Cannon 2 is fired as part of the activities of the Fairhaven Village Militia’s encampment on Saturday, 9/25/21, at dusk at Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven. Photo by Beth David.
By Beth David, Editor
They got rained on, but not rained out.
The Fairhaven Village Militia braved the rain on Saturday, 9/25/21, and took advantage of a short window of clearer skies at around dusk to fire off the five 24-pound Seacoast Cannons. The annual Revolutionary War encampment was canceled last year due to COVID-19.
This year’s encampment was noticeably smaller, but was still jam-packed with demonstrations about life in the 1700’s, including leather work demonstrations, games for children, and camping equipment, practices, etc.
This year, cannon 1 was fired in honor of John Rogers, Jr., by his grandchildren, Alex and Alison Kuechler. Mr. Rogers passed away last week and his funeral was Saturday. Cannon 5 was fired in honor of former FVM commander Ellie Sylvaria, who died unexpectedly last year.
Peggy Rogers (middle), who was married to John Rogers, Jr. for 55 years, stops for a quick “hello” to the local free sheet with her daughters Pam Kuechler (left) and Martha Rogers, on 9/25/21 at the Fairhaven Villiage Militia’s Revolutionary War encampment at Fort Phoenix where cannon 1 was fired in honor of Mr. Rogers, who was buried that same day. Photo by Beth David.
The Civil War era cannons would fire a 24-pound ball a couple of centuries ago, using a 10-pound gunpowder charge. The cannonball could travel up to a mile, where the Butler Flats Lighthouse is now. Sometimes, chains, nails and other debris would also be shot out of the cannon to destroy the sails of the oncoming ships. Then the disabled ship would be easier to hit with the cannonball.
Now, they do not fire projectiles, and the blast is produced with about a pound of gunpowder, which still packs a powerful punch.
Even with the rain, dozens of people showed up to see and hear the cannons go “kaBOOM.”
FVM Commander Wayne Oliveira narrated as cannon 1 was loaded, explaining each step in the process: clear the vent; worm the hole to clear out any debris; wet sponge, to make sure there are no wayward sparks from the last firing; dry sponge to make sure it will be dry enough to fire; ram the charge to get the gunpowder to the vent.
Then the charge is “picked,” getting hole poked in it for the fuse, and then the lighting.
Fairhaven Village Militia Commander Wayne Oliveira explains the steps that FVM members are going through to load cannon 1 for firing on 9/25/21 as part of the activities during the Revolutionary War encampment held Saturday and Sunday, 9/25 & 9/26. Photo by Beth David.
The blast takes the crowd by surprise, no matter how hard they try to be ready for it.
Mr. Oliveira said the encampment had a good crowd during the day before the rain started. He said people have been “looking to get out” and do something different after the lockdowns and cancellations of the last two years due to COVID-19.
He said they almost did not light the cannons, but then the sky cleared up at just the right time.
“We got a great crowd, even with the rain tonight,” said Mr. Oliveira.
The encampment started on Saturday at 9 a.m. and continued, with militia members sleeping in tents through Sunday at 3 p.m.
To learn more about the encampments, visit https://fairhaventours.com/fort-phoenix-encampments/
The militia generally holds encampments on Memorial Day Weekend and the last weekend in September annually. They fire the cannons on those Saturdays at dusk and also on July 4 during the day.
The kitchen area not only shows cookware similiar to that used during the Revolutionary War, but is also used to cook and feed members of the Fairhaven Village Militia during the encampment at Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven on 9/25/21 and 9/26. Photo by Beth David.
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