By Ed Dybicz
6 July 1967
During World War II many people and organizations contributed various iron and steel items to community scrap drives for weapons manufacturing.
But a suggestion by the Valley Forge Park Commission in 1942 to offer 40 cannons from the historic hillsides of Valley Forge for scrap purposes, drew an expression of indignation seldom heard from many quarters, including the Governor.
Records indicate it all started when it was stated in behalf of the Commission, that the action was taken very reluctantly and at the behest of R. D. McGiffert, Asst. Regional Director of the Philadelphia Area Industrial Salvage War Production Board.
Even James F. Torrance, State Secretary of Property, said he would approve the recommendation at that time.
In the meantime, historic minded citizens and groups protested the Commission’s action.
The cannons, the Commissioners decided to offer, are reproductions of Gen. Knox’s artillery at the camp site and were cast at Gettysburg in 1917.
A few years ago they were relocated not only for the enhancement of the general restoration scene, but at actual spots the original field pieces occupied in accordance with details outlined on a map by Gen. duPortail, the French Engineer with Washington at Valley Forge.
Five Originals
The Valley Forge Park Commission explained that there are five original and genuine Revolutionary War canons located strategically at the park. The Commissioners did not include these in the offer.The Commission acted despite a “warning letter” from Randolph Adams, veteran librarian of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, in change of valuable letters of the Revolutionary Commanders, and librarian at the Franklin D. Roosevelt library at Hyde Park.
“Please be careful,” Adams wrote, “of anything you do there, I have in mind the historic cannons. Do not let them go.”
Some members of the Valley Forge Park Commission expressed their idea that instead of the cannons, the observation tower should be taken for scrap. . .since it would yield more steel. In its stead, they proposed erection of a stone tower if and when funds became available.
General Reaction
Many individuals, some prominent; historic societies, civic groups and others, including the Times Herald, protesting the removal of the cannons from Valley Forge State Park.The general reaction was that the Commission’s recommendation is unnecessary and absurd, and a slap at American tradition and culture in view of the many thousands of tons of more eligible material not yet touched.
Finally, the protest was carried to the then Governor of Pennsylvania, Arthur James, who ruled that the cannons of Valley Forge were to remain where they were.
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Valley Forge National Historical Park celebrates Washington’s Birthday with a party on President’s Day of each year. The full day event has activities planned for adults and children.
Visit the NPS website for details. www.nps.gov/vafo/
