Bob Piper's Corner - July 5, 1987

July 5, 1987

I am sure the only working cannon every built in Lucas County was built by Lilbern “Shorty” Callison and his twin brother Lewellyn. This was in about 1918 and they lived on the Oakley Road north of the airport. After crossing the railroad it was the first house on the left and it is still there. The overhead bridge was not there but this gives the location of their house and farm.

At the early age of eighteen Shorty was destined to be an inventor, machinist and skilled mechanic. For years he worked for Johnson Machine Works as a machinist. Before joining Johnsons he owned a garage just north of the present city water office. The Iris Theatre was formerly located in the building.

One of his inventions I remember was a car hinge that was in the door instead of being on the outside as was the practice in those days. It was successful but before he could patent it someone else with capital got hold of it.

Now back to the cannon. It was made from parts of farm machinery. I sat in the front yard on a small bluff, not only when it was in working order but for many years thereafter. I looked at it and got a briefing from Shorty several times. The wheels were from a horse-drawn mower. It weighed around 300 pounds and because of its light weight had to be securely staked to the ground. This was not a firepower cannon. The projectile was spring driven. The spring was tightened by a ratchet wheel giving great tension. Projectiles were broom sticks and they traveled about one quarter of a mile.

We had several hundred acres of land around Oakley but it was common to rent another forty for cows to calve away from other livestock. Father rented a forty just across the road from the Callisons and put several cows on it. One Sunday afternoon the boys were practicing their aim with the cannon and sure enough they hit a cow and killed her. The broomstick entered one side and stuck out the other. Callison and Father were good friends and it was settled satisfactorily. Father called our outside butchers and dressed the cow immediately. The unborn calf was the first I had seen and would have been born in about three weeks. The cannon was put to rest and stood out in front of the house for forty years.

A lady from Columbus, Iowa writes asking where the Schrieber carriage manufacturing plant was located. It was where Tenco is now. Remember every part of the buggy or wagon was made in Chariton. Nothing was shipped in. The products were the best in the land.

Fourth of July celebrations sponsored by the American Legion evoke many memories for residents. They aren’t what they were, probably because of social changes such as families going to the lakes or state parks. Years ago, the celebration was the day’s activity with picnics, all in Chariton. Programs went on all day, with a parade led by the National Champion American Legion Junior Band with Buck Johnson and Oscar Stafford alongside.

There was a car raffle until the state in a spasm of morality stopped it, and the Hale’s Shows of Tomorrow, for countless years a clean carnival, until state insurance requirements caused it to cross off Iowa. The entire day ended with a fireworks display at Yocom Park with a sea of people watching. World War I veterans such as Paul Holmberg, Paul Laing, Trig Williams, Harold Mann and Brace Owings, and later Rex Benway of World War II and their committees held meetings and worked throughout the year on the project. This year it’s Dave Miller. It may have changed, but if you think it doesn’t attract, come to the square on the night of the Fourth.

A memory of the car raffle involves Dr. R. C. Gutch, a prominent Legion member who won the car two years in a row which inevitably gave rise to mutters of a fix. There wasn’t, of course. Dr. Gutch undoubtedly had purchased a number of tickets, since the Legion was the beneficiary. But even so, there were a slug of tickets and lady luck really smiled on him. Aware of some discontent he gave away the second car to some good cause, just what we can’t recall.