Collection:
Juneau—Douglas City Museum
Object ID:
82.06.001
Accession#:
82.06
Credit Line:
Donated by Cristine Crooks.
Object Name:
Cannonball
Title:
8" Coehorn Mortar Round Cannonball
Date:
1862
Year Range from:
1880
Year Range to:
1900
Description:
Spherical iron ball. Black powder has been removed and cavity filled with wax. Naval water cap adapter has 2—inch square spanner slots with three small holes in .5—inch diam. center. Cannonball weight approximately 45 lbs.
Inscription: "ORD" engraved anchor symbol & "1862" on metal plate, 1 1/4" diam.
Notes:
Found in roadbed on 2nd St. in Douglas about 1/4 mile from cemetery about 8/79. Explosive powder was removed by U.S. Navy, 10—4—82. See file. This Civil War era cannonball may have been fired from the USS Jamestown, stationed at Fort Rockwell in Juneau in 1881, when the Navy was dispatched from Sitka to help establish a mining district after discovery of gold in 1880. When found, cannonball was filled w/ standard paper time fuse and power was still dry.
According to Terry Brenner, CBJ planner, 9/93, 2nd St was primarily graded w/ very little fill brought in. Therefore, this cannonball may have been here since it was fired.

Taken off exhibit in the Murray Gallery, 01/12/2008.
Search Terms:
Military
Federal
Navy