SUNBURY — A contractor renovating Cameron Park moved a historic cannon and four war monuments before dawn Monday.

The move was completed without notice to veterans advocates who had bitterly opposed the plan to shift them from the western end of the park to the eastern end.

Veterans from American Legion Post 201, led by John Deppen, had protested partly because they believed the monuments could be harmed during the relocation.

The World War I memorial is more than 80 years old.

But Sunbury City Councilman James Eister, who was there to watch the move, said the decision to transport the monuments and cannon at 4 a.m. had nothing to do with wanting to avoid any possible protesters.

“It was a safety issue, pure and simple,” he said. “It was the contractor who picked the time, and traffic was the big issue. Because once we loaded everything on trucks, we had to bring the monuments and cannon down Market Street. By 6 a.m., traffic builds up, almost bumper to bumper, so we had to do it earlier than the rush hour.”

Eister said he found out Thursday that the move would take place early Monday.

“I was told that it was a tentative date. Then, on Saturday afternoon, I was told it was still on,” he said.

The monuments were moved between 3:40 and 5:05 a.m., Eister said.

As part of the contract, Ron Dague, owner of Aurand Memorial in Beavertown, who specializes in moving monuments, was brought in to assist the construction crew.

The cannon and monuments were lifted by a crane onto a trailer and then taken separately to the opposite end of the park, said Dague. Market Street and Second Street were closed to traffic. The trucks on which the monuments were moved traveled at 5 mph.

“It all went very well,” Dague said. “Nothing was damaged. We took every precaution possible. Priority one for me was to safely, honorably and with dignity, move the monuments. The new foundations are bigger and deeper than the ones on the other side of the park, so I am confident that the monuments and cannon will be safe for a very long time.”

Dague said he will pressure wash the monuments today.

The project for the 200-year-old park also will include the return of its original cast-iron fountain, along with benches, shrubs and other landscaping. The bricked area will contain tables and benches. The center portion will remain much the same. The large flag pole at the eastern end of the park has been moved to the traffic triangle just west of the park.

“We’re hoping this will all be finished before the end of the year,” Eister said.