Old Mill Site Hunt

[Gilligan]

Today I went out with my 3 boys to hunt an old mill site way back in the woods, I am sure it is a virgin site. I found a hoe at about 1 foot deep adjacent to the site, which is a good sign. There are no signs of the mill, besides a few stones across the creek. The property owner told me that the old mill stood there. The hoe is a good sign, isn't it? Has anyone else searched an old mill site like this before with success? Bryan

 

[Gilligan]

2 more Mill Site Hunt pics

A couple more pics from the hunt

 

[Roger Mn.]

Looks like a good place to hunt. I haven't had much luck by the streams because they flood over the banks and coins my be deep. If there is a small hill or large hill nearby i would give it a try. I would check around all the trees. I can see it's gonna be an expensive hobby for you with all the boys.Good luck.Hope you fine some good coins.

 

[topdog]

Looks like a terrific site to hunt, wishing you continued success on your finds at this mill site.

 

[watercolor]

Looks like a good place to hunt. I haven't had much luck by the streams because they flood over the banks and coins my be deep. If there is a small hill or large hill nearby i would give it a try. I would check around all the trees. I can see it's gonna be an expensive hobby for you with all the boys.Good luck.Hope you fine some good coins.

Sound advice.

As an additional thought, you might also try the local historical society or library to see if they have any vintage maps & info of this area that may confirm the mill's location & activity. "Hand-me-down" info from a current property owner sometimes has a way of becoming embellished over generations. . . just a thought.

Good luck!

 

[civilman1]

Cool pic with the boy's comisoas....The hoe is definetley a good sign.If the exact locale is right than I would probably back off the creek a little due to the erosion and sediment build up.Like watercolor said,see if you can bring any old picture's or info up on the place and take it from there.Some of your better find's might be back off the creek.Good Luck......good to see your helper's in the game as well!!

 

[Gilligan]

Cool pic with the boy's comisoas....The hoe is definetley a good sign.If the exact locale is right than I would probably back off the creek a little due to the erosion and sediment build up.Like watercolor said,see if you can bring any old picture's or info up on the place and take it from there.Some of your better find's might be back off the creek.Good Luck......good to see your helper's in the game as well!!

Look at the pic of the creek and the rocks crossing it. Behind me (I should have taken a pic) is the washout area, I found the hoe above the washout area. Please observe the diagram. Any comments would be apprecieated. I researched the site prior, and have found no pics of the site, but lots of references and comments from the landowner that this is the site.

 

[Gilligan]

Cool pic with the boy's comisoas....The hoe is definetley a good sign.If the exact locale is right than I would probably back off the creek a little due to the erosion and sediment build up.Like watercolor said,see if you can bring any old picture's or info up on the place and take it from there.Some of your better find's might be back off the creek.Good Luck......good to see your helper's in the game as well!!

Look at the pic of the creek and the rocks crossing it. Behind me (I should have taken a pic) is the washout area, I found the hoe above the washout area. Please observe the diagram. Any comments would be apprecieated. I researched the site prior, and have found no pics of the site, but lots of references and comments from the landowner that this is the site.

The round black circle at the end of the rocks in the creek, is a small island which water flows around the backside.

 

[EDDE]

i beleive "the hoe" is a adz

 

[Gypsy Heart]

What type of mill was it? A saw mill for the property owner or what? You have to dig into the history to know how many folks used this area and if there were other homesteaders etc there. Have you found any foundations? Stacked rocks / follow the bank a bit and see if you can find any refuse dump....old bottles crocks etc....get those boys busy ...Hahaha

If it was a water operated mill...then look at the flow and speed of the water right there and then look where it calms right down....in the calm part is where they would have kept floating logs....

If you found that adze...thats a really good sign and there has to be more...old horse tack ,shoes,blades,axes,......if it was a private mill where there was little traffic you probally need to look to the trees, search around the biggest ones...It looks like the trees in the immediate area is new growth....have your kids put on fishing sunglasses and look along the edges of the water....

 

[stevesno]

What type of mill was it? A saw mill for the property owner or what? You have to dig into the history to know how many folks used this area and if there were other homesteaders etc there. Have you found any foundations? Stacked rocks / follow the bank a bit and see if you can find any refuse dump....old bottles crocks etc....get those boys busy ...Hahaha

If it was a water operated mill...then look at the flow and speed of the water right there and then look where it calms right down....in the calm part is where they would have kept floating logs....

If you found that adze...thats a really good sign and there has to be more...old horse tack ,shoes,blades,axes,......if it was a private mill where there was little traffic you probally need to look to the trees, search around the biggest ones...It looks like the trees in the immediate area is new growth....have your kids put on fishing sunglasses and look along the edges of the water....

Would "fishing sunglasses" be the same as polarized?..lol

 

[DaChief]

Hey Bryan,

I saw a post before Christmas from a fellow who was in Europe who had searched a mill that was still active. The mill was hundreds of years old. His post may provide some clues to where he found things there at an intact mill. I can't do a search for subject due to my membership but I will try to find it and relay you the link. If you find it first, let me know.

Jim

 

[gold fish]

i beleive "the hoe" is a adz

Bingo, you took the words right outta my keyboard. Adzes(sp?) were used for shaping/debarking wood and lumber.

I've been working on a mill/ghosttown site, but I have yet to turn up anything signifigant(with a MD). There are a few more areas in the immediate vicinity we need to check, and we have found one stacked stone foundation(no trace of mortar). So we're gonna keep at it, that is my best advice. If you're hitting a spot that has seen no real human activity in over a hundred years, it's gonna be hard to nail down it's actual location.

 

[Gilligan]

i beleive "the hoe" is a adz

I don't think it is an adz. There is no curvature to the blade, it is totally flat. I have found these before, the flat ones, and I think they were used like a hoe. I could be wrong, but like I said, there is no curvature. It is flat, so as to move dirt.

 

[Gypsy Heart]

What type of mill was it? A saw mill for the property owner or what? You have to dig into the history to know how many folks used this area and if there were other homesteaders etc there. Have you found any foundations? Stacked rocks / follow the bank a bit and see if you can find any refuse dump....old bottles crocks etc....get those boys busy ...Hahaha

If it was a water operated mill...then look at the flow and speed of the water right there and then look where it calms right down....in the calm part is where they would have kept floating logs....

If you found that adze...thats a really good sign and there has to be more...old horse tack ,shoes,blades,axes,......if it was a private mill where there was little traffic you probally need to look to the trees, search around the biggest ones...It looks like the trees in the immediate area is new growth....have your kids put on fishing sunglasses and look along the edges of the water....

Would "fishing sunglasses" be the same as polarized?..lol

Well if thats what you call them down south....ok.....LOL...I couldnt think of the word....

 

[fatsmahoney]

a hoe is a hoe that what i was told and if its in the middle of the woods thats gotta mean something the stream doesnt look large enuff to supply a saw mill but maybe a grain mill

 

[sandrailer]

Just a stupid idea here,maybe your on the wrong side of the creek.Looking at your drawing of the creek and the stones i would think the stones were put there to cause the water to go through the creek on the other side of the island.If that was the case then the water wheel would be where the water flow was faster(the other side of the island).Therefore the mill would have been on the far side of the creek from where the pic was taken of the boys standing next to the creek.But then again what do i know,just thought id give ya my .02 cents.HH

 

[The Seeker]

Mill sites are a very interesting site to detect, I have hunted plenty of them in the past and found out that most of the items you will find will be related to the mill itself. The folks who ran most mills did not live there, they used them for business. For lumber or grains in most cases. Money that would exchange hands for product would be held on to like gold. Those early pioneers worked very hard for there money and held on to it tight. Don't forget that mills were only used when a good supply of running water was available, unless they were a dry mill . So the work season was less and time spent there was you could say ( seasonal). We have found very few coins on our mill hunting adventures...... Plenty of iron items and trash for some reason. Now with all that said , your mill sight might be the one that gives up plenty of goodies. I can only speak for the mills we have hunted. Hope this helps.....Good luck hunting with the boys!!! Enjoy........

 

[Gilligan]

Just a stupid idea here,maybe your on the wrong side of the creek.Looking at your drawing of the creek and the stones i would think the stones were put there to cause the water to go through the creek on the other side of the island.If that was the case then the water wheel would be where the water flow was faster(the other side of the island).Therefore the mill would have been on the far side of the creek from where the pic was taken of the boys standing next to the creek.But then again what do i know,just thought id give ya my .02 cents.HH

Thanks, unfortunately I don't have permission for that side of the creek......yet

 

[Gilligan]

Mill sites are a very interesting site to detect, I have hunted plenty of them in the past and found out that most of the items you will find will be related to the mill itself. The folks who ran most mills did not live there, they used them for business. For lumber or grains in most cases. Money that would exchange hands for product would be held on to like gold. Those early pioneers worked very hard for there money and held on to it tight. Don't forget that mills were only used when a good supply of running water was available, unless they were a dry mill . So the work season was less and time spent there was you could say ( seasonal). We have found very few coins on our mill hunting adventures...... Plenty of iron items and trash for some reason. Now with all that said , your mill sight might be the one that gives up plenty of goodies. I can only speak for the mills we have hunted. Hope this helps.....Good luck hunting with the boys!!! Enjoy........

Thanks for the advice, I am going with the boys shortly to hunt again. I will relay my experience in a follow-up email....if it doesn't rain, it's threatening right now. Bryan