parsonwalker
Bronze Member
I grew up with civil war trenches in my front yard. Yep. Cold Harbor. Daddy was hunting in the 50s and I started in the 60s. My yard never produced a plate, but buttons from New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut troops and GS eagles in abundance, an unexploded Hodgekiss shell, many frags, and multiple buckets full of bullets. Also a gold political token from Stephen A Douglas' campaign, a Confederate spur . . . wow.
I had to sell my childhood home to pay for my Mother's healthcare. No regrets. The last month, I hunted it every chance I got. Never failed EVER to find at least one CW period item, if only a bullet. With one week to go, I went. I thought, "It would be so cool to pull ONE more button." I found this. NOTHING else. Just this.
Then, with two DAYS to go, I had to give it one more try. It was (I promise this is true) It was the ONLY time I ever hunted that yard in 50 years, and found nothing. Zero. Not ONE CW item.
Now I know this isn't accurate, but I was SO thankful - I told myself, "I've gotten everything that my technology would allow me to find." Those of you die-hard CW guys like me will understand what a relief that was to me.
I have permission there no more. And I have no desire to go back. The trenches are still intact. Cleaning out the barn, I found this. Holy cow. Memories of the 1970s.
For you newbies, that's a Metrotech "Beep and dig" machine that's nearly 50 years old, modified to be more comfortable to swing. I found my spur, gold token, and many buttons with that.
Near it, I found this. daddy must have stuck it in the barn many years ago.
It's a 5-gallon bucket full of frags. Some quite substantial, too.
Lastly, some of you old timers remember the name Mac Mason. he's a Virginia legend, and was a good friend of the family. What you may NOT know, is that he was asked by a professional artist to pose for some paintings. They wanted to use him as a model for a series of prints. He gave daddy a couple of them. (Mac was not a humble guy! Loved to see anything about himself in print!) Check out Mac's face, peeking out of time from 50 years ago, Good times!
I had to sell my childhood home to pay for my Mother's healthcare. No regrets. The last month, I hunted it every chance I got. Never failed EVER to find at least one CW period item, if only a bullet. With one week to go, I went. I thought, "It would be so cool to pull ONE more button." I found this. NOTHING else. Just this.
Then, with two DAYS to go, I had to give it one more try. It was (I promise this is true) It was the ONLY time I ever hunted that yard in 50 years, and found nothing. Zero. Not ONE CW item.
Now I know this isn't accurate, but I was SO thankful - I told myself, "I've gotten everything that my technology would allow me to find." Those of you die-hard CW guys like me will understand what a relief that was to me.
I have permission there no more. And I have no desire to go back. The trenches are still intact. Cleaning out the barn, I found this. Holy cow. Memories of the 1970s.
For you newbies, that's a Metrotech "Beep and dig" machine that's nearly 50 years old, modified to be more comfortable to swing. I found my spur, gold token, and many buttons with that.
Near it, I found this. daddy must have stuck it in the barn many years ago.
It's a 5-gallon bucket full of frags. Some quite substantial, too.
Lastly, some of you old timers remember the name Mac Mason. he's a Virginia legend, and was a good friend of the family. What you may NOT know, is that he was asked by a professional artist to pose for some paintings. They wanted to use him as a model for a series of prints. He gave daddy a couple of them. (Mac was not a humble guy! Loved to see anything about himself in print!) Check out Mac's face, peeking out of time from 50 years ago, Good times!
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