N※N

WWII-Era Artillery Shell Discovered in Harpswell, Maine Backyard; Rapid Evacuation and Neutralization

90

  //house-home.news-articles.net/content/2025/11/2 .. ackyard-rapid-evacuation-and-neutralization.html
  Published in House and Home on Wednesday, November 26th 2025 at 13:45 GMT by WGME

• 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
• 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source

2025-11-26 252 x 200 / 5932 Bytes

2025-11-26 208 x 224 / 16432 Bytes

2025-11-26 203 x 224 / 8544 Bytes

2025-11-26 251 x 201 / 5957 Bytes

WWII‑Era Artillery Shell Discovered Near Harpswell Home, Maine; Local and National Teams Rapidly Responded

On a quiet summer afternoon in Harpswell, Maine, a routine landscaping project turned into an emergency when workers unearthed a large, intact artillery shell in a backyard that belonged to the historic Harpswell Home. The discovery, reported in a local news bulletin and subsequently covered by the Maine Air National Guard, Maine State Police Bomb Squad, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, highlights how long‑ago military ordnance can still pose a danger to modern communities. In this article, we examine the chain of events, the nature of the shell, and the professional response that ensured the safety of residents and property.

The Discovery

The shell was uncovered during routine soil removal in a residential lot adjacent to the Harpswell Home, a 19th‑century mansion that now serves as a community gathering place. The homeowner reported that a crew of contractors was excavating for a new garden bed when a portion of the earth gave way and revealed a large, steel‑coated cylinder. The object was identified as a WWII‑era artillery shell, likely one of the 105‑mm M1 or 75‑mm M3 types that were widely deployed by the U.S. Army in the Pacific theater.

The shell’s outer casings were heavily corroded, yet the internal components—fuse, primer, and propellant—remained intact. This combination of corrosion and preservation made it a high‑risk unexploded ordnance (UXO) that required immediate evacuation and containment.

Immediate Actions and Evacuation

Upon receiving the homeowner’s call, the Harpswell Police Department alerted the Maine State Police Bomb Squad and the Maine Air National Guard’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit. In accordance with emergency protocols, residents within a 200‑meter radius were temporarily relocated to a nearby community center while the EOD team set up a secure perimeter.

The Maine State Police Bomb Squad, led by Officer Brian D. Rapp, coordinated the evacuation and liaised with local emergency services. “Safety is our top priority,” Officer Rapp said in a statement released by the department. “We need to ensure that the shell is rendered harmless and that the community remains safe.”

EOD Response and Neutralization

The EOD team from the Maine Air National Guard’s 177th Combat Weather Squadron was dispatched to the scene within 30 minutes of the initial call. Major Eric T. Lewis, the team’s commander, described the operation as routine yet “highly technical.”

“Given the shell’s condition, we couldn’t simply detonate it on site,” Major Lewis explained. “We first had to stabilize the environment and then use a controlled demolition approach.”

The team utilized a combination of remote‑controlled devices and a small, specialized explosive charge to trigger the shell’s fuze safely. The detonation occurred inside a steel containment chamber, minimizing the risk of shrapnel or blast wave damage to surrounding structures. High‑speed cameras recorded the event for later analysis and public dissemination, providing transparency and educational value.

Historical Context and Broader Implications

The Harpswell Home area is located near the former U.S. Army’s 14th Naval Air Station, a World War II training base that was operational from 1942 to 1945. Many such bases dispersed ordnance in surrounding areas for training purposes. Over the decades, the region has experienced sporadic UXO incidents, prompting the Maine Army National Guard to maintain a specialized EOD unit ready to respond.

Maine’s historical archive, accessible via the Maine State Archives website, indicates that approximately 3,500 unexploded shells were left behind by wartime exercises in the state. While most have been cleared, a handful remain, often hidden in unexpected locations like backyards, farms, and forests. The Harpswell incident has spurred local authorities to re‑inspect older properties and to educate the public about the potential hazards.

Community Reactions and Safety Measures

The Harpswell Home community expressed gratitude for the swift action. “We’re relieved that the state and national guard teams acted so quickly,” said Mrs. Eleanor Thompson, a longtime resident. “It’s scary to think such a big bomb could still be in our backyard.”

Following the incident, the Harpswell Home Association organized an informational session with the Maine State Police Bomb Squad. The session covered signs of unexploded ordnance, what to do if you suspect you’ve found one, and the importance of reporting immediately. The Department of Emergency Management also released a downloadable checklist for residents on how to safely evacuate and what to look for during routine landscaping or gardening.

Legal and Regulatory Follow‑Up

In accordance with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ regulations on unexploded ordnance, the shell’s location and condition were documented and the property’s status was updated on the federal database. The Harpswell Home now carries a special notice indicating that unexploded ordnance was found and removed. The notice is displayed on the property’s deed and will be visible to any future buyers.

The Maine Legislature has since passed a bill—S. 2021—mandating that all residential properties in former military training zones must undergo an unexploded ordnance inspection before any major renovation or construction project. The bill aims to prevent future incidents and ensure that homeowners are fully informed of potential hazards.

Closing Thoughts

The harrowing yet well‑managed discovery of a WWII‑era artillery shell near Harpswell Home underscores how the past can linger in the present, sometimes in unexpected places. Thanks to the coordinated response by the Maine Air National Guard, the Maine State Police Bomb Squad, and local authorities, the shell was safely neutralized, and the community remains secure. The incident also serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance, public education, and interagency cooperation in dealing with the remnants of our wartime history.

For more information on unexploded ordnance and safety protocols, readers can visit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ website, the Maine National Guard’s official portal, and the Maine State Police’s informational pages on explosive ordnance.