1930's~1940's dump site

[BetterThanFishin]

Two days ago, a friend said come look at an old dump site on his property and requested under a Gentleman's Agreement (hand shake) not to disclose the exact location. As a loyal friend to him, please understand.

There were hints of broken Coca-Cola bottles poking out here and there, so far not one intact. Other bottles found were made by V. Frank & Sons Brewers located in Poughkeepsie, NY. Only a few are in good condition. Wonder if there is a local value to these. See pics below.

Someone on this forum mentioned, "when searching recent dump sites to look for brand-name bottles and leave the machined non-branded types on the spot". Thanks and the good bottles were chosen.

There are some issues about heading back:
1. There may not be items of good value. Most bottles of a high value are pre-1900's so the experts say. BUT....The dump is located near a foundation of an old 1850's stage coach site about 100 yards away which could be hiding older items.

2. Regulations did not exist in that era and there are concerns about chemicals and other serious hazards while digging. Asbestos, lead, battery acid etc... Most of all, SAFETY is our concern.

[imukdiver]

Unless it was a toxic waste dump site, don't worry to much about chemicals. True you do have to keep eyes open for the occasinal paint or turpintine can, but its rare. For the most part bottles,cans, and other containers were thrown away empty. Plus most metal can have long since rusted thru and the contents drained deep into the ground. Happy digging, remember as a general rule the deeper you dig the older stuff you will find.

[BetterThanFishin]

Pics of some bottles collected. These seem to be very common from dump sites all over the US except the flask with diagonal glass lines.

[IMShooter]

mostly commons so far. the flask with the diagonal embossing is a generic bottle that was from a catalog that the bottler would order from the glass co..

the V. Frank's is nice. There are only the amber and the color you have known...plus there were only 2 breweries in Poughkeepsie back then. Nice bottle. I'd say pretty collectible for someone collecting NY brewery bottles and Poughkeepsie area bottles...

the two meds (aqua and the one with the base shown) are cool looking. couldnt read what the embossing on the first med pic is though. Lamberts? if so they can go for 1-2$ and up to 25$.

nice digs so far.

[BetterThanFishin]

imukdiver- great info. Cars started showing up in the late 1930's and the area was never developed residential or commercially so the hazards for chemicals should be extremely low.

IMShooter- again, great info. Most of the bottles are common so far. The flask is actually twice the size you see but had to be shrunk to post. Think it will look cool cleaned up with an amber LED that flickers like a candle inside? Many V. Franks there, no brown yet. Excuse the illegible pic but I do believe it said Lambert's but will double check. Fidelio Brewery bottles show up too. The brown with horseshoes and clear type. Overall, it looks like a local collection will be gathered. Oh...there are traces of the light purple and pink glass bits from vases or candy dishes. No cobalt beside a Vick's Vapo-Rub bottle sticking out which was total trickery! No idea what the green bottle is. Probably sparkling seltzer.

If burning the mid-night oil research is right, this site stopped circa 1945 (most recent date estimated on bottles of the ground surface area) older items will start to show at a depth of 8-11". In two weeks we will be heading back there. A full 6 hour search should be enough time to gather a few good valuables and most of all a few "Hey cool, I'm keeping these" items.

Two weeks, this is going to feel like forever waiting!

[imukdiver]

Keep digging !! Loooks like the last few things are getting back to the 20s. Thats a nice local deco soda. Im sure there are some more along with a few milks. Old bopttle digger saying " the deeper the hole the better the bottle "

[IMShooter]

love deco sodas, that one is nice! like the embossed one next to it too.

[metaladdict]

The old sodas are cool! and any colored bottle(not clear except milk bottles)If a bottle has a screw top lid its usually junk unless it has bubbles in the glass.

[erik7181]

I have a house in the Catskills, The small hamlet where my house it has been their sense the 1600s and if you walk in the woods you will see the stone walls or whisky walls as they where called, You will find a lot of old foundations and such and you'll find big holes or pits, as im sure you know these where there spots to dump their garbage. Iv found bottles, cow bones, marbles,ceramic dolls, I found a rusted double barrel shotgun barrel. It really is amazing what you find in these spots. There all over up there.

[emoryjim]

Take your time and keep/sell your finds. Some of the bottles will at least get you a few bucks each on ebay.

[IMShooter]

try CL too. Might be able to snag some local collectors' interest.

[BetterThanFishin]

Forgot about this one. It was down a small gully about 160ft from the physical dump site 3" in dirt. The pic on the right looks like a rusted iron cap but it's aluminum.


Bottom imprint first line 4, some symbol, 6.
Under that imprint is 18. It's probably from '46.


Tiny treasures.

[iDugit]

Remember, with dump sites such as yours, the people would dump their trash, then would dump rocks from the fields OVER the trash, then dump more trash on top. So, I'd keep digging, especially if it's in an area that's been inhabited for awhile

[BetterThanFishin]

Originally Posted by iDugit

Remember, with dump sites such as yours, the people would dump their trash, then would dump rocks from the fields OVER the trash, then dump more trash on top. So, I'd keep digging, especially if it's in an area that's been inhabited for awhile

Good advice! First layer of rock hit, keep going. <Mental note taken>

2 weeks of researching the site before going back and it's helped to get an idea where/ how to start. The only known idea is the site started in the 30's yet it possibly goes back farther than that. Just waiting for my friend to call this week to get back there.

[IMShooter]

is that a bayer aspirin bottle? looks like that or a very small log cabin bottle.

and about leaving bottles there. I'd say until you know exactly what you're finding and know the value of it, I'd take at least one spec home to research. some of the older whisky or iron pontil bottles are worth nice money. But that's for when you get deep enough to dig those. another 30+ years deeper and you'll be good to go!

[BetterThanFishin]

Damn, left out the size and what it was. Bayer aspirin bottle. Tiny little thing.

[texasmustang]

Impressive bottle finds. I found a Lysol bottle like yours not long ago and a few smaller ones. It is so hard to find the larger bottles entact. Congrats.

[BetterThanFishin]

Originally Posted by texasmustang

Impressive bottle finds. I found a Lysol bottle like yours not long ago and a few smaller ones. It is so hard to find the larger bottles entact. Congrats.

Any large bottle so far is about the same. Busted up to pieces.

Finally the phone call was received to get out there tomorrow! I will start with a 4x4ft area to check for the total depth. <crosses fingers hoping to find a silver plate of something odd>

[BetterThanFishin]

Never getting married! Still waiting on my friend to call when to get back there. Apparently she has him "busy" being her slave. He needs to stand up for his human rights freedom. ho hum

[IMShooter]

lol good one. sounds like my wife's sister when it comes to my bro in law hunting...