ROTARY SIGN UNVEILING AT THE COURTHOUSE

Kyle Johnson & Melissa Smith Story & Photography by Tony Centonze A small group gathered in front of the Montgomery County Courthouse recently for the unveiling of a marker/plaque next to the Civil War cannon donated by the Clarksville Rotary Club in 2017.

“Thank you all for coming out,” Rotary Club President, Kimberly Wiggins said. “Today has been a few years in the making. I’m standing on the shoulders of a lot of folks who aren’t here today, the people who envisioned this and made it a reality.”

Kimberly Wiggins

Wiggins introduced Rotary Club District Governor-Elect, Betty Burchett. “We’re excited to finally get this marker dedicated,” Burchett said. “This cannon was put here more than four years ago for Clarksville Rotary’s 100th anniversary. The foundry, which has been here since 1847, made this replica. They made the actual cannons used in the Mexican-American War and the Civil War.”

Michelle Newell & Mayor Jim Durrett “The original that once sat here was relocated to Fort Defiance. Rotary Club members wanted to replace that piece of history so five presidents, over a period of five years, raised money for this project. A forever reminder of Clarksville-Montgomery County’s rich history.”

Steve Kemmer & Cheryl Lankford