The little girl and her cannonball
This photo of Rebecca Jeanne George, taken circa 1907 in Cavittsville, was not included in the Spring 2022 issue of Westmoreland History, "A Nuisance in Your Backyard: The Wall's Station Naval Proving Ground," but we wanted to share it here and mention an interesting fact about this little girl who grew up with the cannonball in her front yard.
Rebecca Jeanne George (1901–1993) standing next to the cannonball in Cavittsville, Westmoreland PA. c1907
The Westmoreland History article mentions that about two weeks after the law was passed to allow the Knap Fort Pitt foundry to continue its operations, Felix Brunot, Chairman of the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs at that time, traveled through Pittsburgh with a party of Native Americans on their way to Washington DC. They stopped to tour various places in Pittsburgh, including this proving ground. Not mentioned in the article, but an interesting fact is that five years later, the famous General George Armstrong Custer from the 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn was defeated at what is commonly known as Custer's Last Stand.
Rebecca Jean George is a third cousin to this famous General, and in 1950, she sat down with Chief Crazy Bull, the grandson of the Indian chief responsible for Custer's massacre.
Clipping from The Evening Sun, Baltimore, Maryland, 25 Mar 1950.
