Privy Finds

[Gypsy Heart]

I had the dis-stink privylage of finding the old town hall privy and spent the last week digging its cellar. Now as bad as it sounds ...it wasn't . Because of it being built with its backside on a sandy slope and limed on a regular basis...it wasn't bad to dig....no deep hole to crawl into .
I used Sanborn maps to help me find this and after talking to a couple of old timers who were very amused at me doing this...I found out that the privy was moved several times over the years along this sandy bank. From what I can gather there were two outhouses (ladies and mens ....cool for the late 1800's) and they were in place (well moving across the top of the slope ) until the late 40's. So I am pretty sure I was digging in the ladies privy cellar for the most part. I will keep digging until snow flies and am hoping to pull out more than my usually wheaties . I am having the neighbor guy make me a sifting screen, as I have been using a colander and its not going fast enough. I was surprised to find the sterling silver ring tho...was one of the first things in my sifter.....
The tortoise shell hair comb is really cool even damaged. It says solid gold on it and I can see along of where the gold was. I am going to see if the gems are real in it and then have the damaged parts removed and a brooch made out of it. Its about 4 inches across and 4 long.

I do like the lamp arm for a kerosene lamp and am going to see if I can find the cup/bowl part for it. Seems like I pulled up alot of kerosene lamp parts and there are many pottery bottles still there that I keep digging...but broken. Hoping for a whole one.
http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,119459.0/topicseen.html

 

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[Michigan Badger]

A whole bunch of nice finds.

There's a handle in one of your pictures that's just like many I dig at lumber camps. What were they used for?

I'm always amazed at what I dig out of these places.

Badger

 

[JerV3]

Those are some nice looking items Gypsy.

I love digging out those old pits. They throw away all kinds of stuff.

HH Jer

 

[bootybay]

nice finds gypsy, listen, theres lots of folks that buy broken pottery pieces and make stuff outta them. did ya ever think of listing a box lot of em on ebay? as an experiment to see if they sell or not... might be worth a shot

 

[tymcmurray]

Thoe are some well asoorted finds.
I haven't had the "pleasure" of a privy dig yet.
Congratulations on the Treasure Hunt!

 

[strike it rich]

Ive got a bottle like that one in pic 4 found it in a 50s dump

 

[extractor]

congrats, You always score the cool digs! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Bavaria Mike]

Awesome as always Gypsy! You might try a small wheel barrow with a broom handle across the top, place the sifter on it and rock it back and forth, making the finds, then you can easily remove the dirt out of the way when it gets full. Good luck digging those privies, sounds like a lot of fun! HH, Mike

 

[jorge del norte]

" I'll show that scoundrel, (pulls ring off finger).........plop!"

cool ring!!!!!! I wonder whats it's story was.........

"I feel better, duhhh........oh geez!"

 

[ModernMiner]

Gypsy,
That is sooooooo cool. Great finds. Congrats on the ring! Any chance of getting a picture of the privy area you are digging next time you're out? I can't believe all the stuff in there! I have two to dig out myself this winter. I just need to break away from detecting to get it done.
Thanks for the neat post,
MM

 

[t-bucket]

Very nice finds,I wonder if the ring was lost by dropping it or mad at someone.anyway great finds.

 

[bedpanmoneyman]

Gypsy,

Those old privies are great for finding old and sometimes valuable bottles. Nice variety of finds.

What's the blue container thingy?

BPMM

 

[strike it rich]

whats a privy ? thanks

 

[mountainplayer]

Cool finds, Gypsy. I admire your "intestinal fortitude" in digging that privy.

Wouldn't you just love to have been a fly on the wall an hear what those old timers said after you'd left? I bet it made their week!

MP

 

[ModernMiner]

whats a privy ? thanks

An outhouse.

 

[Brendan M.]

Nice finds! I love finding stashes like that where you can just dig and dig... I found a bottle dump this past summer and had a blast, until my wife decided that my bringing home 30 bottles every trip was getting a bit much...

What's interesting is that I recently found the same identical ring as the one you found. I was hunting a former 19th century estate that was turned into a private school at the turn of the century. I'll attach a pic. Anything you find out about this ring I would love to know. I think it's kind of unusual for us to find identical rings like that, not to mention, you finding it amid all that Victorian trash makes it potentially a lot older than I thought it might have been. Again, keep me posted.

Congrats!
Brendan

 

[mojjax]

That's some nice stuff there Gypsy ! I've been meaning to 'dive' into the one we have for a while now . It's in the back of one of our sheds . Thank you for the inspiration !

mojjax

 

[tinpan]

Hi Gypsy,Nice finds and the fishing lure, is there a name on it Old fishing lures are highly prized and collectable.


t.p

 

[Gypsy Heart]

That's some nice stuff there Gypsy ! I've been meaning to 'dive' into the one we have for a while now . It's in the back of one of our sheds . Thank you for the inspiration !

mojjax

Thats cool mojjax.....I will come hold the rope for you while you dive....

 

[Cubfan64]

Nice job Gypsy! You know how to find the stuff that's for sure!!

As far as the ring goes, it's a beauty - I've always thought privys should be a good place to find rings cause.... well..... you know what can happen when you're wiping...... "oops," "plop"!!

Good luck on more finds!