Big Pipe in Backyard

[magicuserbaby]

Greetings, treasure hunters!

While this inquiry may seem mundane, bear with me - I’ve done a lot of digging on my own, and have yet to uncover a suitable explanation for this very large pipe in the backyard of a home that I’m closing on shortly. Property is in the middle of nowhere, home is in the middle of the property in the middle of nowhere. Very rural. Well water, septic tank is about 150’ from the house (with no record or disclosure of any additional septic tanks), buried power.

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The pipe is about 20’ tall, the base maybe 6”+ in diameter. I can’t tell what type of metal it’s made from - I don’t know too much about that subject, unfortunately - but I’m assuming steel, since you can see the weld where the pipe width quickly tapers. From the third photo, you can tell that it’s hollow. There is no hardware on the pipe that would suggest it was used as a flag pole, clothes line, or anything else similar.

No one knows what it’s for - not the realtor, not the individual I bought it from (who was the second owner of the home, bought it just a few years ago), none of the neighbors, nor the County.

What it Isn’t
We can likely rule out these things:

• Oil pipe
• Natural gas venting
• Capped well
• Septic pipe
• Sprinkler/irrigation

I find it unlikely that it’s a bunker (I mean, that would be a huge selling point, and I’d happily pay more for a home with a bunker) though many people I’ve spoken with about it have suggested that.

Have any of you guys seen something like this before? Any educated guesses on what it might be, or how to go about finding out what it might be?

 

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[smokeythecat]

It gives me the creeps. I'd find out what it was there for before you close. Underground mining or old landfill vent comes to mind. I certainly don't know. It had a reason to be there.

 

[magicuserbaby]

It gives me the creeps.

Agreed, it's definitely got a creepy vibe to it, which is one of the reasons I'm so intrigued by it. So far, it's defied simple or obvious explanations, and each time it does, its mystery thickens.

I'd find out what it was there for before you close. Underground mining or old landfill vent comes to mind. I certainly don't know. It had a reason to be there.

The parcel on which the house sits is just a few hundred yards from the site of an old logging and mining ghost town (very early 1900s). There's not much of it left, and most of what is is on private property, but there may be something to your suggestion there.

Also found these on the land:

 

[smokeythecat]

You've answered your own question. It is a vent pipe leading down to a mine shaft. And that means there are tunnel(s) under your future property. Better go find out where they are = quick.

You don't know if it's stable or not and as is would be a kid magnet. You also might try to research what is UNDERGROUND there.

Once upon a time ago there was chromium mining in my county. The last mine closed during WWII. In the 1960's, my mother in law's neighbor woke up to find a massive sink hole 10' from their house. The mine had collapsed and they were left to fill it in. Their car almost became a casualty.

Non disclosure is a clause in most states to back out of a contract. I'd be cautious and see what lies underground.

Do you know what they were mining? The chromium was hard rock mining through a serpentine body.

 

[ARC]

Sign pole.

 

[magicuserbaby]

Smokey, I think you're right - it makes perfect sense. Thanks for the solid advice. I'll reach out to the county and the local historical society to see about getting more information, then go to the realtor with my findings.

Do you have any ideas as to what kind of resources I could use to do further research?

 

[Al D]

...

but in your case it would be C.Hu. R. D.

 

[magicuserbaby]

...but in your case it would be C.Hu. R. D.

Haha! The thought crossed my mind, for sure...

 

[Al D]

On a more serious note, it looks like an anchor pipe for a logging operation, the items in your other photo also look like log moving equipment, something like a drag line.

 

[smokeythecat]

Just makes sure it's nothing hazardous. Or leads to something hazardous. Lots of county records and some historical societies have histories of the mines and other big business that was in your area once upon a time.

 

[creskol]

All the stuff seen in the last photo is sawmill related. Alan's theory on the pipe is a good theory.

 

[magicuserbaby]

Just makes sure it's nothing hazardous. Or leads to something hazardous. Lots of county records and some historical societies have histories of the mines and other big business that was in your area once upon a time.

Very good call. And to answer your previous question, it was iron that was being mined. I'll start digging into records as I can find them online, and maybe pay a visit to the historical society this week. Again, thanks for the advice!

On a more serious note, it looks like an anchor pipe for a logging operation, the items in your other photo also look like log moving equipment, something like a drag line.

That would make sense too! I thought the cars/rails didn't look like they were for mining, but couldn't figure out what they'd be used for otherwise. This would obviously be the preferable answer - I really don't want to have to jump ship on this house (and the future farmstead) because the earth is full of spooky and potentially unstable tunnels.

 

[MetalArchSC]

I didn’t know the used rails for logging .. Thought it was chained pulled out by tractors or horses before that. Interesting.

 

[Anduril]

Flagpole? (Doubtful!)

I wonder why the pole is tapered half-way up?
Given what we've learned in the thread, I'm inclined to go with something to do with prior use of the land, namely, mining operations.

Be sure to let us know if you ever get a definitive answer!

 

[creskol]

Look at your last picture and compare the ingredients with the ones shown here in a photo of an old frick mill

 

[A2coins]

Can you take a sample of or scrape the inside of the pipe to have it tested and see whats inside if it is a vent pipe ?

 

[magicuserbaby]

Man, you guys are full of great ideas and information! Glad I stumbled across you all.

I didn’t know the used rails for logging .. Thought it was chained pulled out by tractors or horses before that. Interesting.

I was under the same impression, but after doing a little research, I found this, which seems to depict the operations alan m was referring to:

Be sure to let us know if you ever get a definitive answer!

Will do! I plan on getting to the bottom of this, one way or the other! Worst case scenario, if we still don't get an answer - but can confirm that there's nothing unsafe about it - I'm going to tie a GoPro and a flashlight to a length of rope, climb the pipe, and drop it down the hollow top!

Look at your last picture and compare the ingredients with the ones shown here in a photo of an old frick mill

Now that looks exactly like the old equipment I found! Definitely supports the logging theory.

Can you take a sample of or scrape the inside of the pipe to have it tested and see whats inside if it is a vent pipe ?

Great idea! What type of testing facility could I take that sample to? I know there's a nearby chemical testing company (asbestos testing, for instance) - do you think they might be able to help out?

 

[magicuserbaby]

Also, Anduril, I think you're right - the answer lies in what was previously done with the land. Creskol provided us clear evidence of a significant logging operation, which is consistent with alan m's suggestion that the pipe is some form of anchor. However, there are a couple questions yet to be answered by that theory, like:

1. Were these anchors commonly made of large, steel pipes driven deep into the ground? There's no concrete base (at least, not that's visible), so it would have to be pretty far underground. Additionally, was the cabling hardware removed? If so, I would expect evidence of it having been attached (holes, bolts, etc) - but none exist.

2. If used as an anchor, why use a piece of steel that was welded together? I would expect that design to compromise the integrity of the anchor and risk bringing down the pipe, and the lines and payload with it.

I've been digging as best I can into this online, and so far, I've found that the land does seem to have been a direct part of the logging and mining operations surrounding the now defunct town, which shuttered its doors in 1918. BLM land patents, USGS records, and digitized maps from the local university have confirmed this. Further, it seems that the only forms of mining in the area were sand and gravel pits (I mistakenly said iron - while there are a significant number of iron mines in my state, there's none close by), so I don't think there's a huge risk of underground mines necessitating a ventilation shaft.

That being said, I'm no closer to an answer now than I was this morning (though I have some great leads thanks to you all). I think a trip to the local historical society, maybe the county assessors, or even forestry office is in my very near future.

 

[Madmox]

Smokey, I think you're right - it makes perfect sense. Thanks for the solid advice. I'll reach out to the county and the local historical society to see about getting more information, then go to the realtor with my findings.

Do you have any ideas as to what kind of resources I could use to do further research?

I find it hard to believe they would put a vent pipe so high in the air. It doesn’t make any sense. It would flow FAR less air than one near the ground. It would be harder to install, more expensive, and I can’t think of any benefit to it being so large. I think AARC is much closer to the truth, that it’s a sign pole

 

[Plug N Play]

Any signs of rotation above ? Say a large pole was slide down over the small pole ?
Or ... if you estimate the width of the frick mill in the middle ... maybe a second pole now cut off below the ground which may have formed an overhead support with the two poles ?