Updated 8/29 - Ghost town first-time hunt

[Staci (Fargo ND)]

Found this town last year but wasn't able to hunt...finally got out there with my dad yesterday! The town was once quite large, and was founded in the late 1880's in antipation of the railroad coming through. I could not find any population numbers past the early 1900's, but at that time there were more than 160 residents.

The city was deserted at some point when the rr didn't come, and was re-inhabited in the 50's or 60's (my guess based on the two "newer" houses). The only buildings left standing are two houses built later, and many stone foundations.

This is the town, I'll post pics of the finds in a few minutes. It was a little tough hunting with all the brush

 

[bazinga]

Re: Ghost town first-time hunt

Wow.... now that's a nice map!

I would be hitting the ponds and that old baseball diamond pretty hard.

Heck, my car is packed and I'm on my way, haha.

Can't wait to you see you post some big silver and gold for us all!

 

[time4me]

Re: Ghost town first-time hunt

Staci,

You've got every treasure hunter's dream right there in that map! Access to a long forgotten town, and a map of where everything was in the town when it was prosperous. Lucky!!!!

I can't wait to see more posts from you about your adventures detecting in this ghost town.

Jim

 

[Mackaydon]

Re: Ghost town first-time hunt

Staci:
You asked: Would they be attached to posts in town, and you would tie your horse to it to go into the store or something?

Yes, horses and other pack animals, would be tied to a 'hitching post' like the one in the pic referenced below. Others, like those in front of stores, might have a water trough and/or a feed trough at the hitching post; as an added 'customer service'.
Don.........

http://images.google.com/imgres?img...&um=1&hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS289&sa=N&ie=UTF-8

 

[Tomb Raider]

Re: Ghost town first-time hunt

Hi Staci,

I was born in West Forgo and the family line comes from around that neck of the woods in the farming life. As a kid I allways dreamed of finding treasure at the farm's. We moved to Washington in the 60's but made our summer Vacation's back there every year.

Grandpa had many chunk's of land and they had old farms on them that were empty for a long while. As a kid I herd a story he had rented some land out and the dude that rented it found a ( Jar ) of Silver Dollars in a jar in a wall. I wish I could get back there and see what I could find on them old home stead's..

Jimbo..

 

[TerryC]

Re: Ghost town first-time hunt

Staci,
Another tool I use for detecting is one of those measuring wheels used by police to re-construct an accident scene. You can use one.... or any 100 foot or 100 yard tape to measure. You know where the courthouse is. You know where another structure is. They are both on a street that still exists. Measure the distance between them and try to find school # 1. It appears to be about the same distance down the road from the house as the house is from the courthouse. Am I clear enough? You can also use that measurement, along with any other measurable locations (dried up pond = low spot) to re-consruct the town. Good luck! TTC

 

[Mackaydon]

Re: Ghost town first-time hunt

Following up on Terry C;s:
You might also try Google Earth for ghost town anamolies that may be more easily discernable from space.

 

[TerryC]

Re: Ghost town first-time hunt

What is the name of the ghost town? TTC

 

[The.Boomer]

Re: Ghost town first-time hunt

What is the name of the ghost town? TTC

I wouldn't answer that !

 

[zaxfire69]

Re: Ghost town first-time hunt

What is the name of the ghost town? TTC

I wouldn't answer that !

I wouldn't either. That would be my little secret!!

 

[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

Re: Ghost town first-time hunt

This is a prime site do you understand the potential here? I think you do.... Look for the old wishing well and, you'll be Bill Gates rich. This site could also have caches, and many other nice items or relics. Working around the scrap is a little hard and the weeds are tuff but. It is important to get through/around that stuff the best you can. Look for big trees, or man made landmarks and other things for caches. The people, buildings and other structures look like they had some money. This site, will take years... Have fun!

Keep @ it and HH!!

 

[tapoutking]

Re: Ghost town first-time hunt

Awsome!!! Wish I were close. Would LOVE to help

 

[Shaw]

Re: Ghost town first-time hunt

Very cool thread and great hunting grounds.

Good luck Staci

 

[TerryC]

Re: Ghost town first-time hunt

Love the capgun, it's a S&W snub nosed .38, the barrel is not broken off, they were that short. Not very accurate at long distance, but could make big hole in ya, Looks like a fun site, I have in the past gone into some wooded areas and sprayed Ortho Weed -B-Gone on the weeds and come back in a couple weeks to grass dying and weeds gone. Alot easier than ruining your weed whacker......... Not GE

Notgettinenny
The cap gun is a Colt, if I may say so... nothing personal. A S & W would have a "push" button to open the cylinder. This one has a "pull" at the cylinder. I was a Milwaukee cop for many years and we carried S&W mod 10... TTC

 

[husker du]

Re: Ghost town first-time hunt

wicked rad. awesome. cool. have fun & good luck!

 

[Staci (Fargo ND)]

Re: Ghost town first-time hunt

Thanks everyone I'm definitely not telling the name of this town...removed all traces from the map if you hadn't noticed .

It's a possibility at some point I'd be up for a little help from someone I could trust not to tell others, but for now it's My dad and me. I think we'll clean the area up when I get the chance in the next couple weeks. My wirk schedule is 7 days working, 7 not so I'll get out there again soon and get some detecting done. I'll keep up with my research and make sure to update here.

The gun says "HUB" on it, so I'm not positive but believe it to be a Hubley "Hub" capgun. Again, not sure though.

I've found a couple people that may know more information, so I hope to have more soon. Thanks again!

 

[tymcmurray]

Re: Ghost town first-time hunt

Most of us would give whatever for a site like that!!!
Congratulations!!!
AND it looks like you found the bike in the photo.

 

[allen]

Re: Ghost town first-time hunt

good luck on that awesome looking site...should be able to finds tons of great finds...

 

[NGE]

Re: Ghost town first-time hunt

Staci, remember..... kids from the '50's and late '40's had more change in their pockets than did the kids of the 1820's, so if all you find are silver coins, and lots of them, don't cry over spilled LC's.

 

[Ray S ECenFL]

Re: Ghost town first-time hunt

What a great location to MD. WOW.

I would start at the School House #2 because of the location of the pond being near by as well as the baseball diamond. That area alone could keep you busy for weeks.

Happy Hunting and keep all of us jealous types updated so we can drool over your finds.... LOL

Ray S

 

[Johnny Ringo Silver]

Re: Ghost town first-time hunt

STACI........Way to go for you and the ol' man!!! Yes the cap gun is a HUB, but its modeled after an actual firearm. Thats what all the gun freaks are talking about! I'm also getting ready to hunt an old ghost town. Its prime years were 1870's through the 1890's. There is nothing standing now and its all field. The owners of the property are in their 70's and grew up on the property. They say that its NEVER been hunted so I'm totally freakin' till I can get out there! They want it to cool down a little first so they can come along to see how it all works.
I'm looking forward to your next finds and I wish you luck on finding the old stuff!! Be sure to keep an eye out for the old wells and such.
Looks like its a great spot and if i lived any closer I would offer to rub feet just to get the chance to share it with you guys!!
Keep us informed on the next hunt!!! Johnny 8)