SWAMPSCOTT — Next time you drive through Swampscott Cemetery, keep an eye out for the vintage cannon that stands out to passersby. It’s in the process of being refurbished by Eagle Scout and Swampscott High School student Adrian LaPorte.
LaPorte explained he was looking for an Eagle Scout project while working with the Swampscott Conservancy. He connected with Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Gino Cresta and asked him about the cannon needing restoration. As a history buff, he had a lot of interest in the cannon and expressed interest in making that his project.
“The main goal of the project is to commemorate the residents of Swampscott who perished in the First World War. It’s a way to give back,” LaPorte said. “The conditions of the cannon were very poor for the past 10 years. The paint has really gone downhill, so I’m applying a new coat, and I’m getting a new pair of wheels. Then, I’ll be putting a plaque at the site to talk about the history of the cannon, the restorations that were done, and anyone who had been helpful along the way.”
He continued that the cannon, which is located on the veterans plot in the cemetery, where the 12 men from Swampscott who died in the war were laid to rest, is technically called a German field gun, which was used and captured by the Allies during World War I.
For LaPorte, the most labor-intensive aspect of the project was stripping the old coat of paint. It had to be done manually, as he didn’t have access to a sandblaster. A new set of wheels will be coming from a vendor in Ohio, who had to make them from scratch.
He reprimed and repainted the cannon, and is also working on verifying the names of those who died in World War I to include on the plaque that he plans to add. He said the Swampscott Rotary has pledged to cover the costs of the plaque.
“I love the work, it’s been great to interact with so many people across town… The project is due by my 18th birthday, which is in February, but I think I’ll be done with the project in a month, or about a month and a half. That’s the best-case scenario,” he said.
LaPorte emphasized the value that he finds in volunteering his time and energy, and stressed the importance of working with local organizations that do projects highlighting history.
“I think with this project specifically, people forget about history, and especially with World War I. I think it’s a forgotten war… I didn’t realize there were many people from Swampscott who died during that time,” he said. “I just wanted to share their stories.”
