Yesterday's Ghost Town Hunt

[oldmxrat]

Yesterday I took a long drive to check out the California ghost town of Vidal. Pretty neat old town with a few residents still remaining.
This site shows some pics and some of the later history of the town although the town originated in the 1880's. Vidal California

The coolest part of the town history is that it was the final home of legendary law man Wyatt Earp and his wife Josephine. It was also the only "home" they ever owned. Somebody keeps it up nicely.

Most of the town has been bladed off over the years and there weren't many signals other than modern trash, so I concentrated around a few of the remaining structures.

I found a little bit of modern clad. The only older coin was a 1928-s dime that came from behind the old gas station building right along the highway.

The railroad tie date nails were all found in one location next to the tracks.

All in all a pretty fun hunt, but a long drive to get there.

 

[releventchair]

Yesterday I took a long drive to check out the California ghost town of Vidal. Pretty neat old town with a few residents still remaining.
This site shows some pics and some of the later history of the town although the town originated in the 1880's. Vidal California

The coolest part of the town history is that it was the final home of legendary law man Wyatt Earp and his wife Josephine. It was also the only "home" they ever owned. Somebody keeps it up nicely.

View attachment 2250098
View attachment 2250099

Most of the town has been bladed off over the years and there weren't many signals other than modern trash, so I concentrated around a few of the remaining structures.

View attachment 2250097

I found a little bit of modern clad. The only older coin was a 1928-s dime that came from behind the old gas station building right along the highway.

View attachment 2250100

The railroad tie date nails were all found in one location next to the tracks.

View attachment 2250101

All in all a pretty fun hunt, but a long drive to get there.

Congrats!

Great recoveries and site.

 

[Almy]

Thank you for the interesting history story and pictures.

 

[Trezurehunter]

Now that is some cool history ! Thanks for posting that pic of his home and congrats on your finds.

 

[mrwiskers]

Great pic ...thanks for showing the marker ... cool finds ... thanks, again, for posting...

 

[pepperj]

Nice going on the Mercury Dime
We don't get the numbered nails up this way.
Cool piece of history that plaque tells.

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

Great story and cool finds - that's a nice old Merc !

 

[Gare]

You had some good finds GREAT Pictures ! I would like to know who now owns it and there address. It is so great of them to honor Mr Earp I would like to send them a donation . Not a large one but maybe if enough send them it will be taken in Many years to come. Thank you for posting this

 

[russau]

Thanks for sharing your pic's with us !

 

[Conito@55]

Yesterday I took a long drive to check out the California ghost town of Vidal. Pretty neat old town with a few residents still remaining.
This site shows some pics and some of the later history of the town although the town originated in the 1880's. Vidal California

The coolest part of the town history is that it was the final home of legendary law man Wyatt Earp and his wife Josephine. It was also the only "home" they ever owned. Somebody keeps it up nicely.

View attachment 2250098
View attachment 2250099

Most of the town has been bladed off over the years and there weren't many signals other than modern trash, so I concentrated around a few of the remaining structures.

View attachment 2250097

I found a little bit of modern clad. The only older coin was a 1928-s dime that came from behind the old gas station building right along the highway.

View attachment 2250100

The railroad tie date nails were all found in one location next to the tracks.

View attachment 2250101

All in all a pretty fun hunt, but a long drive to get there.

This is the first time I've ever seen nails with numbers on them. Very interesting—good job, brother. By the way, when are you coming back? 🤣🤣🤣🤣

 

[guest]

Hello @oldmxrat .
Thank you for taking us along ghost towning.
I really enjoyed reading the post and watching your photos.
Nice finds and great history.
Very well done. Thank you for sharing.

 

[beachhunter3]

Nice finds bet you perked up when you heard that Mercury Dime in your headphones. Quick question on those nails... Do you know exactly what those numbers represent? The reason I ask is I think I found a nail like that yesterday, but I can't see the number on mine because of the scale on it (still cleaning it). Please explain more about those numbers on the nails.

 

[oldmxrat]

You had some good finds GREAT Pictures ! I would like to know who now owns it and there address. It is so great of them to honor Mr Earp I would like to send them a donation . Not a large one but maybe if enough send them it will be taken in Many years to come. Thank you for posting this

Thanks Gare!
I'll bet if you contact the Billy Holcomb chapter of E Clampus Vitus they would know the ownership or stewardship details.

 

[oldmxrat]

This is the first time I've ever seen nails with numbers on them. Very interesting—good job, brother. By the way, when are you coming back? 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Thanks amigo! Probably head back north in 5 or 6 weeks. Looking forward to hunting with you again!

 

[oldmxrat]

Nice finds bet you perked up when you heard that Mercury Dime in your headphones. Quick question on those nails... Do you know exactly what those numbers represent? The reason I ask is I think I found a nail like that yesterday, but I can't see the number on mine because of the scale on it (still cleaning it). Please explain more about those numbers on the nails.

Railroad tie date nails are small, stamped metal spikes driven into wooden railroad ties, bridge timbers, and utility poles from the late 1890s to the 1960s to identify the year of installation and track the lifespan of treated wood. These vintage "Railroadiana" collectibles typically feature a two-digit year (e.g., "55" for 1955) stamped on heads of various shapes.

Here's one with a square shank that I found a few months ago. It's from 1909.

 

[RatherBeDigging]

Nice mercury dime! And history of the town in text an objects. Was actually out your direction April 1st to 6th evening. Road trip vegas to Laughlin for a few days. Stopped in Kingman, lake Havasu, drove through Needles Ca getting back to Laughlin. Then Laughlin to searchlight searchlight to Nipton California on Joshua Tree Highway eventually ended up in Jean Nevada at seven magic mountains before we had dinner at the Paris and flew home. Have you seen the Petroglyphs in Grapevine canyon yet?? Not a bad hike unless you want to hike through it and get to it's little water spring.

 

[oldmxrat]

Nice mercury dime! And history of the town in text an objects. Was actually out your direction April 1st to 6th evening. Road trip vegas to Laughlin for a few days. Stopped in Kingman, lake Havasu, drove through Needles Ca getting back to Laughlin. Then Laughlin to searchlight searchlight to Nipton California on Joshua Tree Highway eventually ended up in Jean Nevada at seven magic mountains before we had dinner at the Paris and flew home. Have you seen the Petroglyphs in Grapevine canyon yet?? Not a bad hike unless you want to hike through it and get to it's little water spring.

Sounds like a fun trip. Haven't seen Grapevine petroglyphs yet, but I have seen that eyesore called seven magic mountains. 🤮

 

[Gare]

Yesterday I took a long drive to check out the California ghost town of Vidal. Pretty neat old town with a few residents still remaining.
This site shows some pics and some of the later history of the town although the town originated in the 1880's. Vidal California

The coolest part of the town history is that it was the final home of legendary law man Wyatt Earp and his wife Josephine. It was also the only "home" they ever owned. Somebody keeps it up nicely.

View attachment 2250098
View attachment 2250099

Most of the town has been bladed off over the years and there weren't many signals other than modern trash, so I concentrated around a few of the remaining structures.

View attachment 2250097

I found a little bit of modern clad. The only older coin was a 1928-s dime that came from behind the old gas station building right along the highway.

View attachment 2250100

The railroad tie date nails were all found in one location next to the tracks.

View attachment 2250101

All in all a pretty fun hunt, but a long drive to get there.

were all these nails the same size ?

 

[cudamark]

Looks like we missed one! Glad you made it over there. My buddy and I couldn't find a soul there when we were there, but, some places looked like they MIGHT be inhabited. Did you pick up some DVD's by the gas station? Must have been over a hundred of them scattered about. I liked the old stone building on "Main St" the best. (Not the ones in my photos) Just needs a new roof. I guess I should have hunted closer to the railroad. I didn't think about possible date nails. Interesting place.

 

[Relicific]

Very cool place to go on a hunt