Mysterious Monuments

Every place has certain aspects of history that are indigenous to that specific area. These monuments become a rough definition of the people of the area and how they came to be the way they are. In Maryland, an artifact that is quite important to our history is John O’Neil’s cannon. The plaque at the site of the cannon is inscribed with the words, “This cannon of the War of 1812 marks the site of the battery on Concord Point where John O’Neil served the guns single handed during the British attack upon Havre de Grace May 3, 1813, until disabled and captured. He was released from the British frigate Maidstone. Through the intercession of his young daughter Matilda to whom Admiral Cockburn gave his gold mounted snuff-box in token of her heroism. As a tribute to the gallant conduct of her father, the citizens of Philadelphia presented to him a handsome sword” (http://www.concordpointlighthouse.org/TheLighthouse/TheONeills/tabid/74/Default.aspx). John O’Neil is regarded as the Hero of Havre de Grace and it is said that he kept the British at bay just long enough for the town’s militia to set up a makeshift defense. People residing in areas near where this historic event took place know it and believe it changed the war but people two or more state lines away have never even heard of a man named John O’Neil.

            Another monument that people outside of the proximity of the range of knowledge do not know of is the Washington Monument located at Mount Vernon Place. The monument was erected in 1809, near 70 years before the more famous Washington Monument in D.C. was created. It was built to honor the great George Washington. It was used for ships as a daytime lighthouse to mark where land was as it towered above the trees. While it may have been a tourist attraction when it was first created, the magnificence has faded into oblivion and only the people in the vicinity of the area know its true glory (http://www.baltimoremuseums.org/washington.html). 

"The O'Neills, keepers of Concord Point Lighthouse." Concord Point Lighthouse and Keeper's Dwelling, Havre de Grace, Maryland Home. Web. 05 Feb. 2010. <http://www.concordpointlighthouse.org/TheLighthouse/TheONeills/tabid/74/Default.aspx>.

Greater Baltimore History Alliance. Web. 05 Feb. 2010. <http://www.baltimoremuseums.org/washington.html>.

"File:Baltimore Washington Monument.jpg -." Wikimedia Commons. Web. 05 Feb. 2010. <http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Baltimore_Washington_Monument.jpg>.