Naval Parrot Rifle - Old York Gaol - York, ME - Static Artillery Displays on Waymarking.com

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This appears to be a 6.4-in naval Parrott Rifle used during the U.S. Civil War. This 138 inch-long, 9,672-pound cannon was capable of firing an 80 or 100-pound shell with a 10-pound charge over 7,810 yards. It took a crew of 17 to man it. There is no indication of where this cannon might have seen action. The inscription R.R.P. No. 206 refers to Robert Parker Parrot, inventor, and it may be a production number from the West Point Foundry where he was superintendent from 1836 to 1867.

This cannon is mounted on a granite base on the side of the hill below the Old York Gaol, a National Historic Landmark. There is a memorial to WWI veterans below it.

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The old barn like building still sits on a hill in the center of York, Maine, with the interior restored with artifacts and operated as a museum by the York Historical Society. There are several modern war memorials at the base of the hill and an old cannon, probably of the Civil War era. It was granted National Historic Landmark status in 1968.

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From the York Historical Society:

Legislation for the establishment of a royal prison for the Province of Maine was enacted in 1653, and after some delay a building for this purpose was erected at Meetinghouse Creek in the village of York in 1656. The present Gaol was built in 1719 with timbers salvaged from the original structure. With the influx of settlers into Maine in the mid-18th century, the building was enlarged to provide more space for the housing of prisoners, as well as improving accommodations for the gaoler's family. The humanitarian drive to better prison conditions for debtors following the Revolution resulted in the addition of a large debtor's cell in the 1790s, giving the building its present shape.

Aside from its cells and dungeons for felons and debtors, the Old Gaol housed the gaolkeeper and his family. During the first part of the 18th century quarters for both prisoners and gaoler were modest--even primitive. All prisoners, regardless of their crimes, shared two dungeon rooms; the turnkey's family had two adjoining rooms, a hall and parlor. Later in the century as more cells, as well as additional space for the gaoler, were added, living conditions improved. Records for its first years have not survived, but those from 1760 indicate that most of the Gaol's prisoners were debtors, although some of the incarcerated were guilty of committing crimes such as slander, petty theft, and becoming drunk. Greater crimes included arson, grand theft and murder and convicted criminals were publicly hanged at Stage Neck. For the lesser crimes, people were placed in the pillory or stocks, or whipped publicly outside the Gaol.

Until 1760 the Gaol was a prison for the entire province of Maine; it then served as a county jail until 1820. For the next forty years it continued to be used for the incarceration of local wrongdoers. The Gaol then served briefly as school, a boarding house, and a warehouse, and by 1895 it stood abandoned and in peril from neglect. == See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hartshorn_Memorial_Cannon

What type of artillery is this?: cannon Where is this artillery located?: Park What military of the world used this device?: U.S. Navy Date artillery was in use: Not listed Date artillery was placed on display: Not listed Parking location to view this Waymark: Not Listed Cost?: Not Listed Artillery is no longer operational: Not Listed Still may work: Not Listed Are there any geocaches at this location?: Not listed

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