Black Powder Exploded at the Skowhegan History House

Skowhegan History House Museum & Research Center serves as the repository of one of Maine’s largest collections of Civil War Memorabilia belonging to a native son.  The personal effects of Lt. Alexander Crawford, Jr. including the personal articles that he used while he served in the 21^st and 31^st Maine, his uniform, love letters, pin-ups, and weaponry make up a featured exhibit entitled “Our Connections with the Civil War.”  Two Civil War era rifled musket cartridges on display in the exhibit caught the eye of Mr. Ronald Harvey, an expert in the field of museum conservation, during a recent Conservation Assessment Program site visit.

            Mr. Harvey informed the Curator and the Director that black powder tends to become more volatile as it ages, and since the cartridges were probably some 150 years old, the museum should remove and dispose of the black powder as a safety precaution.

            Museum Director Melvin Burnham contacted Shawn Howard of the Skowhegan Fire Department and together they created a plan for removing and disposing of the old powder. The plan had to insure the safety of those handling the cartridges during the removal and disposal as well as the conservation of the paper cartridges themselves, for they are very important to the story of the period and the exhibit.  Mr. Howard consulted with the Maine Fire Marshall as well as completing extensive research with black powder experts in helping to formulate a plan.

            After discussing and practicing the steps in the well thought out plan, Curator Mr. Lee Granville volunteered to remove the cartridges to a table outside on the Museum’s grounds.  Under constant observation and with safety equipment at the ready, Mr. Granville used wooden skewers with pointed ends to poke small holes into the paper cartridges just next to the lead mini balls. After a few attempts he successfully pierced the paper and sprinkled the black powder out of the cartridge into a collection container.  When both cartridges passed the inspection of the Fire Department, they were taken back into the museum and replaced in the secure exhibit case.

            Fireman Howard used newspaper to create a trough for the black powder on the tar beside the road.  When the area was secure and safety equipment in place, he ignited the paper and the 150 year old explosive blew up into a puff of smoke.  Those witnessing the event were amazed that the 150 year old powder still had that kind of explosive power.

            The featured exhibit, “Connections with the Civil War” remains on exhibit at the Skowhegan History House Museum & Research Center, 66 Elm Street, Skowhegan, ME.  The museum is open Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.  The public is welcome.