The Malden River is known for its walking paths, peaceful scenery, and pockets of industrial history that still linger along its banks. Anyone who strolls along its edges can find remnants of the past—rusted metal fittings, old concrete platforms, or hints of earlier eras when the river served not only as a scenic waterway but as a channel for industry, transport, and maritime work. During one such walk, however, I came across an object that didn’t just look old—it looked mysterious.
I found it planted firmly beside the walkway, close enough to catch attention but far enough from the water that it didn’t immediately appear to be part of any current river infrastructure. It was sturdy, metallic, and shaped in a way that suggested it once had a purpose more significant than simply lying discarded by the side of a path. Out of curiosity, I glanced across the river to see if perhaps another structure like it existed on the opposite bank, which might suggest it once supported a bridge, a cable, or a measurement device. But there was nothing. No matching shape, no hints of a pair or symmetrical design—just this lone relic sitting quietly on my side of the walkway.
Uncertain of what it could be and intrigued by its possible history, I posted the photograph online, hoping someone with knowledge of maritime equipment, industrial machinery, or local history might recognize it. A variety of guesses trickled in, but one comment stood out due to its confidence and specificity. The commenter claimed:
“They were mounted below on Coast Guard ships for raising the large cannons.”
This single sentence opened up an entirely new line of thought—and possibility. Could this metal structure by the Malden River actually be a part of naval history, specifically tied to the U.S. Coast Guard? And if so, how did a piece of equipment used to mount or raise cannons on a ship end up resting quietly beside a riverside path in Massachusetts?
Understanding the Coast Guard’s Use of Cannon-Lifting Mechanisms
To understand the commenter’s claim, it helps to look back at the Coast Guard’s evolution. Although the modern Coast Guard is often associated with life saving, search and rescue, and homeland security, historically, its missions also included maritime defense and the mounting of weaponry on many of its cutters. Especially during earlier eras—World War II, the Cold War, and even before—Coast Guard ships could be fitted with large cannons or deck guns for defensive operations.
Raising such heavy cannons into place required specialized equipment. These weren’t lightweight weapons; they were substantial steel artillery pieces that needed to be carefully positioned for both stability and safety. Hoisting mechanisms used to lift these cannons were engineered to withstand extreme loads, and they often included:
- Reinforced brackets or frames
- Mounting plates or bolted bases
- Pivoting arms or bars for mechanical advantage
- Attachment points for ropes, pulleys, or hydraulic systems
If the object by the Malden River is indeed related to this kind of equipment, the characteristics described above would make sense. Even without seeing the item directly, the fact that it caught your attention suggests that it likely has a heavy, industrial quality—something more purposeful than random scrap metal.
How Could It End Up by the Malden River?
This question becomes the heart of the mystery. How does a naval hoisting component used for raising cannons on Coast Guard vessels make its way onto a riverside walkway?
There are a few plausible explanations:
1. Maritime Recycling and Ship Salvage
Massachusetts has a long maritime history, including shipbuilding, repair, and dismantling industries. When military or Coast Guard vessels are decommissioned, their parts are often sold, scrapped, or repurposed. It is not unusual for components like lifts, brackets, and structural beams to end up in municipal projects, construction sites, or even as makeshift supports in public areas.
It is possible that the object was salvaged decades ago and later reused in a local project—perhaps as a temporary support, a counterweight, or even part of construction equipment—before eventually being abandoned beside the river.
2. Old Industrial Use Near the River
The Malden River, despite its peaceful appearance today, has a history of industrial use. Equipment with maritime origins sometimes found second lives in factories, power plants, or river-related operations such as docks or loading platforms. A Coast Guard lifting framework might have been repurposed for hoisting materials along the river, only to be discarded once operations modernized or relocated.
3. Placement as Fill or Shoreline Reinforcement
Some riverside areas use heavy metal components as erosion control or fill material, particularly in regions with a history of industrial dumping. It is possible the object wasn’t deliberately placed for use at all—it might have been deposited during land reshaping, shoreline stabilization, or redevelopment efforts.
4. A Deliberate Display or Unmarked Artifact
Occasionally, municipalities or local groups place historical items near waterways without plaques or signage—either because the sign was removed, vandalized, or never installed. The object might have been placed intentionally as a subtle nod to the area’s maritime heritage, even if the context has since been lost.
Why the Comment Makes Sense—Even Without Absolute Proof
While the commenter’s claim cannot be confirmed without additional expert input or photographic evidence, it raises several interesting points that align with known facts:
- Coast Guard ships did indeed use hoisting mechanisms for mounting heavy guns.
- These mechanisms were robust and distinctive enough that someone familiar with naval hardware might recognize their shapes even when removed from context.
- Equipment from decommissioned military vessels often ends up far from its original location.
The specificity of the comment—“mounted below on Coast Guard ships for raising the large cannons”—suggests that the person may have seen similar equipment firsthand, possibly through military service, shipyard work, or historical restoration experience.
The Allure of Riverbank Mysteries
Objects like this—solid, industrial, out of place—have a way of sparking the imagination. They remind us that every place, no matter how calm or modern it seems now, has layers of history beneath its surface. The Malden River has seen centuries of activity, from native use to colonial development to the bustling industrial era and finally to its revitalization in recent decades.
Finding such an artifact invites us to wonder about the people who handled it, the ship it belonged to, and the era it came from. Whether it truly served as a cannon-lifting mechanism, or whether it has a different but equally fascinating origin, it remains a physical link to the past—a story half-buried, waiting for someone to rediscover it.
Conclusion: A Piece of Coast Guard History—or Something Else Entirely
While we cannot say with certainty what the object is without additional analysis, the explanation offered by the commenter is plausible and historically consistent. The idea that it once belonged to a Coast Guard ship, used to raise heavy cannons, adds a layer of depth to what might otherwise appear to be just an odd chunk of metal by the river.
Until more information comes to light—or someone recognizes the object with absolute certainty—the mystery lives on. But the possibility that this is a forgotten piece of naval equipment makes it not just an object, but a small artifact of maritime heritage resting quietly along the Malden River.
