Update published at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 29:
Habersham County authorities have confirmed that a live cannonball found on a private property Tuesday has been safely detonated.
Rob Moore with the Habersham County Sheriff's Office said the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's bomb unit transported the cannonball, which was reportedly full of black powder, to a bunker that was constructed roughly 600 feet from the home on Wheeler Road where it was found.
"We're very grateful to a local contractor who assisted us with (making the bunker) with a small skidsteer," Moore said. "We're very thankful or the patience of residents in the area...it did end safely."
Moore said Wheeler Road between Ga. 115 and Garrett Road, which had been shut down for most of the afternoon due to the incident, was expected to re-open by 4:00 p.m.
Moore added that there was no foul play suspected in the discovery of the explosive.
"The person who had it at this time had it as a collectible. He did not realize it was live," Moore said. "We're not sure exactly what the GBI will do as far as looking at the device's origin, but again, we don't believe there was any ill intent or any ill will with the individual that had possession of it (Tuesday.) He immediately contacted law enforcement when he observed some black powder and became concerned."
Moore said the cannonball was not small.
"The cannonball that we're talking about is not like a baseball size or a softball size like a lot of people picture going to shoot an apple cannon," Moore said. "This is more of a basketball size, like you would see in an old cartoon, like with pirates...probably about 10 inches across. It did have an opening where apparently powder spilled out."
Residents in the surrounding area were evacuated while the GBI bomb unit removed and detonated the cannonball. No injuries were reported.
Original story published at 12:45 p.m. Tuesday, April 29:
A roadway near Demorest is temporarily closed as Habersham County authorities investigate an antique cannonball found on a private property that they say may be explosive.
Rob Moore with the Habersham County Sheriff's Office said Wheeler Road is closed between Ga. 115 and Garrett Road due to the investigation.
"The sheriff's office was contacted by the property owner there, who said 'I have this item and I'm not sure what needs to happen with it,'" Moore said.
Moore said both the home the cannonball was found in and the surrounding properties have been evacuated. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation's bomb unit has also been brought to the scene to dispose of it.
Moore added that the cannonball was not believed to be placed in the home maliciously.
"It was more of a collector's item. There's no ill intent that anyone knows of," Moore said.
