zeemang
Forum Supporter
You are really doing a great job with the mapping, keep at it!
Hunt for late 19th century village
- Thread starter Knottyoak
- Start date
waltr
Elite Member
Map is filling in and seems some activity is showing.
With three areas of relics is there any indication there was another road connecting them?
Thanks for update.
I have gotten out detecting the past couple weekends but for only a few hours since weather not good. Very muddy here even if a few days after rain or snow so keeping to higher ground.
With three areas of relics is there any indication there was another road connecting them?
Thanks for update.
I have gotten out detecting the past couple weekends but for only a few hours since weather not good. Very muddy here even if a few days after rain or snow so keeping to higher ground.
Knottyoak
Full Member
Thanks.
Knottyoak
Full Member
There is a road-cut in the west creek bank just S of the fence at the
N end of the pasture. The cut is diagonal to the creek, indicating the road would run S from there, but there's no sign of it left in the pasture.
I'm hoping that when I hunt from the S relic area NE toward the fence, I'll have one long line of relic area. That's a low ridge that looks to be ideal for a row of houses. I went out there Sunday afternoon to do just that, but the wind was so cold I stayed up in the overgrown clearing and re-hunted some of that.
I reckon a few hours detecting in the cold and mud is better than no detecting, and we can hope for an early spring. It's supposed to get down in single digit cold here this weekend, so it may be a no-detecting weekend for me.
Big Treble
Forum Supporter
This sounds like an awesome adventure. Excellent work so far.
With 30 homes and a couple other establishments, there should be a huge debris field, either seen visually or audibly.
If I were you I may reach out to perhaps a retired forum member from the frozen north, on the other side of the US, to help dig for internet leads. Many on here would be willing to help with research, pick someone with time on their hands, and far enough away temptation won't get the best of them lol.
With 30 homes and a couple other establishments, there should be a huge debris field, either seen visually or audibly.
If I were you I may reach out to perhaps a retired forum member from the frozen north, on the other side of the US, to help dig for internet leads. Many on here would be willing to help with research, pick someone with time on their hands, and far enough away temptation won't get the best of them lol.
oaktree
Forum Supporter
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2017
- Messages
- 304
I am really impressed by the map that you are putting together! This has the makings of a grand adventure, and I hope that the end to the story has you on the exact village site with a lot of fascinating artifacts and possibly some coins! I hope that once you are done you can find a way to share your story about locating the site, to mapping it out, to discovering its mysteries - especially with local youth groups and social clubs!
I would also agree that there are many old county and township plat maps to be found - have you not found any map showing a precise location of the village??
I would also agree that there are many old county and township plat maps to be found - have you not found any map showing a precise location of the village??
Knottyoak
Full Member
Amen to that, and thanks.
Luckily, the weatherman put off the really cold cold 'til tomorrow, so I got to get out there yesterday for a few hours. Damp, chilly north wind kept me from enjoying it much, but I found a few square nails.
Knottyoak
Full Member
Thanks, I'm having a lot of fun with this for sure. I'm locating the debris field a little at a time, hopefully a coherent picture will eventually emerge.
I'm considering sharing all I know of the area on this forum, so anyone who wants to can get in on the adventure, and rely on the property owner to keep a herd of detectorists from descending on the place.
Do you reckon that'd be a good idea?
Knottyoak
Full Member
Thanks, I am having a lot of fun with this, and I too hope for a successful outcome. Not sure about sharing the story with groups of people. When I speak people generally assume one of two things. A: That guy's suffered damage to his parietal lobe, or B: That guy is dumb as a bag of hammers.
A is wrong, B? There's room for debate on that one.
I can't get to the courthouse to browse records when they're open, they have government hours, I have working man hours. I've yet to try the local library, they may have relevant newspaper archives, and I've yet to try the local historical society. So far it's been more fun for me to just get out there and try to figure it out for myself.
Big Treble
Forum Supporter
Thanks, I'm having a lot of fun with this for sure. I'm locating the debris field a little at a time, hopefully a coherent picture will eventually emerge.
I'm considering sharing all I know of the area on this forum, so anyone who wants to can get in on the adventure, and rely on the property owner to keep a herd of detectorists from descending on the place.
Do you reckon that'd be a good idea?
Actually short answer is "NO", as in "absolutely not" 90% of the members here would respect your research and stay away. The other 10% would be hounding the owner for permission or sneaking in.
Another person to help you research would be nice, but like I say I would find a retired member across the country and PM them for some research guidance. Most in the North are snowed in, and would appreciate a internet project. If you don't I get it, if you want to do your own research. Keep your info closely guarded.
Knottyoak
Full Member
Play my cards close to the vest, eh? Good advice, thanks.
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2011
- Messages
- 3,419
I'm considering sharing all I know of the area on this forum, so anyone who wants to can get in on the adventure, and rely on the property owner to keep a herd of detectorists from descending on the place.
Do you reckon that'd be a good idea?
^^^ GOOD ADVICE HERE ^^^
I've never done this type of research, but I would Google "Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps" for this area to identify the locations of buildings. From there, I would try to use Google Earth to get GPS coordinates and then use your phone to hike to those coordinates. Maybe you've already tried this? GPS should get you close to the saloons, store, and post office.
Best of luck to you.
R5
Knottyoak
Full Member
Thanks, I've tried that resource, nothing on this village to be had. I've come to believe this village was sort of a shanty town, with everyone knowing it would only last as long as the economic activity that brought them there.
Knottyoak
Full Member
Update
The hunt continues.
First of all, many thanks to Oaktree, who did some valuable and much appreciated internet research on this project back in March. As a result of his efforts, I now know the place actually showed on maps from the period, and I learned more about the economic activity happening there.
From newspaper archives, I gleaned some advertisements in the wanted ads that originated from the village, and a whacking good story about a knife fight that happened in one of the saloons there.
A local, whose family has lived in the area for four generations, told me his Grandmother told him the village was spread out all up and down the hollow, so I'm going to have to cover a lot of ground to find it all.
Based on the distribution of square nails, I think I've located three or four building sites. I'm waiting for the owner to cut the hay off the field before I can hunt in it again, and for winter before I hunt the woods again. I want go over those areas really good.
I found an old road bed that leads up out of the hollow to the NE, unfortunately it is in an area not covered by my homemade map. Eventually I'll get up on the mountain and see where that road takes me.
The hunt continues.
First of all, many thanks to Oaktree, who did some valuable and much appreciated internet research on this project back in March. As a result of his efforts, I now know the place actually showed on maps from the period, and I learned more about the economic activity happening there.
From newspaper archives, I gleaned some advertisements in the wanted ads that originated from the village, and a whacking good story about a knife fight that happened in one of the saloons there.
A local, whose family has lived in the area for four generations, told me his Grandmother told him the village was spread out all up and down the hollow, so I'm going to have to cover a lot of ground to find it all.
Based on the distribution of square nails, I think I've located three or four building sites. I'm waiting for the owner to cut the hay off the field before I can hunt in it again, and for winter before I hunt the woods again. I want go over those areas really good.
I found an old road bed that leads up out of the hollow to the NE, unfortunately it is in an area not covered by my homemade map. Eventually I'll get up on the mountain and see where that road takes me.
waltr
Elite Member
Thanks for the update.
Sounds like you are having a good time researching and documenting this village.
Sounds like you are having a good time researching and documenting this village.
HiDesertHunter
Full Member
I reviewed all the posts on this and find it interesting as I did something similar several years ago at a small 'homestead' collective several miles outside of where I live.
I did not have to research it as extensively as you had to as I already had some good information on the area as well as foundation remains and other evidence, including a nearby cemetery from the late 1800's.
I found a fair number of artifacts and other stuff from searching it over a period of a couple years off and on.
I can appreciate (and support) you keeping your area a 'secret' but at a minimum what state is it in?
I did not have to research it as extensively as you had to as I already had some good information on the area as well as foundation remains and other evidence, including a nearby cemetery from the late 1800's.
I found a fair number of artifacts and other stuff from searching it over a period of a couple years off and on.
I can appreciate (and support) you keeping your area a 'secret' but at a minimum what state is it in?
Knottyoak
Full Member
Yes, I'm having fun with this.
Knottyoak
Full Member
I appreciate your interest in this project. This place is in Missouri.
I'd be very interested to hear about the place you hunted. Who lived there, why did they live there, what all did you find?
HiDesertHunter
Full Member
Most of the people who lived there were 'Homesteaders' who took advantage of the 'Homestead Act' and received their 160 acres of 'free' land.
A large part of Eastern Oregon was populated in this manner in the late 1800s to the early 1900s.
A lot of these Homesteaders built their lives around these communities with small towns springing up around them.
Unfortunately the requirements of having to build a living structure and farm the land proved to be very difficult due to lack of water in these areas along with the simple fact a lot of the people Homesteaded as they didn't have anything else. Their existence was hardscrabble at best with something like 3 out of five not making it and abandoning the land.
Most of what I found were typical rural type items - old tools, rigging buckles, household items etc. Sometimes clothing buttons and personal items but nothing of value and ZERO coins from the era.
Some of these homesteaders held on through the 30's however by the early 40's they were mostly all gone as WW2 drew people into the military or on to the cities for jobs.
The history of Homesteading in Eastern Oregon is well documented with a lot of books and writings on it. It was a very vibrant time actually and in a large way 'shaped' what Eastern Oregon became.
A large part of Eastern Oregon was populated in this manner in the late 1800s to the early 1900s.
A lot of these Homesteaders built their lives around these communities with small towns springing up around them.
Unfortunately the requirements of having to build a living structure and farm the land proved to be very difficult due to lack of water in these areas along with the simple fact a lot of the people Homesteaded as they didn't have anything else. Their existence was hardscrabble at best with something like 3 out of five not making it and abandoning the land.
Most of what I found were typical rural type items - old tools, rigging buckles, household items etc. Sometimes clothing buttons and personal items but nothing of value and ZERO coins from the era.
Some of these homesteaders held on through the 30's however by the early 40's they were mostly all gone as WW2 drew people into the military or on to the cities for jobs.
The history of Homesteading in Eastern Oregon is well documented with a lot of books and writings on it. It was a very vibrant time actually and in a large way 'shaped' what Eastern Oregon became.
