Dewey Cannon

    The Dewey Cannon is a historic Spanish Bronze cannon now located in Dewey Cannon Park in 3 Oaks, Berrien County, Michigan. and designated as a Michigan Registered Historic Site.

     Origins and capture.

     The cannon was originally mounted on Corregidor Island in the Spanish Colonial Harbor of Manila Bay. In May,1898, during the Spanish American War, the U.S. forces under Commodore George Dewey captured the island after the battle of Manila Bay.  The cannon was at least 30 years old and already obsolete, was taken as a prize of war. It was renamed in Dewey’s honor.

     Fund raising contest

      After its capture, the cannon was shipped to the U.S. and displayed in San Francisco.  The National Monument Committee of New York offered it as a trophy to the community that raised the most money per capita toward a memorial for the sailors who died when the U.S. Maine exploded in 1898.

     3 Oaks Victor

     The town of 3 Oaks with about $1400–the largest per person contributions of any community at the time.  This sum was equivalent to over $54,000 in 2020 dollars. The town pledged a square block for a park for the cannon.