Civil War cannon at Mount Albion being repaired, was removed in November

Photos by Tom Rivers: The Civil War cannon is shown last fall during the peak of the leaves changing color. The Civil War section is among the most iconic spots in the cemetery.

The Civil War cannon is shown after a light dusting of snow in this file photo.

ALBION – One of the most recognizable features at Mount Albion Cemetery has been missing since November.

The Civil War cannon was removed and put in the cemetery shop after the carriage gave out, leaving the cannon tipped upright, said Jason Zicari, the cemetery superintendent.

“The carriage rotted in half,” he said.

The weight of the cannon was too much for the carriage after many years in harsh outdoor elements.

A new carriage has been built out of hemlock by an Amish-owned business in Lyndonville. Zicari also had new wheels constructed recently from a company in Pennsylvania.

The cemetery workers will need to reassemble all of the parts for the carriage, and cut notches and holes in the carriage.

Zicari said he doesn’t have an exact date for when the cannon will return to its spot on a knoll on the western side of the cemetery in the Civil War section.

Mount Albion workers are busy this time of year with mowing the historic 70-acre cemetery, and getting ready for Memorial Day.

When there are rainy days in the near future, he said the workers will put the new carriage together and assemble the supports for the cannon, which he said dates back to 1841.

The site for the Civil War cannon at Mount Albion is shown this morning on the west side of the historic cemetery along Route 31. The cannon was removed in November due to a rotting carriage.