Remote Stagecoach/Tavern site -Quest(part 3) yields more old silver!

Mirage · Sep 4, 2007

Dan(Danimal and I) got an early start as we had a long drive and two different spots to hunt. As we traveled to hunt the old campground and stagecoach stop/tavern sites we discussed some other potential good sites(leads we had gotten from our last visit out to the remoter parts of Ohio). So when we arrived at the campground we talked with Joe(not his real name) about the other two old homes near the campground. He told us about them and volunteered to take us up there in his 4 wheel drive Kubota.

This is what we saw:

A little overgrown but looks promising. Of coarse Dan tasked Joe to get permission to hunt the place in the late fall/early spring.

Coming down:

We thanked Joe and told him we were off to the stagecoach stop and that we would be returning to hunt the camp later. Now the stagecoach stop/tavern we had hunted in March but with a fresh coating of 2-4” of snow. We had taken my van(no 4 wheel drive) and we couldn’t go “offroading”. So it was a grueling hike at the time. This time Dan took his Honda Element and we saved over half the hike. This was a walk in the park compared to what Don and I did two weeks ago.

Still a decent hike and our third hunting partner(Dan’s dog Growly) cooled off in the stream after we got down into the ravine where the stagecoach stop was:

It was a lot cooler in the ravine and I suggested that we look for two other structures that showed on the 1902 map about a ½ mile up the old road from where the stagecoach stop was. This turned out to be too much work and we gave up looking for them after about 30 minutes of hiking. :P So back to the first site. I left the house at 6:30 am but didn’t swing the coil until about noon. Twenty minutes into the hunt Dan makes a find:

Very sweet! Dan’s first Half Dime.

We exchange high fives, congratulatory remarks and all that stuff.

Then we get back to business. A few minutes later Dan gets another good signal. So what does he get but another Half Dime!

Dan also found a silver thimble:

So, Dan declares he is satisfied and ready to go to a place Joe had told him about while riding in the Kubota. The place he described was an 1800’s picnic grove with live “caged” animals. It really did sound too good to not check out. I told Dan I still had to find my Large Cent or old silver but after two hours of nothing but relics and junk we embarked on Phase 3 – Picnic grove hunt!
We had to hike out of the ravine, offroad back to the highway, find a toll bridge, etc… We found our way to the small toll bridge. A redneck was taking 75 cents to cross. Dan hands the guy a dollar. The guy just takes his money and offers no change. Dan says “change?”. The guy just shrugs. Dan got stiffed but he didn’t care. On the way back he gave the same guy 3 nice crusty quarters!

We found the place and it looked real promising with big old trees and structures where walls and such use to be. We searched and the only coin found was a shiney clad quarter on the surface. So, back to Joe’s camp to finish the day. Dan got the silver rosie and some wheats and I found the usual wheats, two mercs and a barber dime.

The dog pendant was found at the stagecoach stop and is most likely very old.

Overall it was a very successful hunt and I am glad Dan got some great keepers. He deserved it as he did all the research and secured permission to hunt this site.

Bob

FrankTM · Sep 5, 2007

The best part of the story is the redneck toll bridge. I would love to see a picture of that! Great finds!

Frank

Danimal · Sep 5, 2007

FrankTM said:
The best part of the story is the redneck toll bridge. I would love to see a picture of that! Great finds!

Frank

This bridge looks like one of those ones that'll fall into the river soon too . Not even wide enough for two way traffic, so cars have to wait for the other direction to stop at the entrance light.
There was no gate at the toll booth. The dashboard of my truck has tons of nooks and crannys and ALL are filled with dug items and uncleaned clad. I grabbed three of the nastiest quarters on the way back. I stopped...the old dude held his hand out and I plopped them suckers into his palm. I immediately pulled away leaving him there staring down at his hand in disbelief.

ZoSo71 · Sep 5, 2007

Excellent finds guys...

I can verify the first hike up/down there was pretty rough.
It's great you could get the Honda far enough up the trail to avoid the rough part of the hike..

I agree about the excavating part.. I found a little dump site next to the stone steps
and most signals showed about 6 to 8 inches.

Nice going Dan and Bob..

Zoso71

Danimal · Sep 5, 2007

ZoSo71 said:
Excellent finds guys...

I can verify the first hike up/down there was pretty rough.
It's great you could get the Honda far enough up the trail to avoid the rough part of the hike..

I agree about the excavating part.. I found a little dump site next to the stone steps
and most signals showed about 6 to 8 inches.

Nice going Dan and Bob..

Zoso71

Gimme a call Dave and we'll get in there again. The area around the wellsite is wide open and can be dug easily (except for those large rectangular red rocks). Maybe no need to wait until Fall.

Colonial KirkPA · Sep 5, 2007

Danimal said:
I know I said I wasn't gonna post for a while, but this hunt really was satisfying and I feel like saying a few things about it.
Never before had I felt such satisfaction from doing the research and legwork as I did last Saturday. Our first trip there was done in awful conditions and I fully expected to get back there a few more times. Like Bob already said, the hike in originally was brutal as we had to climb quite a way up and over a large ridgeline separating the road the Camp Meeting ground is on from the main roads close to the Ohio River. Many years ago there were dozens of these connector roads that switchbacked up the steeps hills but once roads improved and motorized travel started MANY of these connector roads were abandoned (along with the dwellings on them) as early cars just could not deal with the grades. Horses had no trouble pulling wagons up them and the remains of what we did find still showed deep ruts from the wagon wheels from long ago.
I was thankful for the decent ground clearance my Element had and all I had to do was straddle the ruts to keep the undercarriage from bottoming out. I don't think 4WD even kicked in as the ground was dry and traction excellent.
Now...with about 2 miles of rutted trail up the ridgeline behind us, all we had to do was descend into the ravine where we knew the remains of the Stagecoach stop stood. The debris field from this building is HUGE and buried brick and foundation stones seem to be endless here. Like Bob said we hiked further up the original wagon trail trying to find two more dwellings an old map showed existed. Besides the heat and steep grades, the areas where these houses should have been were Cambodian-like in the level of undergrowth. Even Growly was yelping as he continually got tangles in various vines, prickers and thistles (boy that was fun...I'm still finding burrs in his coat). I think either this Fall or next Spring I DO want to find those two houses when the growth subsides...as well as hunt the place "Bob" the Camp Meeting groundskeeper showed us after we get the go-ahead. THAT place is pre-civil war as well.
Back at the Stagecoach stop, the well is visible as well as several outbuilding foundations. Because of the amount of debris, I decided to concentrate on two wagon whells ruts that MUST have led right into the building (coach storage) as the ruts were not only visible, but the clay was only 6-8" under heavily compressed topsoil. I was glad I did. Both seated halfdimes were with ferrous items and the DFX gave me only a few whispers of high tones mixed in with the grumble of iron. I don't mask anything and listen to everything. I used to think it would drive me crazy...but I think I'm already there. The two coins were only 2-3 ft away from each other.One had a square nail with it, the other a small blob of rusted iron.
What I want to do next time is actually excavate an area around the well down to what I think was the original ground level. This will mean moving a LOT of brick and rock, but hey...what the hell. I figure between the building and the well HAS to be some coinage. I think...no...I KNOW there is a large cent or two or three there. We just have to do the work to find them. Even as it is...I think there's more good targets away from the debris if you go slow and are willing to bonk your coil off of all the crap laying around (that's how I found the silver thimble...right in the side of the main debris pile). I too love the dog pendant Bob found...Maybe he'll post a better closeup
Next time there I think I'm doing an all-dayer.
Here's a few more pics for mood.

Bob prepping as we unload the Element

The first Seated halfdime just outta the hole. Note the brick laying on the surface.

Bob, Growly and the Element on the top of the ridgeline on the way back to the car after scaling the drop to the Stagecoach stop remains.

Cleoseup of the day's silver on the truck's tailgate. The silver Rosie isn't pictured because it was so nasty it was with the clad I dug at the Camp Meeting grounds and I didn't realize it was silver until I was cleaning stuff off at home later.

Trips like this get the juices flowing for me. Not because of the finds...but because of the expectations of the finds and the history of the area. The maps Bob and I found of the area show a LOT of these abandoned connector roads and most have foundations. This could keep us busy for a long time.
Sorry of I offended anyone with my statement that I was done posting. I am not one to put up a facade. I was just saying how I felt. Sometimes though enthusiasm overrides that bad taste in your mouth.

HH all

Dan, I am glad to see you posted your "side of the story." Bud, put the bad feelings away and keep the passion alive. You did great, bud! That DFX is a great machine!

Colonial KirkPA · Sep 5, 2007

Dan, in your pic of the half dime just out of the hole, I notice your depth readout at 6.5"...was that how deep it was?

Pentico · Sep 5, 2007

WOW!
It is all I can say!
ChrisP

Danimal · Sep 5, 2007

KirkPA said:
Ok, thanks, it was 6.5".

Obviously the DFX was sitting there still in DC and I don't think that the depth reading indicated in that pic. was held from that recovery...however...both coins were right around 6-7" sitting right against the clay layer under the topsoil. The topsoil there's pretty loamy and no doubt the coins will sink until they hit hardpan. I think that's the case just about anywhere softer soil's prevalent. Sometimes when I am in an area where older coins are known to be there I will dig a test plug to see just how far down the clay level is.
This is one reason why I think a lot of us pass up older deeper coins that ANY machine have difficulty in hearing...let alone IDing. Hunting in pinpoint punches MUCH deeper and will still tell you the relative size of the target. If it's deep and small...I'm digging. The deeper the coin the lower the VDI will be from what's expected anyways.
I might start using Mixed Mode more...but the times I have played with it the amount of sounds hitting the ears is just too much. For those that don't know...the DFX allows a "Mixed Mode" operation which runs AC (discriminate with all the associated filters, etc) and DC (pinpoint...TRUE All Metal where there's only one tone which changes in volume level according to target depth and size) to run simultaneously...and you hear it ALL.....at once....and it's a LOT of sounds to deal with. All 190 tones of AC available chirping, squeeling and singing away while the pinpoint tone rises and falls as you locate target centers.

Mirage · Sep 5, 2007

ZoSo71 said:
Excellent finds guys...

I can verify the first hike up/down there was pretty rough.
It's great you could get the Honda far enough up the trail to avoid the rough part of the hike..

I agree about the excavating part.. I found a little dump site next to the stone steps
and most signals showed about 6 to 8 inches.

Nice going Dan and Bob..

Zoso71

I don't remember any stone steps. ... sounds like a good place. I did venture over across the stream and was just starting to swing when Dan yells out "silver!". So I run back over thinking he found a third old silver coin but it was only the thimble.

Denny - I was thinking about that creek. Just too many other places to check first. Now would be a good time to do it as it's at it's lowest point.

Also, least anyone think my Minelab was not performing up to par..... The second half dime signal Dan called me over to check with my machine. No problem getting a clear repeatable dig signal(was coming up in the bottlecap range).

Bob

romeo-1 · Sep 5, 2007

Awesome Post!

ZoSo71 · Sep 5, 2007

I don't remember any stone steps. ... sounds like a good place. I did venture over across the stream and was just starting to swing when Dan yells out "silver!". So I run back over thinking he found a third old silver coin but it was only the thimble.

The stone steps or rock retaining wall where I dug a ton of old glass.
I also went across the stream towards the end of the day. There are a few cut stones and
less iron targets, I managed to find a few common nails and beer cans though..

~Z

Danimal · Sep 6, 2007

ModernMiner said:
Bob and Dan,
Fantastic post guys. Love the pictures and all your finds. Some very nice coins and relics. I've been waiting for your stagecoach stop hunt since last winter when you guys mentioned it. Ridley and I have one lined up too this winter. Hopefully we'll be able to locate it in the woods.

How did Dan get those half dimes to look so good?

Congrats to both of you & Growly.
-MM-

MM...I zapped 'em with 6V in saline for a little while (<1/2 hr) and then picked off some crud with a toothpick and finished with a little Mother's Mag cleaner. Some of the crud will not come off. Good enough to display though.

kieser sousa/rip · Sep 6, 2007

WTG y'all ! very cool post ! Youz guys have some pretty cool adventures !

ModernMiner · Sep 6, 2007

Danimal said:
ModernMiner said:

Bob and Dan,
Fantastic post guys. Love the pictures and all your finds. Some very nice coins and relics. I've been waiting for your stagecoach stop hunt since last winter when you guys mentioned it. Ridley and I have one lined up too this winter. Hopefully we'll be able to locate it in the woods.

How did Dan get those half dimes to look so good?

Congrats to both of you & Growly.
-MM-

Click to expand...

MM...I zapped 'em with 6V in saline for a little while (<1/2 hr) and then picked off some crud with a toothpick and finished with a little Mother's Mag cleaner. Some of the crud will not come off. Good enough to display though.

Thanks Dan.
They look great! I wish I could find some old silver soon like you guys find up that way. My older coins are always IH's. Although I love the look of IH's, an old silver would make my day.

Great post guys.
-MM-

karib2517 · Sep 6, 2007

thats all good,great finds.

oknorom · Oct 20, 2007

hi mirage, i know this is an older post, but i was scrolling through and saw it and just thought i'd respond. i've always enjoyed your posts, especially the iceberg trips. you guys are great hunters and seem to always find great sites.

these two half dimes here are unbelievable!

i love them. definitely a coin on my "hit list".

congrats and good luck in the future.

HH, Mike

mike5298 · Oct 25, 2007

Nice job! I really need to know how you cleaned these. I have "V" nickels, 3 Indian head pennies and one Flying eagle cent that I really want to clean. Can you help me? Thanks and again, good job on your find...keep up the good work!