halfdime
Silver Member
I've been dyin'! Old Farmhouse finds
About ten days ago, a pre-1850 farmhouse fell into my lap (well, not literally). A few weeks back, I asked one of the ladies I do work for if I could detect her yard; she said sure, but that her husband had done it a lot when he was living. Two weeks ago, she called and wanted to introduce me to her son, who is renovating an old barn into his house. He already lives in the lower level and is doing spectacular things with the upper (I got the tour). He told me a little about his property, and I realized that most of it had been badly disrupted; anything old would have been either churned up or covered. I noticed an old brick farmhouse just across the road, and asked if that had gone with the barn at one time. Yes it had, but it wasn't his; the owner was selling and had moved into town (where I live). I knew that's where I really wanted to be! Shortly afterward, the son's wife came out and was chatting; again, the subject of the farmhouse came up. She told me to just go over there, and she'd call the owners. If it wasn't okay, she'd call me back over. I went over, the call was made and all the owner wanted was to see what I found. He's the President of the local Historical Society there (settled about two hundred years), and he knew that I'd probably find something of interest
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I got in a couple hours the Saturday before Thanksgiving (the day TNet went down, I believe), and had success. I found two war nickels, each one paired in a hole with a wheat and a 1952D Franklin Half (just my 3rd); it's been a while since I found a half, so I was very pleased! The Franklin came out of the hole just as a full moon was rising and night was upon me. I called the property owner that night and told him what I'd found so far, and the talk turned to possibly digging the old privy or privies. He thought he knew where one may have been, but is a little cautious; he thinks he has a serious buyer looking at the property. On the other hand, he knew a guy who dug privies in the past, and is very aware of the goodies that might be there. I have a feeling his historical interest will win out. Using PennPilot, I found an aerial photo from 1938 and I know where the privy was then (just a few feet north of where he thinks it was). Anyway, I went back Sunday and took my radio. While listening to the Steeler game, I had another good day, starting with a 47 Rosey. After a few more wheats and some more modern coins, the find of the day appeared: a 1902 Barber quarter. Been awhile since one of those appeared for me, so I was again quite pleased. The Steelers won, darkness fell and I made plans to return another day (and still hadn't found any 19th century coins). Wednesday was the day, and the first signal was an 1880 Indian head penny. I think I also found an 09 wheat that day. Went til dark again, then didn't get back out until yesterday. With my radio in tow, I listened again as the Steelers eeked out a 19-16 victory; minutes later, I found a 1916 Barber dime. I wish they'd won 18-16!
In a small area, near that Barber, I pulled another war nickel and then a very nice 09VDB; the soil is very kind there to older wheats. I've pulled some interesting relics, including one I'll post that has patent dates of June 27, 1871 and Feb 3, 1874. One hole also had a clay marble in it. My suspicions about the farmhouse were correct!
About ten days ago, a pre-1850 farmhouse fell into my lap (well, not literally). A few weeks back, I asked one of the ladies I do work for if I could detect her yard; she said sure, but that her husband had done it a lot when he was living. Two weeks ago, she called and wanted to introduce me to her son, who is renovating an old barn into his house. He already lives in the lower level and is doing spectacular things with the upper (I got the tour). He told me a little about his property, and I realized that most of it had been badly disrupted; anything old would have been either churned up or covered. I noticed an old brick farmhouse just across the road, and asked if that had gone with the barn at one time. Yes it had, but it wasn't his; the owner was selling and had moved into town (where I live). I knew that's where I really wanted to be! Shortly afterward, the son's wife came out and was chatting; again, the subject of the farmhouse came up. She told me to just go over there, and she'd call the owners. If it wasn't okay, she'd call me back over. I went over, the call was made and all the owner wanted was to see what I found. He's the President of the local Historical Society there (settled about two hundred years), and he knew that I'd probably find something of interest
.I got in a couple hours the Saturday before Thanksgiving (the day TNet went down, I believe), and had success. I found two war nickels, each one paired in a hole with a wheat and a 1952D Franklin Half (just my 3rd); it's been a while since I found a half, so I was very pleased! The Franklin came out of the hole just as a full moon was rising and night was upon me. I called the property owner that night and told him what I'd found so far, and the talk turned to possibly digging the old privy or privies. He thought he knew where one may have been, but is a little cautious; he thinks he has a serious buyer looking at the property. On the other hand, he knew a guy who dug privies in the past, and is very aware of the goodies that might be there. I have a feeling his historical interest will win out. Using PennPilot, I found an aerial photo from 1938 and I know where the privy was then (just a few feet north of where he thinks it was). Anyway, I went back Sunday and took my radio. While listening to the Steeler game, I had another good day, starting with a 47 Rosey. After a few more wheats and some more modern coins, the find of the day appeared: a 1902 Barber quarter. Been awhile since one of those appeared for me, so I was again quite pleased. The Steelers won, darkness fell and I made plans to return another day (and still hadn't found any 19th century coins). Wednesday was the day, and the first signal was an 1880 Indian head penny. I think I also found an 09 wheat that day. Went til dark again, then didn't get back out until yesterday. With my radio in tow, I listened again as the Steelers eeked out a 19-16 victory; minutes later, I found a 1916 Barber dime. I wish they'd won 18-16!
In a small area, near that Barber, I pulled another war nickel and then a very nice 09VDB; the soil is very kind there to older wheats. I've pulled some interesting relics, including one I'll post that has patent dates of June 27, 1871 and Feb 3, 1874. One hole also had a clay marble in it. My suspicions about the farmhouse were correct!
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). Now if only I can get into the privy there...
