Cannonball donated to Pewaukee Historical Society from 1850s presumed live

PEWAUKEE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee County Bomb Squad retrieved what is presumed to be a live cannonball from the Pewaukee Historical Society Wednesday, March 17.

A prior 2018 donor of a 12-lb. cannonball notified the museum that they had read an article in which a person was restoring a similar item and it exploded, killing them. The donor believed it was similar to their donated item and had safety concerns. 

The museum volunteer who took the call then located the donated cannonball on the second floor storage area and immediately called police. 

A responding officer photographed the item and forwarded it to the Milwaukee County Bomb Squad, who evacuated the area and retrieved the item. 

The bomb squad says the cannonball dates back to the 1850s and is in immaculate condition with an uncut Bormann time fuse, presumed live.

The bomb squad remains in possession of the cannonball to determine if it can be rendered safe and returned or if it needs to be destroyed.