Not sure what I found but it is kewl

[Jasonrr]

Hi, I been lurking awhile. I bought my first metal detector a few months ago. My grand parents are the last residents and owners of TN town that has been gone since the 50's. I been raised on stories of the former town. At one time in 1800's it had several stores, hotel, mill, jail, Woodmen of World building, Post Office, Mill, camp ground and several other businesses. Up till today I been just looking for foundation stones and getting rough outline. All buildings are gone. Last week I found the top of gravity pump (without my detector) go figure. Today found this. It about 7 feet long. I wondering if it is from the old jail or off one of the stores doors or could be both. It had the metal bans across the bottom and top I think or window bans. My camera phone stinks. Thanks for any feed back. Btw this was difficult dig.

 

[blugotti1]

I believe it's a cattle stop. farmer would put this in the ground instead up putting up a gate so they could just drive over it and cows would not walk over it.

 

[FloridaMike]

It looks like burglar bars to me. A cattle gap crossing has larger pieces, and are closer together.

 

[rick67]

Looking jail house to me.

 

[FamilyFun2010]

Not exact I know but close. Im gonna go with window bars. Probably ran vertical. The ends would have been set in the mortar or concrete.

 

[dig kzoo]

That is a cool find.

 

[Jasonrr]

I done some local research. I think they used them on a general store in 1930's but doesn't mean they didn't recycle them from the jail. I got get back out there. There has got to be coinage. 3 general stores was in this area with the last one closing in 1950 and the rough date on the jail closing is 1920.

Thank you all for responding.

Food for thought. It wasnt very easy to get out of the ground.

Also any advice on digging in sand wet ground would be appreciated