HHS replica cannon
Authors: Zac Crawford and Nick Rucker, Class of 2028
Story Contributor: Jennie Fennell Schlosser, Class of 1979
Web Page Designer: Jade Farley, Class of 2027
With a piercing boom, the Highlands cannon announces the arrival of the varsity football team taking the field before each home game.
Cannon crew shooting cannon
The energized crowd watches as the cheerleaders lead the way and the football players burst through the banner and run the gauntlet. This is Highlands Football.
Opponents from across the state of Kentucky know Highlands as the school that shoots off a cannon every time their team scores. Our iconic cannon has an interesting background and has even had some exciting adventures. We were able to meet with alumna, Jennie Fennell Schlosser to dig in for details.
“Let’s start with when Highlands first got the cannon. Originally, they wanted to do fireworks to celebrate touchdowns, but they were told it was too dangerous because of the fire hazard and large
crowd, so instead they decided on a cannon. In 1968, the cannon was bought for $800 from Dixie Gun Works in Tennessee by my parents Clem and Gloria Fennell,” said Jennie Fennell, class of 1979
and the daughter of Clem and Gloria (class of 1945).
During the early ages of the cannon’s time at Highlands, the team would bring it to every game, home or away. They continued to do this until Covington Catholic told them not to
bring it. So, for its final adventure, they decided to bring it to one last game against Cov Cath.
“Although they couldn’t get it onto the field, the Covington Catholic football field was right next to a residential area. The cannon crew got permission to keep it in a neighbor's yard right next to the field. They tucked it behind some bushes next to the driveway,” said Fennell. It was from this location that it fired its last away-game touchdown proclamations.
Highlands football cannon announces another touchdown
The Highlands football atmosphere was very charged up back in the late 60’s and 1970’s, with routine parties and other celebrations pre-game. “We had bonfires in Death Valley (today the Field House parking lot) before games. We would line the walls of the school with signs, have balloons at the front gate, and the cheerleaders would throw out plastic footballs into the stands during games,” Fennell said. The day after home football games, the custodial staff had their hands full, cleaning up all the confetti thrown by fans anytime the Bluebirds scored. The gametime environment was quite festive!
Another adventure the cannon had was being in the 4th of July parade, yearly. They displayed it in a truck bed. The truck would follow the lead car and was the second thing in the parade
“My now father-in-law was told not to fire the cannon by the police, but as soon as they left, he fired it. Eventually, they gave up and he fired it throughout the parade path,” Fennell said.
The Fennells also brought the cannon to The University of Cincinnati football games. Due to that, it had quite the adventures.
“We would bring it home (from Highlands games), paint it black and red, and the next day we would take it to UC for the game. At one of the UC games it was stolen. It was lost for years, and we were searching for it the whole time. Eventually, we heard that it was at a frat house. When we got there it was on the top floor, we don’t know how they got it up there, but we had to take it apart to get it back down,” said Fennell.
1973, annual yearbook calls cannon "Spirt Machine"
The Fennell family had a 4th of July tradition, along with many other
friends from Highlands, at their river camp. “We always fired tennis balls out of the cannon on the 4th of July when we had it down by the river. Once when I was down there by myself, I loaded a shot just how I was taught but it didn’t work. So I just left it in. Later that day my dad came down and loaded another shot and when he fired it, he got covered in smoke and said, ‘That was quite a shot!’” Fennell laughed.
There was also an unfortunate accident including the cannon while it was at Highlands. “Once when we sent the team off to the state championship, alumnus Steve Roller was firing the cannon during the send-off. Unfortunately, the cannon was not properly cleaned out and when he loaded the gunpowder it fired, taking off part of his hand,” said Fennell.
Because of that accident, Highlands has now retired the cannon and has resorted to a safer option. “Instead of the cannon, we now use a simulated boom to make the cannon sound,” said Wes Caldwell, Highlands High School athletic director.
Even though the original cannon has been retired, its legacy lives on. Generation after generation of Fort Thomas residents have been able to keep track of the Bluebirds’ touchdowns just by listening for the booms lingering through town on Friday nights.
Replica cannon