The Cannon & Mr. Traulsen

THE TECH CANNON & MR. BOB TRAULSEN (MT ‘61)

Taken in large part from “Don Bosco Technical Institute 50th Anniversary Commemorative Book 1955-2005” by Mr. Richard Demeter.

Although the firing of the Bosco Tech cannon is today a cherished tradition, few people are aware of its history. In fact, the cannon that announces the start of today’s Salesian Spirit Games and marks the graduation of each class of Techmen is really the third incarnation of an apparatus built more than 50 years ago.

What later became known as “the Beast” was originally constructed in 1958 by Bob Traulsen and Paul Lampe, respective students in the Manufacturing and Construction departments. Bob machined the cannon’s barrel, while Paul constructed its carriage or wooden frame. Modeled after a medieval field piece, the stocky device originally had no firing mechanism and “fired” only when a cherry bomb was rolled down the barrel.

Though it was used to signal the beginning of the then-named North-South Games, it was primarily intended to be the trophy awarded to the winning side in that annual athletic competition.

A firing mechanism was later installed in the cannon, in the late 1960s. Alumnus and past Tech instructor Craig Gantz (MT ’69) fondly remembers that Bob, unhappy with the cherry bomb method of firing, asked him and a few other students to modify the barrel so it could shoot a blank shotgun shell.

‘Mr. T,’ as he was known to upper classmen at that time, became Craig’s teaching mentor.

Craig fondly remembers Bob was ‘a true Techman.’ “He never hesitated to share his knowledge, skills, kindness, and patience with anyone,” said Craig.

THE CANNON & MR. TRAULSEN (CONTINUED) In the decade after the modifications, ‘Bob’s’ cannon was frequently “borrowed” and became the centerpiece of various “accidents” and pranks by some of the young teachers. During one escapade, Mr. Traulsen—by then a manufacturing instructor at the school—hooked the cannon and its carriage to the back of his Volkswagen, drove to the outdoor lunch area, and fired the gun over the heads of unsuspecting students eating lunch. Finally, exasperated by a string of incidents, the principal, Father Thomas Prendiville, ordered the cannon destroyed. Mr. Traulsen, however, saved the “infernal machine” from a dumpster.

Sometime after 1974, at the request of Father John Malloy, the new principal, Mr. Traulsen built a replacement cannon. Modeled after a 75-mm French fieldpiece, this new incarnation had the wooden carriage of the original cannon plus a built-in firing mechanism. When the cannon was reconfigured yet again, the result had rubber wheels and a new barrel (with the student-built firing mechanism from the earlier barrel). This latest version looked like a fieldpiece from the Napoleonic era of the American civil war. During a visit to the school by Cardinal Timothy Manning, the cannon peppered the cleric with talcum powder (added to generate more “smoke”), much to the embarrassment of his Salesian hosts.

The cannon continues to be used at various events on campus, but in recent years it has been most frequently associated with the Salesian Spirit Games.

And Bob Traulsen, who recently passed away, will be greatly missed by classmates, past students, colleagues, family and friends. Thank you for all you gave to the Tech, Mr. Traulsen!