Found a Horse Harness, 5 Buckles and a Cannon!

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Hello Friends,

I did some research of old maps at my local library over the winter and located an old hotel site. This hotel was probably built sometime in the late 1840's. The hotel was later moved from the site sometime after 1900 whe the highway was pushed north of town.

I started the day at the front of the property closest to the highway, finding nothing but 1950's - 60's coins I slowly detected my way towards the back part of the property. This is when at a depth of 5" I found my first harness buckle, then another and another, well you get the idea! By the time I was done I had 5 buckles and number of small brass decoration buttons still attached to the leather! Then in the same hole I found my first large (2.25"w) horse rosette, it's not decorated or pretty but I'll take it. All of this stuff was found in the same hole that I eventually expanded to a size of 1.5' x 1.5'. Another hour passed without finding much of interest, until I got a solid '66' at 8" on my AT Pro and I thought, "well it's solid, lets see what it is"? Out of the ground came this small cannon! It measures 3 1/8" long x 1/2" wide. It wasn't until I got it home and cleaned it up that I was able to see the amazing detail in the casting of this piece! I'm not sure what it's made of though, maybe someone out there can help me with this? I have know idea how old this is but I would guess somewhere in the mid-1800's?

Thanks very much for looking and best of luck to everyone!
Dave

The Brougham Central Hotel – Originally sat on north side of Main Street

The original Hotel had three documented moves from its historic site; the realignment of Brock Road; the similarity in names between the Brougham Central Hotel and the Brougham Hotel. By 1851, the Hotel already contained ‘good stabling for horses’ and a room large enough to host “an evening concert at brother Woodruffs’ Temperance Inn” which capped off the Temperance Soiree of May 15, 1851.

On May 27, 1851 James Woodruff placed this ‘ad’ in The Literary Gem.

“Brougham Temperance House Bentley’s Corners Pickering James Woodruff respectfully informs the traveling public and the friends of Temperance that he has opened his house for their accommodation on strictly Temperance principles. He will try to please all who may give him a call with good Board, Beds and Cheer of all kinds, except spirituous liquors and Drinks that intoxicate, which are forever banished from his house. Good stabling for horses.”

The use of the term ‘house’ for the hotel, a traditional British synonym for Inn, has its roots in that the early inns and taverns were often originally simply domestic homes, which, due to strategic location became convenient stopovers for travelers and were thus occasionally opened to the public.

 

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[ANTIQUARIAN]

UK Finds Database - - - UKDFD

The cannon is one of the best finds I have seen you post. They have a history from about 1770s to 1900ish. If I had to pick, I would say yours was 1800 give or take 10 years. Very nice piece, that used to be able to fire! (more a gentlemen's toy, table piece/talking point than a kid's unless they were spoilt)

Rest of what? They mostly had a wooden carriage, its only missing 1 pivet pin on 1 side, thats it.

Thank you very much for the information on this piece Cru! 1790 - 1810 Wow!!!
I seriously only thought this was a kids toy when I found it, boy was I wrong!

I don't think I'll be trying to fire it anytime soon though!
Thanks again for your help here mate,
Dave

 

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[ANTIQUARIAN]

Great Cannon...only ever had one, not as nice will look good in the display case.

SS

Thanks for your kind words SS!
I would love to see what yours looks like?

Dave

 

[Diggit]

whoops.. nevermind!

 

[romeo-1]

I hate you a little bit...a toy cannon is one of those targets that keeps evading my coil!

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

I hate you a little bit...a toy cannon is one of those targets that keeps evading my coil!

Thanks very much Patrick.

Dave

 

[Toecutter]

Wow that is cool!!

 

[Aureus]

Great and very well written post as usual. Those little cannons are on my list. Congratulations!

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Wow that is cool!!

Thank you Toecutter.

Great and very well written post as usual. Those little cannons are on my list. Congratulations!

Thanks for your post Anton, this was found a very long time ago.

Hope you're having another great year!
Dave

 

[islamoradamark]

That cannon is a really cool find, it may be possible its bigger brother could be near by

 

[Hawks88]

Nice canon save Dave. Congrats. Nice job on the clean up. Looks great.

 

[Aureus]

Thanks for your post Anton, this was found a very long time ago.

Hope you're having another great year!
Dave

Lol. Just noticed it's a post from 2012. Haven't had the chance to congratulate you back then, in fact I started detecting only in 2015 Better later than never. Again, a great post!

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

That cannon is a really cool find, it may be possible its bigger brother could be near by

Thanks very much for your post and for sharing your theory Mark.

Best of luck to you,
Dave

Nice canon save Dave. Congrats. Nice job on the clean up. Looks great.

Thank you Hawks.
I made this find a while ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday.

Next week, I'm working in the Brantford & Niagara Region for a few days, hope to get a couple of farm permissions while I'm there.
Dave

Lol. Just noticed it's a post from 2012. Haven't had the chance to congratulate you back then, in fact I started detecting only in 2015 Better later than never. Again, a great post!

Thanks very much Anton.
I only started detecting in 2011, so this was an exciting find for me back then.
Looking back on some of the amazing finds you've made in the past 4 years, I would've thought that you'd been detecting for at least 20 years!

Thanks again for your post,
Dave

 

[A2coins]

That cannon is freaking awesome hope you restore it. Well done my friend. Tommy

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

That cannon is freaking awesome hope you restore it. Well done my friend. Tommy

Thanks for your post Tommy.
I ended up sending it to a buddy in Delaware who helped me a lot with advice when I first started detecting.

Dave

 

[RVRoamer73]

Great research has paid off once again for you. A super hunt and great finds. I Congratulate you!

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Great research has paid off once again for you. A super hunt and great finds. I Congratulate you!

Thanks for your post Patriot.
Research is always the key to making finds, I got lucky at this site as it's been changed a lot through progress and development.

Hope you're having a good year in GA,
Dave

 

[smallfoot]

This is the result of fine research! Good on ya! The history that we find doing research is almost as fun. At least we can do it when not busy detecting. Love that cannon and it deserves it's own display! Go hit it again and again...you're not done yet. I think you located the stable or barn area with all the horse tack. That pulley may have been for a well or cistern.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

This is the result of fine research! Good on ya! The history that we find doing research is almost as fun. At least we can do it when not busy detecting. Love that cannon and it deserves it's own display! Go hit it again and again...you're not done yet. I think you located the stable or barn area with all the horse tack. That pulley may have been for a well or cistern.

Thank you for your post smallfoot. I think you're correct in your assumption that I was near a barn or a stable when I found the harness pieces. The hotel was taken down when the road was expanded years ago, the cannon was found closer to the 'front' of the property. The brass pulley is pretty small, I've always assumed that it was from a child's toy .

Best of luck to you in Florida with Dorian approaching,
Dave