BRYAN EATON/Staff photo. In 1971 a group called the Continental Navy was formed to represent Newburyport in reenactments for the upcoming Bicentennial celebrations and had a replica naval cannon built called Sweet Charlene in 1975 by resident Don Page. The cannon was kept in storage for many years and later loaned to the 1812 Marine Guard of the frigate USS Constitution. It made a symbolic return to Newburyport yesterday with Jim Murphy of the 1812 group, left, and Don Kelly of the Continental Navy behind the Custom House Maritime Museum where they hope it may be housed in the future.

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