Things are sort of slow around here so...
BentFork
Posts: 829
I thought I tell a metal detecting war story.
Many moons ago, in the late 60's when my dad and I were using an old White's "Blue Box", we used to hunt the old homesteads around the part of Northeast Texas where he was raised. My dad was an adult during the depression and he knew some very colorful people. I can remember when I was a kid, the old guys would sit around the pot bellied stove at the feed store telling yarns. During the summer they'd all play dominoes at the local domino hall. Anyway, my dad either knew first hand where the old homesteads, one room schoolhouses, and saw mills used to be, or he knew someone that could tell us where they were and where possible treasures could be found.
On one such outing we found what was left of an old homestead. It was probably homesteaded in the late 1860s - no later than early 1880s from what one of the old goats told us. About all that remained of it was the roof and it was about to fall down during the next good wind storm. For a long time we detected around the place and found the usual. Old nails and such. Nothing really what you would call treasure back then. Right before we left my dad decided to do a quick scan of the inside - or what was left that could be called inside. These were dirt floored houses and over many years when occupied, the dirt was packed down from walking. Inside the dirt was still showing in a lot of places. Grass had not yet entirely invaded because the roof had held up for so long and deprived the ground of rain and sunshine. An old cooking pot was laying on the floor. A couple sticks of firewood were still near what had been the fireplace. When we were just about to quit the old blue box gave a yell. Down in the hard packed dirt we found our only real treasure for the day. And I still have it. What we found was an 1848 large cent. For it's age and being in the dirt for so long it's surprising that it was in such good shape. The only reason can be that the roof had held up and the elements had been sheltered from it. Once we got it home we used a little liquid dish soap and water and here's how it looks today. BTW, this is the only large cent I've found in many years of hunting. Can't complain considering the condition.
Hope you enjoyed.
G Man
Many moons ago, in the late 60's when my dad and I were using an old White's "Blue Box", we used to hunt the old homesteads around the part of Northeast Texas where he was raised. My dad was an adult during the depression and he knew some very colorful people. I can remember when I was a kid, the old guys would sit around the pot bellied stove at the feed store telling yarns. During the summer they'd all play dominoes at the local domino hall. Anyway, my dad either knew first hand where the old homesteads, one room schoolhouses, and saw mills used to be, or he knew someone that could tell us where they were and where possible treasures could be found.
On one such outing we found what was left of an old homestead. It was probably homesteaded in the late 1860s - no later than early 1880s from what one of the old goats told us. About all that remained of it was the roof and it was about to fall down during the next good wind storm. For a long time we detected around the place and found the usual. Old nails and such. Nothing really what you would call treasure back then. Right before we left my dad decided to do a quick scan of the inside - or what was left that could be called inside. These were dirt floored houses and over many years when occupied, the dirt was packed down from walking. Inside the dirt was still showing in a lot of places. Grass had not yet entirely invaded because the roof had held up for so long and deprived the ground of rain and sunshine. An old cooking pot was laying on the floor. A couple sticks of firewood were still near what had been the fireplace. When we were just about to quit the old blue box gave a yell. Down in the hard packed dirt we found our only real treasure for the day. And I still have it. What we found was an 1848 large cent. For it's age and being in the dirt for so long it's surprising that it was in such good shape. The only reason can be that the roof had held up and the elements had been sheltered from it. Once we got it home we used a little liquid dish soap and water and here's how it looks today. BTW, this is the only large cent I've found in many years of hunting. Can't complain considering the condition.
Hope you enjoyed.
G Man
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To tell the truth, remembering the stories the "old goats" used to tell brings a bigger smile than the coin. One such story is about the time the Red River (in Texas mind you) flooded out all the cotton fields. One year supposedly (circa late 1910s), the Red River was so swollen from rains in the spring that the entire cotton crop in the area was lost. The Red was known for that until Lake Texoma was created. The next year the same thing happened. So the farmers in the area decided from then on the best thing to do was plant peanuts instead. The old fellow that was telling this story was probably going on 80 years old and probably picked more cotton by hand than with a machine.
As a side note - that old homestead I mentioned in the story is long gone. I know where it was, but now it is all plowed over - no trees around anymore and with sorghum growing on it.
G Man
Lived in NYC and right on 3 Ave. and 68th Street ;-) Lots of "grates" to drop a line.
Never did keep the goods :-(
Kind of like this guy: Grate Fishing
Jerry
<< <i>As a kid, I was a "subway grate fisherman" =hunting for coins! >>
I love it!
G.
The weather here in Maine is finally turning into Spring. The grass is green, the lilacs are in bloom and the hay is growing very nicely. Most days are in the mid 50's to high 60's, with the evenings still perfect sleeping temps in the 40's.
As these days have gotten warm & sunny, I've made a promise to myself to replace that detector before July. Let's see if I'm as good keeping my word to myself as I am to others.
Just got back from a trip to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The resorts are carved out of the jungles along the ocean lines. Gorgeous!!! Cat-a-nines that are at least 18 feet tall and bamboo stalks as thick as any pine trees we have here in Maine. I was craning my neck to see of the tops of them! I never knew bamboo could be a tree, complete with leaves and flowers!! It was hot & humid beyond belief, my Maine blood was near boiling point within an hour of the plane landing. Had a very relaxing vacation though, no complaints here.
It's almost time to break out the tent and sleeping bags, can't wait!! I was up to Moosehead, last weekend. There's still snow up there. Brrrrrrr I'm heading back up over Memorial Day weekend. I should get busy and buy a dectector before I go, my friend has a camp that has never been hunted. Could be lots of goodies up there!
I'll let you, and everyone else, know if I do and what I find. -Mary
<FONT face=Verdana>Looking to buy metal detector</FONT>
Good Luck
Jerry
Sounds like you had fun on your trip. The wife and I went to Jamaica many years ago and experienced exactly what you did. It didn't take long before I started looking for something cold. Like coconut milk and rum!
Yep, you need to get a detector. The Ace 250 like Jerry suggested and the Prizm are good machines. Just do it!
Later...