1709 House Hunt

[West Jersey Detecting]

I finally had the opportunity to detect at the site of this house, which was built in 1709. The house is located in a park in a rough neighborhood in Camden, NJ., so Elad and I arrived at 6 AM before the crackheads took to the park. I was disgusted to find the house (which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places) in it's current condition.

We were obviously not the first to detect there. All I was able to find was the Sterling ring and a lot of modern coinage and tons of trash. We moved to another park after the locals started moving about, which was making us both feel a bit uncomfortable.

We decided to check out a nearby park in a slightly better neighborhood. Once again the modern coins were flowing, I found my first Sacagawea Dollar coin, and a 1917 Wheatie. All the coins were very deep at this park. Dimes from the '80's were 7 inches deep. I may need to get back there with my Super 12 coil to see if there is deepsilver.

In all my total haul for the day was $4.36 in modern coinage. Not a great day detecting, but it was a beautiful morning to be out just the same!

 

[chuckbordell]

This is something I've wondered about for a while. If a location is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites, doesn't that mean it's off limits for metal detecting? I may be completely wrong, I just have never read the actual rules and regs about this. This is not an accusation of Neil, please don't take it that way - I just need fill in some info on this.

Chuck

 

[pennyfarmer]

If a location is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites, doesn't that mean it's off limits for metal detecting?
Chuck

That designation does not afford it any special protection. Now if a place is on public land owned by the government then they can place special protections on it. I believe the National Register of Historic Sites is just that a list of places of historical significance, both public and private.

I could be wrong, wouldn't be the first time.

 

[MonkeyBoy]

I arrived at 6 AM before the crackheads took to the park. I was disgusted to find the house (which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places) in it's current condition.

the locals started moving about, which was making us both feel a bit uncomfortable.

a nearby park in a slightly better neighborhood. Once again the modern coins were flowing Dimes from the '80's were 7 inches deep.

You started out so excitingly!

yeah.. he lost me at crackheads!! ;-)

 

[MonkeyBoy]

I finally had the opportunity to detect at the site of this house, which was built in 1709. The house is located in a park in a rough neighborhood in Camden, NJ., so Elad and I arrived at 6 AM before the crackheads took to the park. I was disgusted to find the house (which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places) in it's current condition.

We were obviously not the first to detect there. All I was able to find was the Sterling ring and a lot of modern coinage and tons of trash. We moved to another park after the locals started moving about, which was making us both feel a bit uncomfortable.

We decided to check out a nearby park in a slightly better neighborhood. Once again the modern coins were flowing, I found my first Sacagawea Dollar coin, and a 1917 Wheatie. All the coins were very deep at this park. Dimes from the '80's were 7 inches deep. I may need to get back there with my Super 12 coil to see if there is deep silver.

In all my total haul for the day was $4.36 in modern coinage. Not a great day detecting, but it was a beautiful morning to be out just the same!

That is a shame the house is that bad...

MonkeyBoy

 

[crazyjarhead]

Nice ring. Don't let the crack heads rob you

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

This is something I've wondered about for a while. If a location is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites, doesn't that mean it's off limits for metal detecting? I may be completely wrong, I just have never read the actual rules and regs about this. This is not an accusation of Neil, please don't take it that way - I just need fill in some info on this.

Chuck

Chuck,

You actually raised a very good point! Had I known that it was on the Register beforehand, I would not have even attempted to detect there, but I was not aware it was listed until I read up on the spot after I detected there. Technically, I do not think there is any law against it, as many of the listed registered places are private residences. If you saw the condition of this place, you would agree that metal detecting is the least of the problems. It is only a matter of time before nothing remains except a pile of rubble. I am showing a few more views of the ruins and of the neighborhood. The first three are of the mansion, the fourth is of the row homes across the street.

This morning I wrote a letter to the Camden County Parks supervisor and the historic society telling them how disgusted I am to see our local history neglected like this. Joseph Cooper was the son of Benjamin Cooper, one of the founding fathers of the first colonies in the area. We happen to pay some of the highest taxes in the nation, with little to show in return!

 

[RUDY2003]

Sad to see the condition of those houses.

Keep safe...

 

[Nana40]

OH Wow! Such a shame it wasn't kept. Beautiful place back in the day.

I couldn't imagine being able to hunt sites from the 1700's. Congrats on your finds!

Nana

 

[chuckbordell]

Thanks Neil, you're right about that house being destroyed. What a shame. I love how it looks in the old postcard painting.

And i believe you're right about the Historic Register thing - I see a lot of private homes with those markers on them.

Chuck

 

[Formula1BMW]

Nice ring. Hey, you could have given the crackheads a few coins...and made them do the digging for you!!

 

[Detectingfreak]

nice job on the silver ring!

 

[Urban Grund]

I love that ring!

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Here is a "then and now" comaprison between last sunday and a photo from 1936

 

[treasurefiend]

Man the sucks!!!!! Yea you got to watchout for those crackheads, they will rob you for a dollar, or even worse!!!!

 

[romeo-1]

Oh man...what a shame!

 

[pjroo33]

That house was beautiful. It totally disgusts me to see how people can treat something so historically valuable. Although, from the looks of the homes across the street, it looks like nothing in the area is being treated very well. What a difference 70 years can make. Very Sad. It looks like a scary place to be hanging out but a nice place to find relics.

If you go back, watch out for syringes. Wouldn't be surprised to find some there.