Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette A cannon that was located at Veterans Park Ball Field, in Dollar Bay, as it looked in 2023.

HANCOCK – The Copper Country Intermediate School District’s CTE Welding and Manufacturing class has partnered with Osceola Township for the restoration of a cannon that has been on display in Dollar Bay for years.

The cannon was located at the Dollar Bay Park, near the Honor Roll and had fallen into significant disrepair. The original wooden carriage had rotted and fallen apart, leaving the heavy metal barrel on the ground. The cannon was removed and placed in storage until it could repaired.

The project began when the Osceola Township Veterans’ Ad Hoc Committee approached the CCISD seeking assistance, CCISD Public Engagement Specialist David Sim said.

Leading the restoration is Liam Tourtilott, a senior from Dollar Bay High School enrolled in the CTE Welding and Manufacturing program. Tourtilott has been working on the project for three months.

The project is personal to Tourtilott as The cannon came from his hometown.

“All of the pieces of the cannon came separately,” Tourilott said. “The cannon carriage and wheels had to be designed in CAD and are now being replaced with all steel components that will last longer.”

Sim said the project requires advanced skills, utilizing Computer-Aided Design (CAD) to reverse-engineer the original wooden structure and fabricate a durable steel replica that maintains the historical aesthetic while ensuring longevity. Tourtilott’s goal was to have the fabrication completed by April.

The cannon’s restoration is part of a larger effort to revitalize the Veterans’ Memorial site in Osceola

Township, which included the replacement of the decayed World War II-era Veterans’ Memorial.

In 2023, Dollar Bay started the community’s Fourth of July celebration a day early with re-dedication of the Honor Roll at the Veterans Park Ball Field, where the cannon was located.

The honor roll restoration was led by Committee Chairperson Judy Odgers and Township Supervisor Mark Halkola. State Representative Greg Markkanen and Senator Ed McBroom were on hand to speak at the ceremony.

The replica cannon was originally owned by the Wetton family, who donated it to Osceola Township several years ago. It is scheduled to be rededicated this coming July 4.