The Annandale cannon is getting a makeover

The cannon was here.

The Annandale cannon is expected to be returned to its spot at Columbia Pike and Backlick Road in the center of Annandale in several months completely refurbished.

The cannon is a 1905 three-inch field gun that was used in the Mexican campaign against Pancho Villa. American Legion Post 1976 is in charge of maintaining it. Over the years, the cannon has been slowly deteriorating due to rust.

The cannon has been deteriorating over time.

The wooden wheels are being totally redone by a master wheelwright in Pennsylvania’s Amish country who normally works on carriage wheels, says Post Commander Roy McCracken.

A body shop and a Boy Scout working on an Eagle project are refurbishing the body of the cannon. The shop is refabricating parts that have been completely rusted out, and the Boy Scout and his team will sand and repaint the cannon.

The project is taking a long time because the work can only be done on weekends and some evenings, McCracken says.

Post members are paying for the renovations. The wheels are expected to cost a couple thousand dollars, and the rest of the work will cost a lot less because the body shop owner is generous in donating his time and much of the materials.

Removing the cannon earlier this summer was a major enterprise. It took 15 people to get it into a trailer, and Fairfax County police had to stop traffic.

McCracken hopes the project won’t take more than three months. He expects Post 1976 will unveil the refurbished cannon next spring.