theysoonfoundanunlockedwindow.Thewindowswereabout“4’x1.5’andswungoutwardsfromthebottom.LeehelpedMarkthroughthewindowandMarkthenracedaroundtothefrontandopenedupadoorforLee.MarkhadbroughtahacksawandaBBgunhehadgottenin

thefourthgrade.Theycameloadedforbear!

Theywerefullypreparedforactionandspoilingforafight.

“TheBlackBear”stoodapproximatelysixfeettallandwassixfootlongonaplywoodplatformwithitsleftfootonastump.Thebearwasonrollerssoitcouldberolledaround.ItstoodproudlyinAustin’s

gymfoyer.

EveniftheywantedtotakethewholeBear,itwouldn’thavegonethroughthedoors!Buttheycouldn’tleavewithouttryingtodecapitatethebear’shead.CanyouimaginethesetwosixteenyearoldboystryingtocutthroughtheBear’sneck,approximatelyfivefeetincircumference,withalittlemetalhack

sawblade?

“Ittookanhourandhalftocutthebear’sheadoff”anexasperatedLeeexplains!“Wetookturnshackingatit!Theytwisted,pulled,yankedandfinallygottheheadoff.“Iwassweatingtodeathitwassohotandwewerescaredoutofourwitsthatwewouldbecaught.”“WehadaBBgunwithusandwe

shotafewlightsoutsandadingedafewwindows.”IcanjustimagineifthepolicehadshownupatthattimeandcaughttheminthemiddleoftheirlittleendeavorholdingaBBgunandtheBlackBear’shead!Isupposethepolice,notknowingwhatwasgoingonandonlyseeingariflewouldhaveimmediately

pulleddownonthem‐thenandthere.

TheyoungmenranoffputtingtheBear’sheadinthebackofMark’scaranddrovebacktoLee’shousejustasthesunwascomingup.LeeputtheBear’sheadinhisbedroomcloset.LeewasexhaustedandhesleepsinonSaturdaymorning.About10o’clockthenextmorning,Markknocksonthedoor.Mrs.

MilesanswersandtellsMark“Leeisinhisroom.Comeonin.”MarkopensLee’sbedroomdoorandtellsLee“Idon’tthinkthisisasafeplacetokeeptheBear’sheadsoletmetakeitwithme.”Leesays“Thatisfine,Idon’tcare‐Ijustwanttogetsomesleep!”ThatwasthelasttimethatLeesawofthe

actualBear’shead.Hedidhoweverseeaphotoin“TheDecaturDaily”withaDHCstudent,holdingtheBear’sheadinaphoto.

LetusfastforwardtoMondayafternoontotheDecaturHighSchoolcampus.Therumormillhad

alreadycrankedup.RumorwasatDecaturHighSchool,thatsomeonehadtakentheAustinHighSchoolBlackBear’sheadoffandLeewastoblame!LeessaysthatMarkKingapparentlyhadgoneoutshowingtheBear’sheadoff!HehadgonetoapartySaturdaynightatPatHennessy’shousewiththeBear’s

Headinhiscar.Markputsitonhisheadandwalksinthedoor.Whatariotthatmusthavebeen!Hethenhandsitouttothepartygoers.Severalofthemtriediton,dancedaboutandhadagoodbelly‐rippingtimewithit.

AccordingtoPeggyHueyMcKleroy,anAustinHighstudent,shewasawitnesstothefunthatthe

DecaturbunchwerehavingwiththeBear’shead.PeggytellsmeshewasatanotherpartywheretheBear’sheadshowedup.“IwasatCurtisBrannon’shousewithabunchofDecaturHighstudentsandwitnessedthefuntheywerehaving.”Peggysays“IaskedtoborrowDr.Brannon’sphoneandafter

callingseveraloftheguyswhowereinonthetakingofthecannontonoavail,gotJayJenkinsonthephoneandreportedwhatIwasseeing.”

ThedecapitatedBear’sheadwasproudlydisplayedbyMarkKingforaweekortwo.AccordingtoLee,whenaskedwherehegotit,Mark’sstorywas“LeeMilescutthethingoffandIgotitfromhim!”Lee

exclaims“Hetooknoresponsibilityinhisinvolvementwhatsoever!”

LeetellsmethatonTuesday,thetalkgotbigger,onWednesdayitwasswelteringandbyThursdaytherumormillhadreachedepicproportions.Leewasahero!Leeevenhadajerseymadeupwiththeletters“BEARHUNTER”acrossthebackofhisjerseywhichheworeasheroamedthehallsofDecatur

HighSchool.Soapparentlyheisn’tasinnocentasheproclaims.

JamesMilnerwastheprincipalofDecaturHighSchoolin1977.ItwasThursdayafternoonandLeewassittinginclass.Theintercomblastsout“CanyousendLeeMilesdowntotheprincipal’soffice?”Everyonestoodupandclappedtheirhandstogether,accordingtoLee.OffLeegoesdragginghisheels

makinghiswaytothedreadedencounterwiththeprincipal.Leesays“Ihadbeensuspendedsomanytimesitwasn’tfunny,butthistimeitwasserious.”Leewalksintotheprincipal’soffice.TherewasMr.MilnersittingtherewithtwoofDecatur’sfinest.Mr.Milnersaid“Lee,Iwantyoutobeveryclearwith

thesegentlemenandIwantyoutotellthemexactlywhathappened.”SoLeeexplainedexactlywhathappeneddowntothelastdetail.TheDecaturpoliceofficersstoodindisbelief.Theysaid,“Areyousureofwhatyouaresaying?’Theywereastonishedbyhishonesty.Leesaid“Youaskedmetotellyou

thetruth,whatmoredoyouwantmetosay?”“It’sthetruth!

Leewasdismissedandwenthome.At7:00thatnight,therewasaknockonthedooroftheMileshousein Southeast Decatur. It was two officers from the Decatur Police Department. They introducedthemselvestoMrs.Miles.TheysaidtheyweretheretoissueanarrestforLee’sinvolvementintheBear

head’sdecapitationandthebreakinatAustinHighSchool.Leesayshegot“threeweekendsinJuvenileDetention”inHartselle,Alabamaandhadtopaya$250.00fine.Healsohadtopayrestitutionforthe

fiberglass repairneededtoput theBear’sheadbackon. Leesays thatoneof thekindpoliceofficersknewalittleaboutfiberglassrepairandofferedtohelpdothejob.

Lee says “It was a life changing event for me that is for sure!” Lee Miles now lives in the DenverColoradoarea.Leestatesthateveninthecourtoflaw,Markrefusedtotakeanyresponsibilityinthe

incidentthereforetheyarenotonthebestofterms.Inhindsight,Leeconfesses,“IreallywishwehadthrownthedarnBear’sheadoffthebridge!”

Mr. Bearl Whitsett former Austin principal recalls it being a big shock, in a Decatur Daily article.Whitsettsaidthebeast’stonguehadbeenpreviouslycutout,butnothingpreparedhimfortheghastly

sight.“Hewasafunny‐lookingthing.Wewalkedinonedayandtherehestood–abearwithnohead.”Whitsett said it appeared that the culprit had rolled the bear on hiswooden platform from the gymfoyertothebackdoor, intendingtostealthemascot. “Hecouldn’tgetitthroughthedoorbecauseit

hadoneofthosedividers,sohejustcuttheheadoff.”

BearlWhitsett9/19/2008PhototakenbyDavidHendriks

Thebear’sheadeventuallywasputbackontheAustinHighschool’slifesizedfiberglass,BlackBear.TothisdayitstandsinthefoyerofAustin’sAuditorium,minustherollingplatform.

Ifyouhappentogetachancetoseethisbigfellow,besuretolookaroundtheneckforthefiberglasssurgerythatwasperformedputtinghisheadbackon!

OvertheyearstheBlackBearhehashadhistonguecutout,someofhisteethpulledout,itsheadcut

offandsufferedotherindignitiesaswellasseenmanytriumphs.

TheBruin–1982–Page31

WhateverbecameoftheHighSchoolanchormanyofmyAHSclassmatesasked?

Studentsoftengatheredaroundtheoldanchorforconversationsandphotographs.ItsatinthemiddleofAustinHighSchool’scampus.ItwaspaintedAustin’scolors–BlackandOrange.

TheAustinHighSchool“Bruin”Yearbooksfrom1975through1978

arefilledwithpicturesofstudentsgatheredaroundandontopoftheoldNavyAnchor.

Althoughitwaspaintedmanytimes,Icansafelysayitwasneverstolen.WhatIcan’tsayisthatnooneeverattemptedtostealit.Apparentlysomeonedidonenight.Accordingtosourcesthevillainsinthis

case,backedtheircaruptotheanchorandtiedaratherlargechainaroundtheirbumpertotheAustinanchor.“Allrightnow‐giveitalittlepull,”iswhatIimaginethepranksterssaidtothedriver.That

didn’tachievetheirresults.Icanhearthemnow,“Backupafewfeetandgiveitalittleslack!Ok,ready,nowstomponit!”Icanjustseeitnow.Thedrivergavethemightyanchoramightytug!

ComingtoschoolthenextmorningthestaffandstudentsatAustinwereamusedtofindtheirAnchorwithachaintiedtothebumperofacar.Themightyanchornotonlyweighed5,000poundsitwas

weldedintotheconcreteground!Itisreportedbyanaccuratesourcethateachlinkintheanchor’schainweighed110pounds.Iwouldlovetoknowwhowasbehindthatlittleadventureandheartheirsideofthestory.

YesindeedtheironboatanchorbelongingtotheNavywaspaintedmanyatimebutitwasneverhauled

offandthrownintotheTennesseeRiver!Sothequestionremains,whereistheanchor?

ManystudentsatAustinHighSchoolrememberCommanderHatton.AfterheleftAustinin1979,hetaughtatHeadlandHighSchoolinHeadlandAlabama.

AccordingtoWilliamC.HattonJr.“IntheSummerof1979mydadhadtheNationalGuardpickuptheanchoranditwasstoredattheArmoryontheBeltlineuntilhearrangedforahelicopterfromFortRucker(TrainingMission)toswingbyandpickitupanddeliverittoHeadlandInternationalAirport.It

wasloadedonaflatbedtrailerandasyourpictureshowsitissittinginfrontofHeadlandHighSchool.

“HedidthiswithoutpermissionfromanyoneatAHS.ButitwasstillUSNavypropertyandtheschool

couldnotstopitfrombeingmoved.HedidnotseeeyetoeyewithcertainpeopleorpersonifyouknowwhatImean.Dadpassedawayin2003.”

RonnieMorgan(AHSClassof1978)reportedtomethattheNavyanchorhasjustrecentlybeenmovedinSeptember2010toRehobethHighSchoolinDothanAlabama.

KellerBridgeDemolition.

Inthesummerof1998theKellerMemorialBridgewasattheendofitslifespan,havingbeingopenedin1928.

ThebeautifulstructurehadlongbeenafixtureoftheDecaturCommunity.ItwasbeingforcedouttomakewayforthenewbridgethatwasbeingbuiltacrosstheTennesseeRiverinDecaturinthenameof

progress. Thebargesand tugs thatworked themightyTennesseehadoften collidedwith thebridgetryingtomaketheirwaythroughthenarrowdrawbridgeopening. Ipersonallysawthescarsofsuchaccidents from the water level. I love the Tennessee River and I loved this old bridge and often

wonderedofthestoriesshecouldtell.

Iwasgivena love for theriver frommyfather, JohnHendriksandhetoo fromhis fatherLouisVictorHendriksoftencalled“Skipper”byhis friends, forhis loveof theOuachitaRiverandhismanycustommadeboatsCamdenArkansas.Thisisaphotographtakenin1924ofmygrandfatherandtheair‐boat

hemade.

Mygrandfather claimed itwas the secondboatof its kindevermade. He saw the firstone inBatonRougeLouisianaandhecamebacktoCamdenArkansasandmadehisownfrommemory.Iremember

sittingonGrandpasknee.Hesaiditwouldgoabout75milesperhouracrossthewater.“Icamearoundabendintheriverreallyfastandgoingside‐ways.Itscaredthepeoplescrubbingtheirclothesonthewashboard somuch that they threw their clothes in the air and ran off screaming “Jesus, is coming,

Jesusiscoming!”IrememberGrandpachucklingaboutthisandmetooashetickledme.

Icouldn’twaitformyDadtocomehomefromhisjobatRedstoneArsenalbecausewewouldtakeofftotheTennesseeRiver.ManytimeswewouldclimbthespiresoftheKellerMemorialBridgetojumpoffintotheriver.Oftentimeswewouldsitdirectlyunderthedrawbridgeandjustwatchandlistentothe

carshumacrossthedrawbridgesectionsabove.Ithadadistinctsoundthatrefusestobeerasedfrommymemory.Manytimeswewatchedasthetowboatcaptainofthe“MaryEthel”maneuveredhisbargesbetweentheKellerBridgeandtherailroadtrackswhichwouldspinaroundonitsaxis.

The Port of Decatur's Mary Ethel towboat pushes barges up and down the Tennessee River. Mary Ethel, a twin screw push boat with 800 horsepower, was built in 1971.

Butupontopofthe“Kellerbridge”theautomobiledriverswouldhavetowaitforuptoahalfhourforallthetraffictoclearoncethedrawbridgewaslowered.TothecitizensofDecaturitwasjustparfor

thecourseandapartofourlives.Itwasaslowerpacedbackthen.Noinstantcommunicationsviacellphones. Itwasa time togetoutof thecarand justwatchwhatwasgoingonand talk to the fellowonlookers.

Phototaken1978byDavidHendriks

ManycivicmindedcitizensdidnotwanttheKellerbridgetobecompletelydestroyed.Attemptsweremadetokeepitpartiallyintactsothatvisitorscouldwalkthebridge.Proposalswereofferedtosetupshopsalongthebridgetopromotetourismandothercommercialinterests.Effortsweremadetosave

the bridge from destruction but to no avail. It would cost too much to maintain the old “KellerMemorialBridge”andnoneofthemoneythatwasbudgetedtodemolishthebridgecouldbeobtainedforfutureuses.Theoldbridgewasdoomedandhadtocomedown.Itwastakendowninstageswith

dynamite blasts that took down sections at a time. It was carefully orchestrated with manyenvironmentalconcernsaswell.

AnarticleappearedinTheDecaturDailyonSaturdaymorning,July11,1998.

Thispublicitysetoffafirestormofinterestinthestoryofthiscannonfind.ManycitizensofDecaturAlabamahadtheirownstoryaboutthecannonfoundatthebottomoftheTennesseeRiver.TheDecaturDailywasinundatedwithphonecallseachwiththeirownstoryofthecannonfoundatthe

bottomoftheriver.WasitacivilwarrelictossedintotherivertokeepitoutofthehandsofadvancingUnionforces?Orcouldthisbethesamecannonthatwastossedoffthebridgebackin1977?TheDecaturDailyfollowedupwithafewmorearticles.

In this article thewriterKarenMiddleton says that the takingof the cannonwas in retaliationof theBear’sheadbeingdecapitated.Thatiswrong.Itwastheotherwayaround.Thearticlealsoreportsthat

theyfoundthecannon150feetfromtheKellerMemorialBridge.IfindeedtheydiscoveredacannoninthatareathenitwouldnotbethecannontossedoffthebridgethatnightonNovember3rd1977.Butwiththesecuritybeingsotightatthetime,Ihavewonderedifperhapstheysaidthis,tothrowthescent

offthetrail.Acivilwarcannonwasestimatedtobeworth$20,000to$50,000.TheofficialsofDecaturdidn’twantanyonedivingaroundlookingforspoilsandbesidesthattheMayorofDecaturhadalreadylaidclaimtothecannon.Certainlythecannonthrownoffthebridgethatnightin1977wouldnothave

drifted two feetafterhitting thewaterand itwouldhavesatexactlywhere it landed. Noamountofcurrentwouldhavepusheditanywhere.

Still another article appears that says “4 cannons believed sightedunder historic Keller bridge.” Thisonlyaddedfueltothefire.

Indeedtheplotthickens.Thearticleabovewasneversubstantiated.JoeHollisisnowdeceased.Therewerenofollowuparticlesconcerningthecannonoranyothercannonsbeingraisedfromtheriver.Thequestionremains–“Whereisthecannonat?”

RobertParhamistheownerofthe“BlueandGrayMuseum”onBankStreetandaDHSClassof1966.

http://www.rparhamsrelics.com/Mr.ParhamisconsideredanexpertonCivilWarhistoryinthecityofDecatur.

Robert has heard the story of the DHS cannon barrel being tossed into the river many times. IinterviewedMr.Parhamathisshopandhesaid.“Certainly if therewereanyCivilWarCannonat the

bottomoftheriver,itwouldhavebeenraised!”“Itwouldhavetakenmanypermitsandauthorizationsfromstateandfederalagenciesbutitwouldhavebeenbroughttothesurface.”Mr.Parhamcontinues.

“If it was the old Decatur High cannon it would have been recovered by now.” Robert is not tooconvincedthatitwasevertossedintheriverinthefirstplaceinthefirstplace.

Mr.ParhamrecallstalkingtotheBridgeLifttender,CoyClem,andhetoldmeheneversawathing!Mr.ClempassedawaySeptember19,2010attheageof87afterservingmanyyearswiththeDecaturDixie

YouthandtheBoysClub.

Robertrecalls thetimewhentheKellerBridgewasbeingbroughtdown. Hesaidtherewasafloatingplatformthatthediver’susedastheirbasestation.Robertsaid“Thediverswereatleast150feetwestof theKellerMemorialBridgeworking in thatarea.” Hecarefullydescribedthestoryandwitnesses

whocanattesttothisfact.“Thereisnowayacannontossedoffthebridgecouldhavedriftedthatfar!”I concurred with him. But I suggested “What if the divers were doing something else that day likerelocating mussels and not looking for the cannon?” I don’t think they were over the sight of the

Decatur High School cannon or anywhere close. I wondered to myself, if the DHS cannon werediscovered,whywasn’titbroughtup?

The storyof the cannon continues to this day. Over the yearspeople continue to ask “Where is thecannonnow?”Theanswercomesintwoparts.

Part A ‐ The barrel to the cannon is still at the bottom of the Tennessee River, sleeping with the

whiskeredcatfish.

PartB‐Thecaisson,wheelsandaxlessatunattendedhiddenawayunderthebleachersatOglestadiumsolongthatonlythepersonknewwhereitwas,wasthepersonwhoputitthere!

“Iguessitwasaround2005orso”explainsJohnGodwin–ClassofDHS1979.“Iwashelpingteardownafloatthathadbeeninthehomecomingparadethedaybefore. Nobodyhadheardfromthecannon

foryearsandIwasreminiscingaboutthecannon.Iwastellingthestoryofthecannonandwonderingaloudaboutwhereitcouldbe.”IwasoverheardbyMitchWarren.Mitchwasinchargeofmaintenanceat Decatur High School and he said “I know exactly where it is!” He led John deep beneath of the

structureoftheOgleStadiumbleachers.Johnisquoted“Itwasinaroom,behindaroom,behindtheAustinHighSchool’s lockerroom. Therewasa littleopening inthewallandMitchshineda flashlight

backsomefiftyfeetwherewecouldseethewheelofthecannon.”

JohnGodwinwasveryexcitedtoseethecannoncarriage!Hisexcitementturnedtoapersonalinterestinseeingthecannonrestoredto“itsglorydays”andJohnsetsaboutdoingjustthat.Johnsaid“Icalledupabouttenofmyoldfriendsandwegototheball field justbeforeaDecaturfootballgame.” “We

managed to move things around and brought the old cannon outside where is caused quite a stiramongstthefootballplayers.CoachAdkinswasnotpleasedwithmyactionsthatnightbecauseitwastakingthefocusofftheballgame!”

But Johnwasonamission. Hemetwith theprincipalofDHS,MikeWardand the superintendentof

education,SamHoustonandtheDecaturFireMarshall.WhytheFireMarshallyouask?Becauseifyouaregoingtofireacannonfullofgunpowderafter“nine‐eleven”,youhadbettermakesureyouhavethelawonyourside.Imaginethefussandcommotiontherewouldbeamongsttheneighbors,including

Decatur General Hospital just across the street from the stadium. You wouldn’t want to cause aproblemwiththepatientsinintensivecarewouldyou?

Decatur High School enlisted the help of Robert Slack former History teacher and current VocationteacheratDecaturHighSchool.Hereturnedthecannontoitsformerglory.EveryFridaynightatthe

Decatur High home football games,Mr. Slack and his assistant, with the help of a golf cart, roll thecannonbacktoaspotintheNorthwestcornerofthefieldatOgleStadium.

September3,2010–RobertSlack–KeeperoftheCannon–DecaturHighSchool–OgleStadium.

AsIinterviewedRobertonFridaynight,September3rd,2010,Iwasexcitedtoseethecannonupclose.ImarveledatthejobhehaddonerestoringthereproductionCivilWarCannon.Imadementionthatthebarrelisnolongerheldbystrapstothetrunnionplate.Robertsaid,“No,Imadecertainitwasn’tgoing

anywherethistime!”Indeeditisnot,asitisweldedtothecarriageandforanothergoodreasontoo,itpacksamightymeanpunch!

Roberthaddonehisresearchwell,backin2005.Hefoundtheplacewhereithadbeenoriginallypurchasedinthefallof1964.DixieGunWorksofUnionCityTennesseeisstillinbusinesstoday.

www.dixiegunworks.com“IwasabletoordertheexactsamereplicabarrelthattheRedRaiderscannonhadonitoriginally.”Robertcontinues.“Whenwegotthecannonitwasamess.Severalofthewoodenspindleswerecrackedandmissingwhenwefoundit.”Hepointedoutseveralofthespindleshehad

madeintheVocationalEducationshoptomeaswewalkedaroundit.“Ithadbeenpaintedallkindsofdifferentcolorsovertheyearsnodoubtbyopposingteams.”heoffereduptotheauthorofthisarticle.

JohnGodwinsaystheywerehopingtoblastthecannonoffatthefirstgameoftheyearin2006but

thingsweredelayedabit.Robertrecallsthefirsttimehefiredthecannonoffataballgame.Wehadagreedwiththecoacheswhentoshootoffthecannon.”Thefootballteamgatheredupbehindthegoalpostsinthenorthendzone.CoachAdkinstoldhisteam“Whenyouhearthecannon‐chargethrough

thepaperbannerthatthecheerleadershaveacrossthegoalposts.”Theboysweregatheredaround,pumpingthemselves,highfivingandchestbumpingintheair,whensuddenlyfromoutofnowhereit

seemed,“BOOM”.

Notexpectinganythinglikethatthey“BoysofFall”hunkereddowntothegroundwiththeirelbowsintheair,explainedMr.Slack.Theydidn’tknowwhathadhappenedbutaftertheyregainedtheircomposuretheyburstthroughthebanner,thusrenewingthetraditionatDecaturHighSchool.

Howevernowitisnotblastedaftereachtouchdownbutatthebeginningofeachgameandsometimesattheendofthegame.

September3,2010–Photograph–DavidHendriks

JohnGodwindoestheradiobroadcastsofthelivefootballgame.“RightbeforeIheartheblastfrom

thecannon,theairisliterallysuckedoutofthepressbox,then“BOOM”.”EventhoughIam

somewhatexpectingitthesedaysitstillcausesmetojump.”Anobservationsharedbymany!

RobertSlackhasheardandseenitall.“LastyearwehadaDecaturPoliceofficerwhohadbeenstationedinDesertStorm,drawhisweaponandhitthegroundonhisbelly!”“Don’tshoot,it’sonly

me!”Mr.Slacksaid“AnelderlygentlemanstandingoverhereontheDecatursidelinewethispantsandhadtogohomeandchange”.IaskedRobert,“Justhowmuchgunpowderdoyouputinthecannon?”Hesaidthathestartedoffputtingalittleinatatimeasheexperimented.“OverthepastfewyearsI’ve

experimentedwithanywherefromtwoouncesofgunpowdertofiveounces.”Ok,Iask,“Howmuchdoyouusenow?“Fiveounces!”Hereplied.“Holysmoke!”Iexclaimed.“That’sthestuffthatlegendsaremadefrom!”

Thestorieswillgoonandonaswelltheyshould.Butnowweknowthetruestoryofthe“TheCannon&

theBear.”Fiction,Fact,FolkloreorFable?Youdecide!

DavidHendriks–September3,2010