Authorities safely detonated a Civil War-era cannonball Tuesday, April 29, after it was discovered leaking volatile black powder at a home in the Fairview community near Clarkesville.
The cannonball, about the size of a basketball, was the explosive type used during the Civil War and is known to be highly unstable. Officials say even a small spark could have ignited the black powder, potentially posing a serious danger.
A piece of tape had been placed over a hole in the cannonball where the powder was spilling out. A bag was later used to collect the spilled contents. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation ultimately destroyed the device to ensure public safety.
Photos released by the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office show both the cannonball and the spilled black powder.
On Tuesday, the 100-pound cannonball led to evacuations and the closure of Wheeler Road at GA 115 for several hours.
Police ordered closures and evacuations out of an abundance of caution.
According to authorities, a homeowner who had recently received the cannonball from a friend was concerned about its potential danger. Deputies from the Uniform Patrol Division and the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office Explosive Ordnance Detection Team, including K9 Roxy and her partner, Lt. Eugene Kemp, later confirmed the explosive material.
Wheeler Road was reopened around 4:30 p.m. following the cannonball’s detonation.
