Digging Colonial wells??

[X-Splenda]

i was walking around a old homesite i found buckles and stuff like that!!! i saw like 5 road sign's... i was like what's that?? i moved them off... and a big/huggest well i ever saw!!! it was like 30 ft down!!!! Later i found out it was a colonial community well The town had planned to digg it out. like 50 years ago... but they ran out of money..... and theres a huge rock wedged in the middle of the well....... and it had 2 iron bars on top of the well...... it is actually very stable...... and the rock is weged good in. and it is very passable..... it was trying to be dug out because it was a wishing welll..... and might be a chache..... it's on town property and a hisorical site... but it's in the middle of the woods. and i will bring 3 people with me... is it worth it and any ideas how to exvacate it??
Your ideas??

 

[X-Splenda]

the town put the street sign's on top that nobody will fall in.......
and im 35............
i am going nxt tuesday to plan evreything......
yes i am indeed going in......
you think a roll-up ladder would be good and better than a rope??
i am using a pulley and a few ropes...... teing the rope to a big tree.... and using the pulley to get the dirt up....

 

[irishmick]

IMO

Do what keeps you safe. Your family lives tomorrow with the choices you make today. So if you feel safe with what you described....

On the other hand, if you cringe looking at it, well then back up and rethink it.

But regardless of the ropes holding you I'd make sure that there is actually air down there to breath.

 

[X-Splenda]

i will bring a lighter and if it blows out i will exit the well.
i will have buy a fire excape ladder.... and use that instaead of a rope

 

[irishmick]

Really? Sorry I don't mean to be rude here, but you need to find some way to test the air down there without you having to strike the flint on a BIC.

I mean it almost sounds like you are going down without anyone up top and are planning on climbing a fire ladder down into the well and then striking a bic to see if it lights up.

if this thing really is 20-30 feet deep you are only inviting disaster... One slip on the ladder/rope and you're toast. I'd willing be lowered into an ancient wishing well also, but the key word is lowered, and I'd also make sure there was sufficient air down below also. There are plenty of TRUE stories about kids partying in old caves where the kids have died because they didn't understand stagnant air.

At least lower a candle or a bird. Optimally test the air AND bring someone else in to share the wealth and the risk.

 

[SteveDodds]

Just my two cents, isn't methane extremely flammable? Doesn't methane come from decomposing organic material? Ya might not wanna try the flame idea. Maybe I'm wrong.

I know where there is a well much like what you describe. I never even thought about going in it. And now that I have thought about it I still probably won't try it.

 

[diggemall]

Might be wise to provide the GPS coords of the well so that, if you don't post back here by Wednesday, someone can at least send someone out there to retrieve your body...............

YES. Methane is produced by decomposition AND it is heavier than air - it WILL collect in the bottom, and YES it is explosive. Oh yeah, AND it has no odor.

NO a rope or rope ladder is NOT a good idea. Making contact with the walls on the way down could very easily be all it takes to bring them crumbling down on top of you.

All that said, I look forward to your posts after you SAFELY investigate this one

Diggem'

 

[irishmick]

I'd also like to drool over the pictures of the loot you safely pull out ;o)

 

[Gilligan]

Yaw, methane go boom

 

[spartacus53]

That well does sound intriguing, but I would first search the land all around it to see what you come up with before you head into any well. That would keep you busy until you have a good plan and confirm it is safe to enter. Just a thought

 

[bravowhiskey]

X-plenda,

There are ways to do it safely and take no short cuts.

Job #1. Get the rock out first. Sounds like the proverbial "sword of Damacules"

I'm a retired phone man and have spent much time working in what we called the underground...that would be manholes. Not filled with sewage or stuff like that, just underground phone cables. We were required (by OSHA and company insurance types) to have a gas tester on site with a log showing testing every 15 minutes. Also a blower running continuously. This will provide fresh air. But you MUST test the hole prior to descent. Gas will accumulate at the bottom, if present, and you will most likely be unable to smell anything. Gas tester will tell if any type of gas is present. While some gas is not fatal by itself, nitrogen, for example, is not toxic or explosive, but will displace oxygen, and fatalities will result. none the less.
You may be able to borrow some of this equipment from an underground phone crew if you know the right guy and maybe do a little trading.
I'm not discouraging you, love adventure as much as the next guy, just do it safely.
Your family and friends will love you for it.
Let us know how it works out.

Best,
BW

 

[X-Splenda]

I am going to test the air by lighting a peice of paper like a torch and throwing it down if it blows up i will know it's methane... then i will blow the air out.... and i dont think methane is a problem becuse there minimal leaf build up.... becuse the road sighns are blocking any leaves from falling in for 10 yrs.......... and the rock will never come out... it's wedged in the well........ thats how the last exvacation was halted. hey tried to get the rock from the bottom of the well out of the well. but it got stuck in the middle/top... but possible to pass it.. i will have to buy a fire escape ladder first.... there's 2 steel bars already..... and very stable.... the walls of the well is bvery stable and perfectly stable. the exvacation will start with in 2 weeks. i am starting with peperation and trying to plan this the safest way possible.......

 

[truckinbutch]

I am going to test the air by lighting a peice of paper like a torch and throwing it down if it blows up i will know it's methane... then i will blow the air out.... and i dont think methane is a problem becuse there minimal leaf build up.... becuse the road sighns are blocking any leaves from falling in for 10 yrs.......... and the rock will never come out... it's wedged in the well........ thats how the last exvacation was halted. hey tried to get the rock from the bottom of the well out of the well. but it got stuck in the middle/top... but possible to pass it.. i will have to buy a fire escape ladder first.... there's 2 steel bars already..... and very stable.... the walls of the well is bvery stable and perfectly stable. the exvacation will start with in 2 weeks. i am starting with peperation and trying to plan this the safest way possible.......

Safest way possible .....NOOOOTTT! We been trying to tell ya and you continue to insist on doing it your way .
Luck to you . I've just touched on basic safety gleaned from more than 20 years underground mining experience that you choose to ignore 'cause you know better .

Tell your Momma to wash a new sheet for your wrapping before you leave for that well .

 

[X-Splenda]

Well you gotta try.....
well i will do it.. defintaly no doubt
there's no fun with out adventure
and maybe i can get rich
and never work
never know
at least find some cool coins and some relic's

 

[CanadianTrout]

Oh man, this outta be good.

Dude, people have asked for pics of the well and its structure; this will help them emmencely in ascertaining what it is excactly you face here. My first step would be to supply them gladly.

I don't have any experiance in what your planning here but I'd be dieing to go down there as well. I applaude you for that.

First thing I'd do is post here with description and ask for help. (which you did)

Second thing I'd do is head the advice given. To the letter. Supply pics and LISTEN to what people are telling you. (Which you didn't do)

That way, if successful, I'd live happily everafter and be able to send a little "token" of my gratitude to those here that helped. Your way sounds like your going to put your family in debt for a funeral and your little Johnny is going to grow up without a Daddy.

Which sounds better? Good luck.

 

[TimTrac]

Well be careful man. And not just you either. All these T'netters drooling on their keyboards might get shocked when they short out.

 

[Bubba65]

Sorry I have to reply to this. First thing is that he said it is town property and I am almost positive for insurance reasons alone no town will let it be done. The second thing is I dig privies along with good ole metal detecting. One of my sites belonged to an officier in the Revolutionary War and has the same type of well or it may be a privy. The only way I would excavate it is with my L39 Kubota Backhoe. I hope you get my points.

Happy Hunting,

Bubba65

 

[X-Splenda]

Thank's for all you tip's... and pictures will be gladly shown next time i visit the site. it's a far way from my house. those pics with defintaly come tuesday. i will take your ideas in consideration! how far you think i should dig if i do get down there.... and retrive the relic's

 

[Tnmountains]

As a kid climbed into the side of a mountain into an old flooded salt peter mine. We would feel the old mining tools with our feet and gulp some air and go down and grab the big drilling bits. We disturbed the sediment on the bottom and caused the gas to rise into the air we were breathing.
We were idiots looking back but at least I am looking back. We also repelled 3rd highest known underground waterfall but at this point we knew what we were doing,,,,,,
Have dug some wells each one is diffrent. Nothing is worth getting hurt over and having been there and done this it does not sound like you have the experience or equiptment to do this correctly.
* That rock installed could now be applying the pressure to the rim that holds the mouth open.
If I was you. I would be wanting knowledgable safe help and guidance.
Never climb,dive or spelunk alone. Nothing is worth getting hurt.
I can not imagine them giving permission for this venture with the plan I have seen.

 

[truckinbutch]

So come Wednesday or Thursday we are going to be posting "Yay great finds !" or
In memorium of .....

 

[NGE]

This post smells like a hoax to me, no pics, no brains. I would expect this "know -it -all" attitude from a teenager. This dude obviously has no friends or loved ones, a loner maybe, or just too skeptical to trust anyone. Or just paranoid........ anyways, if it is for real, good luck and follow the advise of what others have said in here........NGE