DoctorWhy
Full Member
Out on a rare above-freezing coastal Maine, January day, I went out in the local woods, to an area that is a long forgotten/abandoned farm field or grazing land. Decided to just randomly swing the coil where the ground was deeply covered in spruce needles and other organic matter. That layer of insulation had kept the underlying ground from freezing as much of the nearby bare earth already had.
Bagged my limit of the ubiquitous oxen shoes, mystery iron bits, and one sweet and amazing surprise: a Union Army Civil War button, missing its shank!
This Maine island, very far from the "action" was made famous by the 1980's Ken Burns Civil War documentary. Many local Men went off to fight. Some returned. This found artifact was most likely from one of those returning veterans.
Earlier in the season, I found a "US" belt buckle buried in the front lawn of a friend's yard. We believe we have determined who was the original owner of the buckle, based on the residents of that house in the 1860's.
Still surprised and feeling quite privileged to find another valuable piece of the island's history that will be shared with our Historical Society Museum.
Now, looking forward to Spring thaw and getting out and swinging the coil some more.
Happy New Year!
--Bert
Bagged my limit of the ubiquitous oxen shoes, mystery iron bits, and one sweet and amazing surprise: a Union Army Civil War button, missing its shank!
This Maine island, very far from the "action" was made famous by the 1980's Ken Burns Civil War documentary. Many local Men went off to fight. Some returned. This found artifact was most likely from one of those returning veterans.
Earlier in the season, I found a "US" belt buckle buried in the front lawn of a friend's yard. We believe we have determined who was the original owner of the buckle, based on the residents of that house in the 1860's.
Still surprised and feeling quite privileged to find another valuable piece of the island's history that will be shared with our Historical Society Museum.
Now, looking forward to Spring thaw and getting out and swinging the coil some more.
Happy New Year!
--Bert