Wells?

[HipsterKitty]

There's an old well near my house, and I'm not sure if it's worth walking up to it... I want to say that there should always be coins near wells, but then, of course, they're all probably way down at the bottom. Is it likely that there would also be some scattered around outside of the well?

[beerdoodle]

Originally Posted by HipsterKitty

There's an old well near my house, and I'm not sure if it's worth walking up to it... I want to say that there should always be coins near wells, but then, of course, they're all probably way down at the bottom. Is it likely that there would also be some scattered around outside of the well?

As Ronald Reagan would say..................."Well."................Certa inly could be some scattered coins arouns it...........

[Falconfixer]

The house next to where my parents live and I grew up in was built in the 1700's. I know there's a well there as I've seen it and know it's not too deep, may be full of coins from kids of yesteryear. Homeowners won't let me search on the property anywhere, they've known me for 30 years. They are some unique and eccentric people to say the least, I wish they'd move away so my parents wouldn't have to deal with them. I knw of another well, I'll check later.

[ebone581]

People where around wells. People have coins and other goodies. Try anywhere and everywhere. You never know

[ebone581]

Originally Posted by beerdoodle

As Ronald Reagan would say..................."Well."................Certa inly could be some scattered coins arouns it...........

But would they not have trickled down the well?

[drruthless]

On the opposite end of the spectrum, no pun intended, I've read where for those brave enough to venture there, people have found all kinds of "old things in old "dried up" outhouses.....??

[IMShooter]

just be careful around that well...

what might be in it depends on whether or not it was used for a long period of time or if it dried up/was abandoned and they used it for a junk pit.
If it was eventually used for a junk pit, I'd be probing down to make sure of the depth and whether or not you hit anything solid with your probe.
Alot of bottles (as well as misc other items) ended up in old wells/cisterns/privies.
I've seen guys dig a well for bottles and pull up hundreds of them. Here's an example of what you can find in a deep well/privy.
http://www.19thcenturybottlediggers.com/downinahole.htm
over 600 bottles pulled from this hole.

as far as getting coins and such, I'd start with the basics. Where laundry lines might have been, underneath trees, the front strip of the yard, walkways etc...

Most likely the only coins you'll find around/in the well will be from the coins falling out of pockets and stuff..

[CTCurt]

Old wells are great spots. But be very careful, and have someone with you. Good luck......Curt

[SevenOneSix]

I've got this in my yard. Detected a bit around it and found a few items but mostly clad. Nothing really old although i've only detected it for about 20 - 30 minutes. The seal must be broken on the inside because it no longer pumps water. I'd love to know whats down their though.



still water down their.

[drruthless]

On a more morbid note.
If you start finding things of a personal nature like rings, watches, bracelets,
bones..
you might want to stop digging and call the authorities, you may have just found more than you bargained for.
Wells have always been a convenient place to get rid of something in a hurry.

[Finnerman]

Ewww!

[drruthless]

Yeah, really.
Here in the valley we had a couple guys dubbed the Speed Freak Killers who liked to use old wells to "stash things" over a 20 to 30 year period.
One of them died while awaiting execution and the other guy had a change of heart and told authorities where they could find some of their victims body's
In one well alone they estimated they found the remains of at least five or six people.
When asked If there were anymore wells where body's could be found, the remaining convicted killer was reported to have said,
yeah, lots...
The police think these two could have been responsible for the disappearance of possibly 60 to 70 or more people.

[BADBAJA]

SevenOneSix that pump just needs to be primed before pumping. Pour some water down where the rod goes into the frame. You can see where dip is that is curved like a bowl but has a hole for the rod. We used to have one like that up at our camping spot.

Hipsterkitty maybe you could make a heavy perforated bucket that could scoop out some goodies. With a couple properly placed ropes you could scrape the bottom. Or maybe just try a magnet if that's all you got. You will not get coins but maybe something else?

[WildDigger]

I would try it. May see if anyone you know has a under water viewing camera and send it down.

[bigstemz]

Originally Posted by drruthless

On a more morbid note.
If you start finding things of a personal nature like rings, watches, bracelets,
bones..
you might want to stop digging and call the authorities, you may have just found more than you bargained for.
Wells have always been a convenient place to get rid of something in a hurry.

. . . . . Heads will roll . . . . . . . . . Happy almost Halloween!

[61Cadillac]

Just don't go down below grade level. Many times there can be a lack of oxygen below the surface and you could easily pass out. Always make sure someone knows where your going to be at all times.

[oldcoon]

You are not going to know if your well is worth hunting or not till you try.
Good Luck!

[jmorton04]

Hipsterkitty,
I looked up your town and found this reference:
"Lawrenceville was incorporated by an act of the Georgia General Assembly on 15 December 1821. This makes Lawrenceville one of the oldest cities in the Metro Atlanta Area. The city is named after Commodore James Lawrence, commander of the Frigate Chesapeake during the War of 1812. In 1821 a permanent site for the county courthouse was selected and purchased, the four streets bordering the square were laid out along with other streets in the village, and a public well was dug. "

If that well site is still accessible, the ground around it might be a place to do a little detecting. Also, if there are old sidewalks in that part of town, there may be coins stuck in the ground along side of the sidewalk. If the ground there has a lot of clay in it, it likely pulls away from the paving in the dry part of the year.
HH,
John Morton