Published: April 24, 2008 10:53 am            

Artillery shell causes commotion

PELHAM, N.H. — It turned out to be an innocent inquiry, police said, but when a Pelham man pulled up to the fire station with a 22-inch artillery shell in the passenger's seat of his van, things became a little tense.



Police evacuated the fire station and closed a busy downtown street Wednesday afternoon after a resident brought a World War II era naval artillery round to the station to find out how to safely dispose of it.



A state police bomb squad later determined that the shell did not represent a threat to public safety, and took it away. But not before the center of town was crowded with police, cruisers and, at a safe distance, curious onlookers.



Fire Chief Michael Walker said the man did not harbor any ill will, and was embarrassed by the whole situation. The shell had been at his home for a long time, and he chose Wednesday to cart it away and ask fire officials how to get rid of it.



Pelham fire Lt. James Midgley took no chances when he saw the shell, reporting it to the fire chief and police. Police Chief Joseph Roark said then notified the state police bomb squad. About five state troopers, including two bomb squad members, responded.



State police Sgt. Andrew Parsons, a member of the bomb squad, donned a helmet and shield and light protective gear, but quickly determined that the shell presented no threat, Roark said.



Walker said that in hindsight, the response - a two-hour ordeal - could be characterized as much ado about nothing, but the authorities don't have the benefit of hindsight.



Roark agreed. "We are not in the business of taking chances," he said.



Walker, a Navy veteran, said the round was the type fired from destroyers in World War II. He said an exploded shell would have enough force to blow up the fire station.



In the future, Roark asked that anyone looking to dispose of old, unknown ammunition should call authorities first instead of moving the items themselves.



Terry Date writes for The Eagle-Tribune in North Andover, Mass.

        

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