Finds in a well

[1320]

This isn't for everyone! Another one of my well digs. This one was 25 feet to the bottom with only 4 feet of muck. Probably been cleaned before but they didn't get everything (1891 IH penny). Everything else was more than likely dumped after the last cleaning. Guessing by some of the other stuff I found in it....last cleaning was probably in the late 1940's or early 1950's.

 

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[1320]

The "muck". This stuff is thick and stinks beyond belief. Throw your clothes away after messing in this!

 

[rjnail]

i found a few wells but all the ones i found where filled in with rocks n stones, shows never hunted out , great job there, "WELL" done.

 

[1320]

Couldn't believe this penny was in there AND in this great shape! Was it worth it? YES. Not sure what the other "coin" thing is. It's a bit smaller than the penny but sure resembles a coin......

 

[1320]

Some of the glassware in the well. I didn't encounter any broken glass in this well. Lots of nails however. I will have to wait a few days to let the muck dry out before I can get in and retrieve the balance, if any. This stuff is just too messy and stinky to fool with right away. Might still be some more keeper items in it.

 

[ZumbroKid]

The other coin looks to be about the size of a nickle 3 cent piece. Scan it and tell us where it reads on the detector.

 

[1320]

Free, the other coin reads "Nickel/30" on my Cortez.....you may be right. Too bad it's "rusty".

GF, in a nutshell, the muck was removed with a short handled, full size shovel and 5 gallon buckets. There's a bit more to it than that since safety is paramout. Most of the water was removed with a pump before entry. About 20 gallons had to be removed by hand. The water level is deceiving in the photo, that's only about half an inch of water in it. This well has gone dry for the time being as this area is in a multi month long drought.

When the ground freezes in Kentucky, go underground! It was quite warm down there.....

 

[Bavaria Mike]

Nice post and something I would like to do! ?How did you get to the bottom of the well and retrieve the treasure trove of scum? ?I also have a well, would love to clean it out and check out the finds. ?It dates to early 1936 and I suspect it could have some WWII relics in it. ?HH and great pics too, Mike

 

[lonewolfe]

Nice job 1320,

looks like a lot of work but who knows, there may be some better stuff "deeper" in the muck down there!

Keep us posted, and dig deeper!

HH

Lonewolfe

 

[Nana40]

Yuck!

You really worked hard for those finds!

Congrats!

 

[sssnake31]

Nasty work but a find is a find. Good job.

 

[Southcacalaky]

Theres more , I'm sure. Congrats, HH Art...

 

[strykerstalker]

i found one looked just like it , in the middle of a back yard in suberbia, went to the city and asked to check their sheets and see if it was even marked for them being it wasnt covered.. they said no.. not to mention i was there to do a cleanout on a home that was vacant for 10 yrs sold for only 2k in back taxs.. but anywho i cut down a tree that was old and dead but still strong, andf since it was there threw it in then raked the grass into it and knocked 4 bricks lower then the ground into it "which were only supported by the long log" 25 ft then piled dirt ontop of it.... now you know i really wanted to kick myself bveing that i could of used the industrial pump i used to empty the 4ft of water from the basement,then went down and searched it out... Oh well, i know where it is and only 2 others, being the city had no clue it was there, nor did they care...the same home had a sistern right up against the house it measured 6 ft by 13ft it was like a concrete bunker, i tore the top off and went into it but was never able to look around much but there were "alot " of bottles..and old ones at that.. if i had to say what this house reminded me of it would be a story i heard on here but never got finished...anyhow im babeling now so ill be quite.

 

[Snee]

Great IH!! Keep us posted!

 

[bazinga]

Very cool, but I would probably freak out if I went down there,haha.

 

[Paul in WA]

If your looking for a quick way to get stuff out of the muck, try running it through a sluice box. I do a lot of gold prospecting, and flat objects stick in a sluice box like a magnet.

Paul

 

[1320]

B. Mike, entry to the well is gained by using a very high quality fire department ladder. They are extremely sturdy and narrow. Narrow is important in most wells. Not to mention, this type of ladder has a locking mechinism that keeps it from collapsing. Another method that I employ is a tripod man lift. The man lift is always on site regardless. It's a pain in the butt to use to gain entry so I use the ladder when I can. The lift is primarily used to extract buckets of muck and would also serve to pull my hinny out in the event of a problem. I am always connected to the lift, even when descending and ascending the well. The ladder is removed once enough muck is removed to safely stand on the bottom of the well (more working room).

Good idea Paul....never thought of that.

If I hadn't got hooked on going in these wells years ago, I wouldn't fool with it. It's much easier to pony up the bucks and hire a well cleaning company to do it for you!

 

[AK in KY]

Nice IH Jamie. I never did like to play in the mud very much. But, somebody has to do it. Bring the mystery coin when we go to the school, maybe tomorrow, getting up to 44 degrees. HH

AK in KY

 

[Leon]

Great digs, WTG!!!
Looks like a lot of work,,,I hope ya find more goodies for your effort...
Good luck & Happy hunting~

 

[Jerry Ridgeway]

HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT CLEANING OUT A WELL??