Fort Anderson blows up pumpkins to raise money for site

BRUNSWICK TOWN, NC (WWAY) — Imagine blowing up your jack-o’-lantern? No, really! That’s what many did Saturday at the Fort Anderson Historic Site.

This was the first Great Pumpkin Blowout.

It’s an unique and explosive way to dispose your pumpkins implementing the same technology used back in the 1800s.

Site Manager Jim McKee says it is fun watching people’s reactions.

“We decided to do an educational program and have fun at the same time by blowing them up the same way that torpedoes or water mines and land mines were detonated during the Civil War,” McKee said.

The event is to raise money to rebuild a gun emplacement for a 32 pounder cannon.

Once that happens, they will use it during demonstrations.