Jodo_Kast501
Senior Member
I recently got permission at a house site that I knew dated to the 1800s, but the landowner didn't know when exactly. On top of that, the house burned in the last decade, so not much to go on there. I have included a photo of some of the stones that survived the fire. It's a nice site though because I can be there at any time without being bothered or being a bother.
I had been there one time previously and found a lot of aluminum globules from the house fire. They sound very good at depth, unfortunately. I picked up a couple of wheats and a sterling brooch, but nothing particularly old and so was a bit disappointed. There's also a large chestnut tree that drops very spiny balls over the area – let the kneeler beware. Thick tree roots through clay soil make things even tougher.
After an hour and a half yesterday, I was about ready to pack it in and go to another nearby site, but decided to stick it out for a bit more. Got a 74–75 at 6 inches and out came a very crusty 1882 Indian, which cleaned up relatively well. I gridded some of the areas nearby but my time was running short, so I rechecked some areas from my first visit and got an 80–81 signal and figured it was a wheat penny. Turned out to be a 1899 Barber dime (no mintmark). I didn't find a single Barber in 2019 and I've missed it! I don't know how much more the site has to offer, but I'm not done with it just yet.
Stones from the former house
Brooch from my first visit
1882 IHP and 1899-P Barber dime
I had been there one time previously and found a lot of aluminum globules from the house fire. They sound very good at depth, unfortunately. I picked up a couple of wheats and a sterling brooch, but nothing particularly old and so was a bit disappointed. There's also a large chestnut tree that drops very spiny balls over the area – let the kneeler beware. Thick tree roots through clay soil make things even tougher.
After an hour and a half yesterday, I was about ready to pack it in and go to another nearby site, but decided to stick it out for a bit more. Got a 74–75 at 6 inches and out came a very crusty 1882 Indian, which cleaned up relatively well. I gridded some of the areas nearby but my time was running short, so I rechecked some areas from my first visit and got an 80–81 signal and figured it was a wheat penny. Turned out to be a 1899 Barber dime (no mintmark). I didn't find a single Barber in 2019 and I've missed it! I don't know how much more the site has to offer, but I'm not done with it just yet.
Stones from the former house
Brooch from my first visit
1882 IHP and 1899-P Barber dime
