WILLIAMSPORT, Md. (AP) The western Maryland town of Williamsport is getting state help in preserving its Civil War history.

Town officials said Wednesday they’ve received more than $23,000 from the Maryland Department of Planning to help restore three vintage cannons, spruce up a memorial site and create a Civil War walking tour.

The town has owned three cannon barrels for 115 years. They were originally displayed at a Civil War site called Doubleday Hill but replaced with plastic replicas due to vandalism of the site.

Town officials say they hope to mount the cannon tubes on carriages and restore them to firing condition.

Williamsport was the site of Union encampments and numerous Potomac River crossings during the war. Confederate forces made a stand there after retreating from the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg.

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