Firings will take place at 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. The events are free and sponsored by the Greater Rome Convention & Visitors Bureau and hosted by the city of Rome.
The event celebrates the 150th anniversary of the Noble Cannon, one of the most significant Civil War weapons to emerge from Georgia. Approximately 70 cannons were forged during the Civil War at the Noble Foundry on the Etowah River in downtown Rome where Southeastern Mills now sits.
Although the lathe that the cannon was forged on was once located in downtown Rome, it has since been moved to a display area in the visitor center parking lot. Attendees will be able to see an authentic Noble cannon and the exact lathe that created it just feet apart.
The specific cannon returning to Rome is named Miss Annie Lee after Robert E. Lee’s daughter who died in October of 1862 as the cannon was being forged. The cannon was named by the MacBeth Light Artillery while owned by the town of Williamston, S.C. While records are obscure, experts believe the gun was never used in actual battle but was shipped to Augusta for protection of that city.
A mini concert will be provided by the 8th Regiment Band following the 7 p.m. firing. A guest of honor, Robert Noble will also speak. He is a direct descendent of the brothers who founded the Noble Foundry.
Many thanks to all involved, it was a fantastic event.
FYI the cannon is bronze not brass.