Bergen County Historical Society : Stolen 1812 Cannon
photo from the 2022 search
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
River Edge Nj, this is a fantastic historical mystery piece with high local and historical interest. For over four decades, the disappearance of a 200-year-old local treasure known as “Old Bergen” has been one of Bergen County’s most enduring historical mysteries. Now, the search is on again!
On the morning of November 30th, divers will return to the Hackensack River in River Edge near the historic New Bridge Landing for a renewed attempt to find the cannon, which vanished from the grounds of the Steuben House on May 9, 1980.
A Needle in the Silt: The River Search
The search effort, spearheaded by the Bergen County Historical Society, is fueled by the persistent rumor that vandals dumped the heavy iron cannon into the river off the swing bridge near the Steuben House.
Despite previous unsuccessful dives, Deborah Powell, the Society’s Museum Collection Chair, notes that a recent magnetic survey has indicated the possible presence of a large iron object in the riverbed just south of the bridge.
Anatomy of a Mystery Object
The historical society knows exactly what they are looking for:
-
Object: “Old Bergen,” an iron 6-pounder field gun.
-
Dimensions: Measures 5.5 feet long, with a 3.75-inch bore.
-
Challenge: The heavy cannon is likely buried deep in the Hackensack River’s muddy silt, up to 30 feet below the surface in that area.
The Cannon’s Deep Bergen County Roots
“Old Bergen” is more than just an artifact; its history is intertwined with the defense and celebrations of Bergen County for two centuries:
-
War of 1812: The town of Hackensack purchased the cannon to prevent a second attack after the burning of Hackensack in 1780.
-
Hackensack Green: In the mid-19th century, it was a fixture of Fourth of July celebrations, famously “contributed a boom for every star in the flag.”
-
Steuben House Guardian: Before its disappearance, it sat outside the historic Steuben House (named for General Washington’s chief of staff) for nearly 40 years, installed in 1941 and pointed toward the bridge to repel invaders.
Dumped or Sold? The Enduring Question
Historical accounts offer two major theories for the cannon’s vanishing act:
-
River Dump: It was rolled down the bank and into the Hackensack River, despite the difficulty of moving the heavy piece.
-
Sold to Collectors: Late historian Reginald McMahon suggested the cannon, which lacked standard U.S. Army markings, could have been sold to a collector and disguised with black paint, perhaps purchased as a Confederate piece in the South.
While the outcome is uncertain, the Bergen County Historical Society hopes the upcoming dive will finally bring closure to this decades-long historical puzzle and bring “Old Bergen” back to its “native soil.”
Tell your story #TheRidgewoodblog , #Indpendentnews, #information, #advertise, #guestpost, #affiliatemarketing,#NorthJersey, #NJ , #News, #localnews, #bergencounty, #sponsoredpost, #SponsoredContent, #contentplacement , #linkplacement, Email: [email protected]
