1850s site, unusual phrase found

[MichaelB]

1850's site, unusual phrase found

On Sunday after church, my family will often get in the car and go exploring the backroads. I noticed a site on a 1850 map that listed a site as CLay City. I found what was left of it in some woods today. Some pictures are attached. It looks like a great site to search. The bricks that used to be the entrance have the following phrase: MORS JANUA VITAE which means, I think, Death is the gate of [everlasting] life. This was a site where bricks were made for buildings all over Mobile and Baldwin county.

I hope I can get the landowners permission to check it out. There is a home be built right in the middle of the brick remains.

MichaelB

 

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[Daniel964]

Re: 1850's site, unusual phrase found

Looks like that could be a nice location. You said it's on an 1850 map. Any idea how old it really is?


HH
Daniel

 

[newtocoinhunting]

Re: 1850's site, unusual phrase found

I would suspect that it produced pottery before (or after) producing bricks, given the pitcher ornament on the top of the one oven. I would also suspect that the phrase was added in more recent times, maybe it was a cemetary at one time and the phrase is giving notice of that.

If it is the same Clay City mentioned in this link it sounds like a perfect site to hunt and it would have military ties (possibly another reason for the MORS JANUA VITAE sign:
http://www.losttreasure.com/newsletter/5-20-2003/tale.html

Happy hunting!

 

[Southcacalaky]

Re: 1850's site, unusual phrase found

Looks like a great site to hunt. Hope you get permission and find some great artifacts, HH Art...

 

[birdman]

Re: 1850's site, unusual phrase found

Cool site Michael!! That place in Mobile ?

 

[MichaelB]

Re: 1850's site, unusual phrase found

Birdman, this is on the west side of fish river where the river is still a creek. It is off of CR 33 near Fairhope.

I never thought of a grave yard. I will need to go by the local library and see if they have anything about it.

There is another pottery place around the corner from this site so that makes sense.

MichaelB

 

[Smartin]

Re: 1850's site, unusual phrase found

Michaelb,
Very interesting site. It looks to have been kept-up ( not total ruins )? Good luck getting permission to hunt it.

Smartin

 

[civilman1]

Re: 1850's site, unusual phrase found

Good luck MB....Hope you find what this place is and permissable you can at least hunt some of the area.Best of luck and HH!!

 

[muddyknees]

Re: 1850's site, unusual phrase found

Looks like a great site hope you get permisson keep us posted.
muddyknees

 

[Nana40]

Re: 1850's site, unusual phrase found

That is neat! My dad grew up in Mobile...I'll ask him if he knows anything about it.

Good luck to ya!

 

[mchamby]

Re: 1850's site, unusual phrase found

Neat site Nana, I hope you are able to get perm. I need to find some old maps of where I live but so far I haven't found any. HH
Mchamby

 

[Bavaria Mike]

Re: 1850's site, unusual phrase found

Great site, good luck! HH, Mike

 

[diveguide]

Re: 1850's site, unusual phrase found

They made bricks here called Clay City Tiles. It is a good place to find old bottles but not much else.