Should you ever visit My St. Augustine area you will find Historic Old Cannon Guns placed around different areas of the City. These Cannon Guns are authentic and at one time were used to defend the City or were used on the War Ships and during battle were sunk in the Matanzas River
and Bay.  As a small child, my parents took pictures of sister Glenda and me atop the Cannon riding it like a horse.  They are well maintain, painted usually black and have a plaque describing the history of each Cannon. The cannon balls (about 29 or so ) are stacked at the base of
the cannon and cemented in stack form for a good reason.  This is not because tourists were taking them or there had been liability charges filed but rather,- we as young teenagers found a useful fun way to use them and we thought no harm would result from our FUN time. As the story
progresses I will bring out the fun part.

While growing up in St. Augustine,-- we had good clean fun,---everyone had a right to correct us or give us a harsher correction,---this was an unwritten fact and we knew it. Everyone knew everyone and was probably
related in some way. When someone new came in, it didn't take long to get them feeling as part of the "Big St. Augustine Family."

The Bridge of Lions connects Anastasia Island and City Central together. As you come off the Bridge going west you can turn right and go north on Bay Street or turn left and go on Marine Street. Coming off the Bridge of Lions and looking straight ahead is the beginning of the City.  The
Bridge connects directly with Cathedral Street. On Cathedral street,--some of the original places still stand but things have changed in 50 + years. On the left hand side of Cathedral is the Market Place, the Plaza and Band Shell, the Old Post Office and another Plaza.  On the
right hand side was the Matanzas Theatre, the Basilica Cathedral, a restaurant (gone) on the corner of St. George St. and Cathedral and the old Jefferson theatre(gone).  Cathedral Street dead ends into Cordova Street at the old Flagler Hotel now a College.

As very young teenagers (14-15) we liked to have fun and hung around (boys and girls) doing fun things. Well Jerry,--I can see it in your eyes,---you're gonna ramble again,--just go ahead and then come back to this story. REAL QUICK,---a group of us caught a small 5 ft. alligator, taped its mouth shut and put it in the swimming pool of St. Joseph's Academy School –the school I attended. At first the Nuns got upset about it then started laughing and wrote the experience in their journals. Later in the day,--we got in the pool with the Gator and got him out--turned him back to the wild.  The Nuns took pictures to send home and pictures were in the school paper. Now back to the home page.

Back then gas was $0.15 a gallon and a ticket to the movie was $0.12 but we didn't have any money so we devised other ways to entertain ourselves. A large group of us (boys and girls) decided we were going bowling. Our bowling party had to be in the middle of the night when the city was completely shut down. Here was our plan,----Each guy gets two cannon balls,--goes atop the Bridge of Lions and throws the cannon ball down the middle of the bridge and Cathedral St. Now picture this in your minds eye,--20 to 25 teenagers,-- in the Historic part of town,--rolling cannon balls down through the middle of town. The girls were the look-outs and the umpires. We made small wagers and put it in a hat. The first one to get their cannon ball to go all the way to Cordova Street at the Flagler Hotel was the winner. Once the cannon balls were turned loose, there was no telling where it would end up.  The girls also had to take brooms or sticks to keep the cannon balls from taking out a Historical Sight or going through someone business window.  We say that we were real careful,--But,--things and accidents did happen.  This Olympic Sport took skill and finesse and many hours of practice and coaching.

It took the City Authorities a good while to figure out WHY the cannon balls were being found in different parts of town. Of course this is the reason why the Historical Cannon Balls are cemented in place today.

As teenagers,---we had to find another source of having weekend group fun and when you get 25 to 30 kids together,-imaginations can run wild--we never meant to be destructive. Our extended St. Augustine Family knew all about our doings and some of the Old Timers were giving
us suggestions.

Jerry Delany

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