After some frustrating delays over the past eight months, efforts to raise money to restore the World War I howitzer in front of Town Hall have taken off recently.
Over the holidays, Veterans Services Director Ted Mulvehill received a $5,000 grant from Dedham Savings Bank, as well as $500 from the Norfolk County Marine Corps League and a pledge from the Vietnam Veterans of Massachusetts to donate $2,000 if Mulvehill can raise another $2,000 from other sources, which Mulvehill is hoping to secure within the next few weeks.
The restoration fund was also bolstered last year by a $2,000 grant from the Andrew and Ernest Boch Memorial Fund, and $500 from Central Auto Group.
Mulvehill began his restoration quest last year and originally hoped to get the job completed by Veterans Day, which would allow the piece to be rededicated on the 80th anniversary of Town Hall. But he had trouble raising funds. Now, Mulvehill says the fundraising effort is picking up steam.
Phaneuf Restorations of Southborough will perform a complete makeover of the piece. Workers will haul the howitzer from the Town Hall lawn to the company's facility. Mulvehill expects the job to cost $13,000.
"I'm getting very, very close, which is great," said Mulvehill of the fundraising goal. "Hopefully, we'll be able to raise this money soon and get (the artillery piece) on a flatbed truck and get it out of here."
Norfolk County Marine Corps League Commandant Joe Collins was happy to lend a hand in the efforts with a $500 donation last week.
"The cannon is part of Norwood's history and should be preserved," said Collins.
The 1917 German Krupp 150mm howitzer is an original to the Town Hall grounds. The piece was used by the German army in World War I and was eventually taken by Allied troops. After the war, it was taken to Norwood's American Legion Post #70 and was given to the town and dedicated along with Town Hall on Nov. 11, 1928.
But Mulvehill said with the exception of some paint and minor work, the howitzer has largely been neglected ever since.
The artillery piece is in rough shape, and rusting in many places.
Mulvehill hopes to get it completely overhauled, including repairing the gears that move the barrel of the gun vertically, cleaning rust and repainting the gun.
Mulvehill plans to contact Phaneuf Restorations in the next few weeks to discuss logistics and timelines. Ideally, he said he would like to rededicate the howitzer on Veterans Day, but he said that all depends on how long the restoration work will take and when the final money can be raised.
Daily News staff writer Brian Falla can be reached at 781-433-8339 or bfalla@cnc.com
