The Cannons

In the late 1800’s, Paul S. Sorg, a Middletown industrialist, wanted three Civil War era cannons to be placed at the tips of the triangular Veterans Section to stand guard over the Military Section.  The 10,000-pound cannons were supported by concrete bases, but recently, the concrete supports started to deteriorate dramatically; they have been replaced with 12,000-pound polished granite supports and the cannons were cleaned and re-surfaced.  To this day, many older adults comment that they played on the cannons when they were young.  For more information on these Naval Ship Cannons please see the photos and historical information listed below. 

Woodside’s Parrott Cannons were originally mounted on the USS Ohio Naval Ship. This ship was launched in 1820 and most notably was recommissioned in 1847 for use in the Mexican War. The armament varied at different times in the ship’s history.  Woodside Cemetery & Arboretum is proud to have 3 of the larger “Parrott Cannons” that were on the ship. 

This type of cannon was also used in ground warfare as seen in the photo (below).  Called 100 pounders, because the weight of the ammunition, these cannon had a maximum range of just over 4 miles. All 3 of Woodside’s cannon were cast at the West Point Foundry in 1863. 

The Sorg Family Mausoleum can be seen in the background. These military cannons are a fitting tribute to a man that did so much for the City of Middletown.