Old Explosive Device Found at Fort Adams

NEWPORT, RI—An important monument to America's military history is a fitting place for the discovery of an old weapon.

That's what happened on Thursday at Fort Adams State Park in Newport when an old explosive device was discovered in the ground by a visitor, according to Newport Fire Chief Peter D. Connerton.

The object, described by the fire chief as a "very old type of munition," was eventually taken from the scene by Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians who made sure the device was rendered safe.

Newport police and firefighters along with state and federal authorities responded to the scene after the device was discovered.

The device looked like some type of hand deployed bomb or grenade, official said.

With a stunning vantage point looking out to Narragansett Bay, Fort Adams has been an important lookout as far back as pre-Revolution times.

The coastal fortification's current form was built in the 1800s and has served a role in numerous wars and conflicts, World Wars I an II when it served roles in coastal defense and training.