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thedrifter
05-19-08, 08:19 PM
Marines search for unexploded ordnance at Fort Anderson trail site

By Shelby Sebens
Staff Writer

Published: Monday, May 19, 2008 at 7:46 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, May 19, 2008 at 8:11 p.m.

Fort Anderson | Just minutes after digging up an old Mello Yello pop can, the Marine found something a little more interesting.

He handed Brenda Marshburn a chunk of what probably was an 11-inch, 166-pound cannonball in its day during the Civil War era.

The manager of Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site was giddy as she brushed the reddish dirt off the piece and showed it to her co-workers.

"That's a hunk," said Jim McKee, program coordinator for the site.

The Marines came down to Fort Anderson in Brunswick County from Camp Lejeune on Monday to sweep the site for unexploded ordnance - leftovers from the 1865 battle at Fort Anderson.

Officials wanted to be sure there was nothing below the surface that could pose a hazard when they start digging to build a new handicapped-accessible trail around the site.

In early May, a Virginia man was killed while restoring a Civil War cannonball that exploded.

Marshburn said they just wanted to be sure they locate any unexploded devices that might be on the site.

Fort Anderson was last bombarded in 1865, McKee said.

The search unearthed some interesting historic artifacts, but nothing potentially explosive, McKee said.

In addition to several shells, they found what appears to be an old drill, pieces of a wood stove, nails and carriage bolts. McKee said the items will be preserved and cataloged and likely used for a traveling exhibit.

"There was quite a bit of stuff," he said.

The Marines will come back again to do the rest of the site. Monday they just focused on the future trail and an area where officials hope to build a gun emplacement.

Stuart Blum, gunnery sergeant, said it is good training for the Marines. They used equipment that is basically a step above a metal detector that beeps when they find something.

He said they have done training like this but had not actively searched a historic site before coming to Fort Anderson.

The new hard-surface trail, funded by federal dollars, will loop around Fort Anderson and Brunswick Town and be located next to all the site's attractions, Marshburn said.

The plan is to attract more visitors and make the somewhat inaccessible site open to everyone.

"It will just enhance the site," she said.

Sweeping the area is preliminary work for the project. Marshburn said they are working with a local architect and hope to start construction by the end of this year.

Shelby Sebens: 755-7963

shelby.sebens@starnewsonline.com

Ellie