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Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Item
Title
T138-1
Date(s)
- 1936-12-09 (Creation)
Extent
Name of creator
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In December of 1936, William D. "Billy" Gleason (far left) and John McLennan, who worked for the Washington State Historical Society, were photographed standing next to an old cannon from the Russian steamer Politkofsky. On November 11, 1889, when word reached Tacoma that President Harrison had signed the official proclamation conferring statehood on Washington, a celebration was quickly organized. The cannon was rolled to the small park at South 9th and A Street (now Fireman's Park) and it was fired off, once for each state and two or three times for the new state of Washington. "Billy" Gleason, as a young boy, had helped ram the charges into the gun and swab it out after each firing. The Politkofsky is one of the most storied ships to ever ply the waters of the Pacific Northwest. It's cannon was donated to the Washington State Historical Society by George O. Kelly. (T.Times 12/9/1936 p.20)
Gleason, William D.; McLennan, John; Cannons;