Just another day in the Pits!

[jgas]

Hello again from the depths of Mother Earth. Went rummaging through the dirt again in search of some glass and came out with a few keepers. Dug 4 holes in this yard until we finally hit the actual privy. The first pit was a trash dump just 4 feet deep. The second was a full blown ash pit about 5 feet deep. The third was a full blown brick dump. Nothing but bricks and ash.

Then finally we hit the actual woodlined privy. Started pulling out some glass after about 3 feet. Grabbed up a couple beer bottles and some embossed medicines. A couple cryers in there too. A lot of broken stuff and I imagined that this pit was used for around 10 years by some of the stuff we were pulling out. A handful of milks and the usual broken plates, bowls and chamber pots. I knew I was nearing the end when a bennington marble came to light as well as a glass button and a ton of seeds. My buddies, who are fairly new to digging, were having a blast. It was good to see them get some keepers to start their collections. I hope to get out again soon if the weather holds up as it has done. Indian summer is great Hope you enjoy the pics. Until next time be safe out there. jgas

 

[diggin jimmy hoffa]

Once again some great finds from the depths of the Michiana soil Jgas

Bet you wished the Sloan's bottle still had some lineament in it after digging that many holes before locating the privy site.

DJH

 

[Mr.Jody]

nice..Just one small question, how did you determine where the privy was?Just wondering...

 

[allen]

looks like you guys had a great day !!
One question though, arent you afraid the
walls will collapse around you and be trapped ?

 

[jgas]

Mr. Jody and Allen and DJH thanks for the replies. The privies are usually fairly easy to find with a good spring steel probe. Just poke around all over the back yard(most likely where you would have put an outhouse) and you should be able to find them. As far as the collapsing in of the wall. Generally speaking the walls are pretty solid. We dig right up to the wooden wall area if there is one and don't go beyond that until the very end of the dig when we collapse them in on purpose. Looking for any "hangers" left in the walls on the way out. If you break thru the walls when you are deep you take the chance of a collapse. But we are very careful and we never dig alone.(unless of course its only a 4 footer) You would be amazed at how hard the soil is around the perimeter of the pits. Sometimes as hard as a rock.

DJH...I do need some pain meds after all that digging and probing...A long winter rest is coming I think Oh well, think spring jgas

 

[{Sentinel}]

Nice Hutch!

 

[halfdime]

In the high 60's here today and where was I? In a privy? NO! Sometimes housecleaning is a better idea (from the spouse's point of view) than privy digging, so I'll have to enjoy yours vicariously! Nice!

 

[ModernMiner]

Man, that looks like a lot of fun to me.
Do you ever use any Sanborn maps to locate the privies?
Great job guys. If you want to head down this way I have three Colonial privies for you to dig.
Nice job on the bottles,
MM

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Man, you guys really work hard for your glass rewards!
Congrats on your finds and here's to all your hard work

Cheers,
Dave

 

[pepperj]

Nice digging,
Made our first probe out of the spring steel from a old canvas tent rods. Still have it!

 

[Mr Tuff]

great looking glass!!!!!! MR TUFF

 

[dfx willy]

man you sure do alot of digging keep up the good work. willy

 

[spitfire55]

That type of activity doesn't look very safe.... Good luck and be extremely careful down in those holes

 

[jgas]

Thanks for the replies everyone,

Hey Modern, we just might have to take a road trip Hoping the northern winds and cold hold off for just one more dig jgas