SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 2021 VOLUME 15 NO. 33VOLUME 15 NO. 33 
broker lic. #01514230 | source: CoreLogic, Freddie Mac, Bankrate 
Jan Greteman 626.975.4033 
jan@jangreteman.com 
jangreteman.com #01943630 
Judy Webb-Martin 626.688.2273 
jwmartin@dppre.com #00541631 
Katie Orth 626.688.0418 
korth@dppre.com #00942500 
Your Story. Your Home. Your Team. 
Together Stronger. 
THE 
WEBB-MARTIN GROUP 
IN ESCROW WITH MULTIPLE OFFERS 
IN ESCROW WITH MULTIPLE OFFERS 
JUST LISTED 
IN ESCROW 
IN ESCROW 
895 North Mar Vista Avenue 
Pasadena, 91104 
615-617 West Montecito Avenue 
Sierra Madre, 91024 
415 West Highland Avenue 
Sierra Madre, 91024 
895NMarVista.com415WHighland.com615-617WMontecito.com1 Bed | 1.5 Baths | 642 sf | 3,500 sf lot 
3 Beds | 2 Baths | 1,093 sf | 3,022 sf lot 
6 Beds | 3 Baths | 4,316 sf | 17,508 sf lot 
Bungalow Heaven Charmer 
1890 Cottage 
Character Craftsman Triplex 
Listed at $799,000 
Listed at $1,950,000 
Listed at $650,000 
As you can see, we're doing very well for 
our clients in buying and selling homes. 
Call us today for a free home assessment 
with no obligations. 
Hello summerThe Real Estate Market Is Hot 
Year over year values have increased 17%. 
Contact the Webb-Martin Group to find 
out how much your home is worth in this 
fantastic Sellers’ Market! 
OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY 8/14 FROM 1-3PM 
Story by Robert GjerdePhoto by Lawrence Taylor 
Known as the big Krupp gun, the 
howitzer field artillery cannon lo-
cated at Memorial Park was a tro-
phy from the First World War after 
Germany was disarmed. This week 
the wheels on the cannon were re-
placed for the fourth time, after 
being out for repair for about four 
months. 
The local post of the American Le-
gion, under the direction of Major 
Charles S. Floyd, petitioned the 
War Department for one of the 
many confiscated pieces of artillery 
as a memorial to those lost dur-
ing the Great War. This particular 
6" cannon was in Austrian service 
and reported to be in good condi-
tion at the time of its capture. These 
big guns were the type used where 
a million shells were fired by the 
Germans against France on the 
first day of the war in 1916. Trans-
port for two identical cannons was 
sponsored by the City of Pasa-
dena, which then decided one was 
enough and the twin was given to 
Sierra Madre. 
The cannon was received in Sep-
tember of 1925 when it was placed 
in Municipal Park (later to be 
renamed Memorial Park) at the 
corner of Sierra Madre Blvd. and 
Hermosa Ave. Putting the cannon 
in the park wasn't without its own 
heated controversy. Some citizens 
"opposed its installation in public 
place on the ground that all arma-
ments should be kept from public 
view because of their psychological 
effect on children." At the time the 
war was still felt to be a great con-
flict and “a war to end all wars.” 
Two and a half years later, the city 
allotted up to $25 for cement block 
to build a small pedestal at the re-
quest of the American Legion post 
to help secure the sometimes wan-
dering cannon. Originally facingdown the street towards the old 
City Hall, it is now wisely mount-
ed away from the city center. The 
American Legion, and more re-
cently the VFW, was responsible 
for maintaining the cannon for al-
most 100 years. 
Manufactured in 1905 and weigh-
ing 1770 pounds, the cannon is 
bored to 150mm. Ornate scroll 
work decorates the barrel. At the 
nose of the cannon is the inscrip-
tion "Pro Gloria Et Patria" which 
translates to "For glory and for the 
fatherland." Near the breech are the 
words "Ultima Ratio Regis" which 
means "In the King's Honor." 
The wheels of the cannon have had 
a sorted life. The first repairs were 
needed in 1936, when Fred Richter, 
a termite exterminator who lived 
on Victoria Lane, was working on 
the wheels and found the inscrip-
tion that it was made in Essen, Ger-
many. Essen was not only the home 
of the world-famous Fried KruppA. G. munitions works, but also 
Richter's old stomping grounds. 
He had visited the Krupp factory, 
which was larger than all of Sierra 
Madre, and had seen Krupp and 
Kaiser Wilhelm at the factory’s 
100th anniversary in 1911. When 
this wheel repair job was finished 
the American Legion also provided 
the bronze inscribed plaque as a 
memorial for the cannon. 
Another controversy surround-
ing the cannon developed duringWWII. Metal was needed for the 
war efforts. Many cities offered 
their old cannons to be scrapped. 
The City Council had thought it 
was a good idea to send the can-
non off to be melted down but 
deferred the American Legion. 
Well, you know Sierra Madre and 
its love for tradition! There was a 
faction which clearly wanted the 
cannon to stay put because it could 
never be replaced. The Ameri-
can Legion, adept at both fighting 
wars and dealing with the govern-
ment, found a solution to appease 
Uncle Sam. Post Commander H. 
E. Gabriel said that if the govern-
ment needed and wanted the can-
non they were welcome to it. Allthe War Production Board had to 
do was "come and get it". Needlessto say, no one ever came to pick itup. More than two-thirds of citiesacross the country had turned theircannons over to the war effort. The 
controversy dragged on as at some 
people continued to push for the 
"unsightly mass of scrap metal,"
"disfiguring our otherwise beauti-
ful park," with "neither practical, 
ornamental, nor spiritual value" be 
sent off to make bombs to protect 
our boys fighting the war. 
The war eventually ended, but the 
effects lived on. In 1950, a former 
hospital inmate was apprehended 
beating on the old cannon with 
a club. The 26 year old Monrovia 
man explained to the police that 
he was trying to destroy the sym-
bols of war. The cannon, not only 
a meeting place for day laborers, 
was also involved in an extortion 
plot later in 1950. Harry Hubner, 
of Auburn Ave, the owner of In-
dependent Iron Works in Los An-
geles, was being "shaken down" by 
three men to the tune of $2000. 
The trio said they had informa-
tion that would prove Mr. Hubner 
was evading paying taxes and that 
they would report him to the IRS 
unless he paid up. The Sheriff 's 
Department was informed and a 
sting operation involving deputies 
and local police was put in place. 
The "messenger" was arrested when 
he attempted to collect that money 
and the remaining two partners in 
crime were picked up at the rendez-
vous point, of course, at the cannon 
in the park. 
Through the 1930’s the barrel of the 
cannon was used for a number of 
Continued on page 7 
SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES: 
Sierra Madre Civic Club Dines At Corfu 
Sierra Madre 
Civic Club is a 
not-for-profit,
community ser-
vice organizationthat was founded 
by a small groupof women in 
1944. Since that 
time, Civic Club 
has grown to overa hundred mem-
bers of all ageswho are commit-
ted to creating abetter commu-
nity. On July 27, 2021 Corfu restaurant in Sierra Madre welcomed members of SierraMadre to the restaurant. Corfu donated a portion of the proceeds from both eat inand take out orders placed by members. Margaret Switzer, President of Sierra Madre 
Civic Club states “I think everyone had a lot of fun. This was a chance for members to 
support a local restaurant and also raise money for the many club philanthropies. Wesincerely thank Corfu Restaurant for supporting Sierra Madre Civic Club.” 
To learn more about Sierra Madre Civic Club, see our website at:
http://www.sierramadrecivicclub.org/home.html 
THE CANNON IS READY TO ROLL AGAIN! 
SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 2021 VOLUME 15 NO. 33VOLUME 15 NO. 33 
broker lic. #01514230 | source: CoreLogic, Freddie Mac, Bankrate 
Jan Greteman 626.975.4033 
jan@jangreteman.com 
jangreteman.com #01943630 
Judy Webb-Martin 626.688.2273 
jwmartin@dppre.com #00541631 
Katie Orth 626.688.0418 
korth@dppre.com #00942500 
Your Story. Your Home. Your Team. 
Together Stronger. 
THE 
WEBB-MARTIN GROUP 
IN ESCROW WITH MULTIPLE OFFERS 
IN ESCROW WITH MULTIPLE OFFERS 
JUST LISTED 
IN ESCROW 
IN ESCROW 
895 North Mar Vista Avenue 
Pasadena, 91104 
615-617 West Montecito Avenue 
Sierra Madre, 91024 
415 West Highland Avenue 
Sierra Madre, 91024 
895NMarVista.com415WHighland.com615-617WMontecito.com1 Bed | 1.5 Baths | 642 sf | 3,500 sf lot 
3 Beds | 2 Baths | 1,093 sf | 3,022 sf lot 
6 Beds | 3 Baths | 4,316 sf | 17,508 sf lot 
Bungalow Heaven Charmer 
1890 Cottage 
Character Craftsman Triplex 
Listed at $799,000 
Listed at $1,950,000 
Listed at $650,000 
As you can see, we're doing very well for 
our clients in buying and selling homes. 
Call us today for a free home assessment 
with no obligations. 
Hello summerThe Real Estate Market Is Hot 
Year over year values have increased 17%. 
Contact the Webb-Martin Group to find 
out how much your home is worth in this 
fantastic Sellers’ Market! 
OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY 8/14 FROM 1-3PM 
Story by Robert GjerdePhoto by Lawrence Taylor 
Known as the big Krupp gun, the 
howitzer field artillery cannon lo-
cated at Memorial Park was a tro-
phy from the First World War after 
Germany was disarmed. This week 
the wheels on the cannon were re-
placed for the fourth time, after 
being out for repair for about four 
months. 
The local post of the American Le-
gion, under the direction of Major 
Charles S. Floyd, petitioned the 
War Department for one of the 
many confiscated pieces of artillery 
as a memorial to those lost dur-
ing the Great War. This particular 
6" cannon was in Austrian service 
and reported to be in good condi-
tion at the time of its capture. These 
big guns were the type used where 
a million shells were fired by the 
Germans against France on the 
first day of the war in 1916. Trans-
port for two identical cannons was 
sponsored by the City of Pasa-
dena, which then decided one was 
enough and the twin was given to 
Sierra Madre. 
The cannon was received in Sep-
tember of 1925 when it was placed 
in Municipal Park (later to be 
renamed Memorial Park) at the 
corner of Sierra Madre Blvd. and 
Hermosa Ave. Putting the cannon 
in the park wasn't without its own 
heated controversy. Some citizens 
"opposed its installation in public 
place on the ground that all arma-
ments should be kept from public 
view because of their psychological 
effect on children." At the time the 
war was still felt to be a great con-
flict and “a war to end all wars.” 
Two and a half years later, the city 
allotted up to $25 for cement block 
to build a small pedestal at the re-
quest of the American Legion post 
to help secure the sometimes wan-
dering cannon. Originally facingdown the street towards the old 
City Hall, it is now wisely mount-
ed away from the city center. The 
American Legion, and more re-
cently the VFW, was responsible 
for maintaining the cannon for al-
most 100 years. 
Manufactured in 1905 and weigh-
ing 1770 pounds, the cannon is 
bored to 150mm. Ornate scroll 
work decorates the barrel. At the 
nose of the cannon is the inscrip-
tion "Pro Gloria Et Patria" which 
translates to "For glory and for the 
fatherland." Near the breech are the 
words "Ultima Ratio Regis" which 
means "In the King's Honor." 
The wheels of the cannon have had 
a sorted life. The first repairs were 
needed in 1936, when Fred Richter, 
a termite exterminator who lived 
on Victoria Lane, was working on 
the wheels and found the inscrip-
tion that it was made in Essen, Ger-
many. Essen was not only the home 
of the world-famous Fried KruppA. G. munitions works, but also 
Richter's old stomping grounds. 
He had visited the Krupp factory, 
which was larger than all of Sierra 
Madre, and had seen Krupp and 
Kaiser Wilhelm at the factory’s 
100th anniversary in 1911. When 
this wheel repair job was finished 
the American Legion also provided 
the bronze inscribed plaque as a 
memorial for the cannon. 
Another controversy surround-
ing the cannon developed duringWWII. Metal was needed for the 
war efforts. Many cities offered 
their old cannons to be scrapped. 
The City Council had thought it 
was a good idea to send the can-
non off to be melted down but 
deferred the American Legion. 
Well, you know Sierra Madre and 
its love for tradition! There was a 
faction which clearly wanted the 
cannon to stay put because it could 
never be replaced. The Ameri-
can Legion, adept at both fighting 
wars and dealing with the govern-
ment, found a solution to appease 
Uncle Sam. Post Commander H. 
E. Gabriel said that if the govern-
ment needed and wanted the can-
non they were welcome to it. Allthe War Production Board had to 
do was "come and get it". Needlessto say, no one ever came to pick itup. More than two-thirds of citiesacross the country had turned theircannons over to the war effort. The 
controversy dragged on as at some 
people continued to push for the 
"unsightly mass of scrap metal,"
"disfiguring our otherwise beauti-
ful park," with "neither practical, 
ornamental, nor spiritual value" be 
sent off to make bombs to protect 
our boys fighting the war. 
The war eventually ended, but the 
effects lived on. In 1950, a former 
hospital inmate was apprehended 
beating on the old cannon with 
a club. The 26 year old Monrovia 
man explained to the police that 
he was trying to destroy the sym-
bols of war. The cannon, not only 
a meeting place for day laborers, 
was also involved in an extortion 
plot later in 1950. Harry Hubner, 
of Auburn Ave, the owner of In-
dependent Iron Works in Los An-
geles, was being "shaken down" by 
three men to the tune of $2000. 
The trio said they had informa-
tion that would prove Mr. Hubner 
was evading paying taxes and that 
they would report him to the IRS 
unless he paid up. The Sheriff 's 
Department was informed and a 
sting operation involving deputies 
and local police was put in place. 
The "messenger" was arrested when 
he attempted to collect that money 
and the remaining two partners in 
crime were picked up at the rendez-
vous point, of course, at the cannon 
in the park. 
Through the 1930’s the barrel of the 
cannon was used for a number of 
Continued on page 7 
SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES: 
Sierra Madre Civic Club Dines At Corfu 
Sierra Madre 
Civic Club is a 
not-for-profit,
community ser-
vice organizationthat was founded 
by a small groupof women in 
1944. Since that 
time, Civic Club 
has grown to overa hundred mem-
bers of all ageswho are commit-
ted to creating abetter commu-
nity. On July 27, 2021 Corfu restaurant in Sierra Madre welcomed members of SierraMadre to the restaurant. Corfu donated a portion of the proceeds from both eat inand take out orders placed by members. Margaret Switzer, President of Sierra Madre 
Civic Club states “I think everyone had a lot of fun. This was a chance for members to 
support a local restaurant and also raise money for the many club philanthropies. Wesincerely thank Corfu Restaurant for supporting Sierra Madre Civic Club.” 
To learn more about Sierra Madre Civic Club, see our website at:
http://www.sierramadrecivicclub.org/home.html 
THE CANNON IS READY TO ROLL AGAIN! 
Walter Cailleteau, DVM Free Exam! 
927 N. Michillinda Ave. For New Clients 
Pasadena, CA 91107 Bring this coupon to save! 
(626) 351-8863