Danville’s Cannon School may be gone but an effort is now underway to name another local building after former Speaker of the House Joseph Cannon. During a news conference Tuesday State Representative Mike Marron said a new committee has launched a petition drive to name the Vermilion County Administration Building after Cannon….
{AUDIO: ‘’Speaker Cannon was responsible for bringing the Federal Court to Danville, and as a result building this beautiful building to house it here in 1911. He brought the VA Hospital to Danville. He became the second-longest serving Republican Congressman in history. He mastered parliamentary control of the U.S. House, clashed publically with a popular President named Teddy Roosevelt from his own party, and had the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, D.C. named for him.’’}
Representative Marron says plans are underway for a local celebration on March 4th next year – the 100th anniversary of ‘Uncle Joe’ Cannon appearing on the first cover of Time magazine…
{AUDIO: ‘’The highlight of the March 4th event will be a ceremony naming this building – the Vermilion County Administration Building – the Joseph G. Cannon Vermilion County Administration Building. That effort requires 500 signatures on petitions that will be presented to the County Board to make the request of naming the building.’’}
Vermilion County Treasurer Darren Duncan noted that ‘’often with the passing of time and the generations we tend to forget the amazing stories and people whose contributions are so valuable to us yet today.’’ In light of that, Representative Marron says other activities are planned to help people remember Cannon….
{AUDIO: ‘’In addition to the building naming ceremony, we will be working with the Vermilion County Museum to create educational exhibits on Joseph Cannon that we intend to put on display here in the building for the public to view, so that we can further the education of this very significant historical figure in our community. As well as, we’re hoping to get some workbooks for some kids to distribute at the local schools.’’}
{This photo of Speaker Cannon is displayed in County Treasurer Darren Duncan’s office.}
A newly-formed committee will be planning the celebration. If you would like to sign the petition to name the Vermilion County Administration Building after Cannon you can do so online. Visit https://joecannonvermilion.com/ . You can also learn more information about the former Speaker of the House at that website.
