CurbdiggerCarl, Ace Detective

[curbdiggercarl57]

Found, what at the time I thought was a piece of scrap brass, and promptly threw it in the trash pouch. Later when I was separating all the junk, I noticed what appeared to be some etching or type of drawing. (It was really corroded) I realized that it was a printing plate, one larger than others I've dug. After cleaning, I started to see the outline of a building, with some sort of writing across the front. After scanning a few times to no avail, I figured I needed something to paint on it to see it better. Not having an ink pad, I settled for black shoe polish. After scanning again, I could make out most of the wording, which I thought at the time, was "The Uzzell Cold Cure Institute" Googling got me nowhere, except for several "Uzzells" in the Denver area. No "Cold Cure" except for patent remedies info. So I set it aside. A few days later, I was looking at the scan, and I realized that the word, Cold, was actually Gold. That got some some hits! The gold cure was a treatment for opium and alcoholics, where injections of gold chloride was administered to patients. Lovely. Went to the library, and got a little more info. Not the best find I've ever dug, but one with one of the most bizarre histories. Plus, the fact that I've bar tended for over twenty years, makes it a little more interesting to me. Hope I didn't bore you.

 

[cntrydncr1]

great, interesting find! Rather find that than a penny!

 

[mpostma]

Great Post Carl!
That is a cool find. I will agree far better than finding a memorial cent, or any clad coin!
Nice post.
Thank you,
Mark

 

[Mercury63]

Anytime you can find out interesting social history from what you excavate, you have found a real winner. mercury63

 

[starwarsblazer]

Excellent!

 

[Dman]

Great find. That's a different kind of cure. Great research.
Dman

 

[artemis moon]

That's an amazing find..an interesting bit of history. I wonder if the Gold Cure wasn't worse than the affliction though.

 

[Nana40]

Ironic, huh? That's a neat find! Wonder how that treatment worked out? :P Don't let Plah see this, he may confiscate it!

Nana

 

[PBK]

Sensational sleuthing, CDC!

 

[curbdiggercarl57]

Thanks. I had some really cool articles, but they were in some weird format that this site wouldn't accept. (They might be copyright protected) One was a article about some newspaperman that killed himself with morphine at the steps of the institute. Colorado is real good at putting reference material online, and if not, the main library is a treasure trove of info. Who knew?

 

[SWEATYSOCK]

the detective work is every bit as valuable as the find. well done,very interesting.

 

[kevo]

Very interesting! How old is it? I think things like this are neat...especially if you consider the people being treated

 

[ivan salis]

ah great bit of research work --with research skills like that--great places to detect should drop into your lap easily --- Ivan

 

[daytondigger]

That is a way cool find, congrats!!

 

[roceda]

Neat find. Great research and history lesson of your find. That is what makes this hobby interesting. You never know what might turn up. Ron.

 

[silverfreak]

Nice post Carl....excellent post

 

[kimsdad]

"Everyone who has gone out from the walls of this sanitarium has been a sober man, and has thus remained until this day."

You dig some of the coolest stuff, Carl! Nice find!!!

 

[allen]

id take a really neat find like that anyday...

 

[Pentico]

Dang cool find!
Denver is a fantastic place to hunt!
We will have to get out some time.
Congrats on the great finds!

Denver