This is the iron base and sabot of an exploded Confederate 3” Smooth Read artillery shell. Condition is good for a “dug” relic. Iron has been cleaned and coated. Sabot shows ridges from riling grooves in cannon barrel. “Dimple” which is characteristic of Confederate production is prominent on shell base.

Recovered from the grounds of Fantasyland which was located on the east side of Taneytown Road at Gettysburg very near the location of the current NPS Visitors Center. Fantasyland was in business from 1959 to 1980. The area was subject to heavy bombardment from the Confederates in preparation for Pickett’s Charge on July 3, 1863.

This relic was recovered by local collector Ron Miller.

Ron Miller was born and raised in Gettysburg; he was a 1953 graduate of Gettysburg High School and a graduate of 1957 graduate of Shippensburg University. Ron served in the United States Army Reverse and was employed by the local school district mainly at the Keefauver Elementary School for 36 years, where most of the Small family children went to school when Ron was the principal.

Ron’s brother Edward or “Ed”, also of Gettysburg, was a very avid relic hunter in and around Gettysburg, amassing a large local relic collection of artifacts. Known to many local people in the collection community, his collection has been featured in many books about collecting. Ed’s interest in relic hunting became his brother Ron’s passion, and he also amassed a large Gettysburg collection. He hunted mainly on the First Day’s battlefield, west of town where he lived. Ron passed away in January 2006. His family retained the collection until recently when most of it was sold at public auction.  [jet]

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