Homeowner Discovers Live Civil War Cannonball

Jefferson, Maryland A live Civil War-era cannonball found by a homeowner in Frederick County near Monocacy Battlefield has been safely disposed of by Office of the State Fire Marshal bomb technicians. After finding the item on his property, the homeowner showed the item to neighbors. One neighbor advised him it was live prompting the homeowner to contact the police.

Bomb technicians determined the fusing mechanism inside the cannonball was indeed still intact. The munition was then transported to the Beaver Creek Quarry in Hagerstown for disposal.

In a statement from State Fire Marshal Brian S. Geraci, residents were reminded, "If you should uncover or are unsure if an unidentified object may be military ordnance, be safe rather than sorry. Stay away and call 911. Marylanders need to be mindful that military ordnance, even vintage artifacts from previous conflicts, have the potential to explode."