Is this part of an old well??

Minrelica · May 24, 2011

I was hunting a park yesterday and I stumbled on this in the woods. It was just off of a trail and there are some houses about 50-75 yards away. I intially thought it was part of a well but I figured I'd get a couple more opinions. THX! - WIT

savant365 · May 24, 2011

Could also be an old cistern.

http://www.texasescapes.com/EastTexasTowns/Phelps-Texas.htm

wstgo · May 24, 2011

is it concrete, red brick covered with cement or stone?

Minrelica · May 24, 2011

savant365 said:
Could also be an old cistern.

http://www.texasescapes.com/EastTexasTowns/Phelps-Texas.htm

Hmm, I think my photo is a bit of a different structure, unless some were built just circular with no square base.

wstgo said:
is it concrete, red brick covered with cement or stone?

I didn't really notice any red brick. It's all just "concrete color" and I believe the lower part was pieced together (if I'm remembering correctly)

I won't be back today but I guess I'll have to take another photo.

wstgo · May 24, 2011

would make a good fire pit 8)

steelheadwill · May 24, 2011

Have seen a square version like this that has a concrete cover, and is full of water on a property where an early 20th century home was located. I think it's a well, filled for safety reasons.

stefen · May 25, 2011

Could be any number of things ranging from a concrete ring (whose meaning is unknown) to a cistern (as mentioned), possibly a well that has been filled-in, maybe a septic tank (or connection to a leech field)...

First, give it the sniff test...at different depths...if it doesn't smell, then eliminate the septic system...

Use a probe bar or reinforcement rod (rebar) and probe into the earth...might hit trash...

Very curious though...

Bigcypresshunter · May 26, 2011

You didnt mention how big it is. Looks kinda small.
You dig down a bit and you may may find a valve.
Swing your detector over it.

Blind.In.Texas · May 26, 2011

bigcypresshunter said:
You didnt mention how big it is. Looks kinda small.
You dig down a bit and you may may find a valve.
Swing your detector over it.

Probably just an old man hole into a sewer or drain water system. If ound a bunch like that at the old Camp Logan in Houston. It's probably only about 6' deep.

ANTIQUARIAN · May 26, 2011

Blind.In.Texas said:
bigcypresshunter said:

You didnt mention how big it is. Looks kinda small.
You dig down a bit and you may may find a valve.
Swing your detector over it.

Click to expand...

Probably just an old man hole into a sewer or drain water system. If ound a bunch like that at the old Camp Logan in Houston. It's probably only about 6' deep.

This is what I was thinking also! :icon_thumright:

Dave

Minrelica · May 27, 2011

bigcypresshunter said:
You didnt mention how big it is. Looks kinda small.
You dig down a bit and you may may find a valve.
Swing your detector over it.

Sorry, It's roughly 3' across.

I put my coil in the middle of it at it went nuts. I only had my little gator digger with me at the time so I passed for the time being. I will return within the next few days, possible over this weekend and I'll take better pics and bring a better shovel.

JayV · May 27, 2011

My guess is that it's a manhole adjustment ring, also known as a grade ring. The dimensions are about right. See the diagrams in these pdf's:

http://www.concrete-pipe.org/pdfs1/DD_20.pdf

http://www.iowadot.gov/erl/current/RS/content_eng/sw301.pdf

Try probing around under the edge, it may be a filled and abandoned manhole or it may just be a discarded adjustment ring. It could very well have a ring of iron rebar in it which is causing the detector to react. Could be something else though. I'd certainly investigate.

Bigcypresshunter · May 29, 2011

Try discrimination on full.

littleneckhalfshell · May 29, 2011

to me the picture looks like the hole is oval, not round, but that could be an optical illusion from the angle of the picture. Just to toss in another possibility, a small fish pond or fountain pool base. My dad tells me that back in the great depression, people in his neighborhood would raise goldfish and trade them, it was an activity that did not take a lot of money to do. His dad had an outdoor fish pond for the fish in the summer time, I remember seeing the remains of it when I was a child when visiting my grandmother.