BIDDEFORD —Biddeford has a long and storied history. Settled by Europeans in the 1600s, and Native Americans before that, the city has been home to waves of immigrants from different nations throughout the years, who have left their own mark on Biddeford history. It’s architecture is also historic and the city is doted with numerous relics from the past.

But the stories behind some of these relics are unknown.

One such item is an old artillery piece, a large bore mortar, located at Lincoln and Main streets.  On May 15, the City Council voted unanimously to approve a request by local veterans organizations to move the mortar from its current location to the Biddeford Veterans memorial Park at the intersection of Alfred and Pool streets. The April 20 letter requesting the moved was signed by American Legion Post 26 Commander Raynald Hallczuk, AMVETS Post 1 Commander Marshall Archer and Vietnam Veterans of America Maine Chapter 1044 President Joseph Armstrong.

“Our concern was where it was it wasn’t being maintained,” Project Representative Gene  Foster said. He said there is construction near where the mortar is located that threatens to damage it and recently a tree fell on it. Veterans wanted to move the artillery piece before it became in greater disrepair, he said.

When it is moved, Foster said, the plan is to clean it up and research its past, which is currently unknown.

“It’s possibly from  World War I or the Spanish-American War,” he said, but added he’s not sure. “It’s probably easier to get the nuclear launch codes” than to find the history of the mortar, he said.

Foster said he hopes that once the item is cleaned they can find serial numbers or some other marking that can help identify it. If someone locally knows anything about the mortar, they are asked to email amvets@maine.rr.com.

“We believe that moving this important piece of Biddeford history to the Biddeford Veterans Memorial Park will enhance honoring the supreme contribution of local veterans,” veteran officials wrote in their letter to City Council requesting permission to move the mortar. “We believe prominent display in the Biddeford Veterans Memorial park location will better display and more visibly recognize this important part of our history.”

The artillery piece will be placed on a concrete slab in the park and veterans’ organizations will assume responsibility for its upkeep and preservation, according to the letter.

The veterans groups’ plan is to have the mortar cleaned and researched by November.

“Our hope is to have it in place for Veterans Day (Nov. 11) and have a little more information, and dedicate it on Veterans Day,” Foster said.

—Associate Editor Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 324, or dmendros@journaltribune.com.