Projo Offbeat Blog

How would you like this guy for a neighbor?

In Uniontown, Pa., which is about 35 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, a man characterized as a history buff accidentally fired a 2-pound cannonball through the wall of his neighbor's home, according to The Associated Press.

The ardent historian, William Maser, 54, told an area television station that he recreates 19th century cannons.

And apparently he's pretty good at it.

The cannonball reportedly ricocheted and hit a house 400 yards away, smashed through a window and a wall before landing in a closet, according to the AP report. Fortunately, nobody was hurt.

History buffs are an interesting bunch. Some of them enjoy dressing up like Revolutionary War or Civil War combatants and reenacting battles. But do you ever get the impression some of them wish they weren't just playing around?

If you're the kind of guy who thinks it's cool to dress up like, say, an actual Revolutionary War soldier from hat to boot, you'd have to think it's really cool to have a musket that actually shoots.

Maser's cannon did shoot, and he now faces charges brought by the state police. According to the AP report, he told the television station that he was sorry and would stop shooting cannonballs on his property.

That must be a relief to Maser's neighbors, who probably don't want the Battle of Gettysburg being fought again on their lawns, unless, of course, they're history buffs, too.

 Tags  Civil War Revolutionary War

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