Unexploded WW2 Artillery Shell Discovered at Maine Home

If you have ever spent much time digging around the property of some of Maine's older homes, there is a good chance you are going to find some interesting things.

When I was a kid, growing up in Houlton, we used to find all kinds of things in the yards of our neighborhoods.  Old foundations, abandoned sheds filled with stuff, and old appliances.  One time, when my dad was digging up our lawn to plant a garden, we found an old car transmission!

Of course, some discoveries are kind of shocking.

Even if you expected to find stuff on your property, there is a good chance you never expected to find unexploded cannon shells!

That's exactly what happened in Harpswell earlier this week.

According to a press release from the Maine Department of Public Safety, at about 2 PM on Tuesday, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office got a call about what looked like an old military shell at a Harpswell property.

Deputies showed up, made sure the area was safe, and brought in the Maine State Police Bomb Squad along with the Harpswell Fire Department.

Once the Bomb Squad arrived, they teamed up with the Maine Air National Guard’s 101st explosive ordnance disposal team to figure out exactly what they were dealing with.

Turns out it was a British artillery round from the World War Two era.

They carefully moved it to a secure spot, set a controlled charge, and learned the good news once the dust settled.  The shell had no explosive material inside.

State Police want to remind everyone that if you ever come across something that even looks like an old shell or suspicious ordnance, safety comes first.  Leave it right where it is.  Don’t try to pick it up or take a closer look.  Call your local police right away and let the experts handle it.