1782 Gristmill site

West Jersey Detecting · Mar 18, 2009

There is a little "Green Acres" land near my neighborhood. It is stuck between modern subdivisions. According to local records, there was a gristmill at the site built around 1782. Unfortunately the site has been hit very hard, long before I ever owned a metal detector. I was able to get a musket ball, and three buckles, two in the same hole. This brings my total to 5 from the site I have nicknamed "Bucklewood". One buckle is more modern, but the others are pre 1850.

It was a beautiful day to be out swinging even tho no copper was in the forecast. The picture is a nice stone wall made primarily of Jersey Sandstone. There is also a cellar hole of the same construction nearby.

fossis · Mar 18, 2009

I'ts nice that you have this area to visit, the 'old places' are all dissapearing little by little.

fossis..............

Luck Be a Lady · Mar 19, 2009

Great pictures, maybe you'll get lucky and find some more cool stuff there!

Gary in Pennsylvania · Mar 19, 2009

NEAT!

On my list of "Must Hunts" is a grist mill, a sawmill, and a tannery. They only date back to the 1860's though.

They were owned/operated by a pretty prominent businessman in my area. The locations are on private property (have been for a looooong time) and I have permission to hunt it! As far as the longstanding family owners know - it's never been MD-d. One of the mills still has an original building still standing (it has since been converted for use as a storage barn).

I'll post pics after I've hit it!

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seger98 · Mar 19, 2009

Nice photos, can I ask where you got that shovel from? Looks like it could cut through some heavy roots!

Gary in Pennsylvania · Mar 19, 2009

seger98 said:
.........can I ask where you got that shovel from? Looks like it could cut through some heavy roots!

Oh yeah - I was gonna ask the same thing but forgot.

What's the story on that shovel?

West Jersey Detecting · Mar 19, 2009

Gary in Pennsylvania said:
seger98 said:

.........can I ask where you got that shovel from? Looks like it could cut through some heavy roots!

Click to expand...

Oh yeah - I was gonna ask the same thing but forgot.

What's the story on that shovel?

I never go anywhere without my trusty Lesche "Relic Pro" Digging Tool. They are designed with metal detecting in mind. They are more money than hardware store cr*p, but well worth the investment.

Here is the link: http://www.predatortools.com/