Explosive device — possibly from Civil War — left at Michigan facility. See it
A small, spherical item dropped off at a hazardous waste disposal site in Michigan forced the facility to evacuate as authorities feared the device could explode.
The device — a cannonball believed to be from the Civil War — was left at a SafeChem drop-off site on April 23 in Grand Rapids, the Kent County Department of Public Works said in an April 30 news release.
Upon discovery of the device, police were contacted to remove it, and the facility was evacuated as a cautionary measure, officials said.
The cannonball was X-rayed to see if the device was still explosive, the department said. It was unable to determine “whether the cannonball has an explosive component or is projectile only,” officials said.
The site in Grand Rapids is for household hazardous waste disposal, according to the county’s website.
Officials warn, however, that it is not safe to leave potentially explosive devices.
“Don’t put it in recycling, drop it off at a second-hand store or throw it away. Don’t assume just because it’s old, it is inactive,” Grand Rapids police Deputy Chief Mike Maycroft said in the release.
For those looking to safely get rid of potentially explosive items, Maycroft said to contact local authorities. The hazardous waste drop-off for materials that could potentially pose a health risk if disposed of improperly, according to officials.
“The cannonball will undergo further analysis, as well as additional research to confirm its age and origins,” Maycroft said. “Hopefully we can render it fully safe using methods that allow us to preserve this piece of history.”
This story was originally published May 1, 2025 at 11:12 AM with the headline "Explosive device — possibly from Civil War — left at Michigan facility. See it."
