Theres this hole in my cellar

[Bramblefind]

There's this hole in my cellar

I thought this could be appropriate here since many of us spend time digging in old foundations and cellar holes.

My house is from the 1880s and the cellar is "rustic" so I don't spend too much time down there. I have noticed this hole but I always thought it was a foot or so deep and dry. I just happened to check it out and it is filled with water and over 6 feet deep

It is located right next to one of the foundation walls. From what I could see it appears to be lined with bricks. From what I can tell it also remains the size of the hole opening for the entire length (about 4"x 4" square) but I could be wrong.

The water has no smell. Thank goodness.

We use an old dug well for our water (we have an excellent purifier). It is located over 100 ft from the house.

Well? Privy? (yikes) What do you think it is?

 

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[AU24K]

Re: There's this hole in my cellar

Cistern.

Scott

 

[mrs.oroblanco]

Re: There's this hole in my cellar

It's for water - back in the day.

Our old house had one, too. The water looked clear, so we had it tested - it tested better than the well OR town water.

B

 

[Bramblefind]

Re: There's this hole in my cellar

Thank you!

I had no idea. That is really cool. I wonder if there is a spring down there?

 

[kuger]

Re: There's this hole in my cellar

My grandmother used to always talk about the well they had in the kitchen when she was a little girl.She said my greatgrandmother was always worried one of them would fall down it.Years ago we went back to the site and all that remained was the stone walls with a hole in the middle!!

 

[AU24K]

Re: There's this hole in my cellar

Probably not. Cisterns are used mainly to collect rainwater. Most times the water is "non potable."

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae029

Scott

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: There's this hole in my cellar

My first thought was that there used to be a 4 x 4 wood support post there.
Old lumber posts were exactly 4' x 4". Those were the days when a 4x4 was a 4x4 not a 3-1/2 x 3-1/2.

 

[sniffer]

Re: There's this hole in my cellar

I would suspect that it had a hand pump that went into it and pumped the water into the kitchen or bathroom
above it

 

[Tony in SC]

Re: There's this hole in my cellar

A lot of times that type well was under the kitchen or back porch, so a hand pump could be installed in the house. Tony

 

[mojjax]

Re: There's this hole in my cellar

You should drop a heavy-duty magnet on a string down there !

 

[ballbuster]

Re: There's this hole in my cellar

Could it be just a sump pump hole? is it located in the low end of the basement? Check the walls above for a exit point that may have been covered over.

Just a thought.

Jim

 

[texan connection]

Re: There's this hole in my cellar

Cold storage, for milk and such

 

[Bramblefind]

Re: There's this hole in my cellar

It was my first thought too that it was an old, empty post hole. I think that is why I didn't investigate it until now. I am amazed at the engineering that much have gone on to make this thing. I should know by now not to underestimate the ingenuity of the 19th century farmer

Mojjax - that is an excellent idea! I am going to do it.

Now that I think about it i do think it is located right under where the old kitchen sink might have been. The house was renovated a while back and a new kitchen was added on.

Sump pump was my sister's first guess too but that side of the cellar always stays dry. We do have a sump hole and drain on the opposite side of the cellar that we have to use occasionally in the spring.


Thanks for all the ideas!

 

[Shortstack]

Re: There's this hole in my cellar

That hole is just big enough for a water pipe. A hand pump would be on the top to pump the water. The folks would have to keep a bucket of water handy to "prime" the pump before each use. Used a few of these in my youth.

 

[Monty]

Re: There's this hole in my cellar

My first thought was sump pump also. But it obviously it is not since the water is potable. What throwns me is why it's only six feet deep? Six feet of water could easily be pumped dry. Danged if I can figure it out? Monty

 

[Bramblefind]

Re: There's this hole in my cellar

Well I sent a magnet down there and I was only able to pull up one nail so far. There is something else at the bottom that I cannot get very far up before it gets stuck. That makes me think that it is probably bigger at the bottom. Maybe a piece of silverware or something like that landed at the bottom and it is going to be very tricky to get it situated vertical to bring it back up again through the narrow passage.

There were also a few others places along the sides where I felt the magnet had some pull.

I will keep trying.

I can't wait to use this method to investigate the two old wells located at the site I dig at!

 

[Breezie]

Re: There's this hole in my cellar

Bramble, this is most interesting. I'm not sure if you're aware of the super powerful neodymium magnets or not, but below is a website with some info. The ones I have are only 1/2 inch in diameter, and they are powerful enough to pinch a blood blister on your finger if 2 decide to mate! (lol) You may want to get some to help bring out the big stuff.
http://www.gaussboys.com/
Breezie

I almost forgot, any suggestions on how to get the non-magnetic stuff out? Who knows, some one could have lost a ring or bracelet while putting milk in the chiller.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: There's this hole in my cellar

Bramble, this is most interesting. I'm not sure if you're aware of the super powerful neodymium magnets or not, but below is a website with some info. The ones I have are only 1/2 inch in diameter, and they are powerful enough to pinch a blood blister on your finger if 2 decide to mate! (lol) You may want to get some to help bring out the big stuff.
http://www.gaussboys.com/
Breezie

Ill have to order one of those for my beach scoop.

 

[ivan salis]

Re: There's this hole in my cellar

chiller hole for milk --to keep it cool put milk in can lower into cold water -- kept it from goin bad. (this was before electric "ice boxes")

 

[Breezie]

Re: There's this hole in my cellar

Bramble, this is most interesting. I'm not sure if you're aware of the super powerful neodymium magnets or not, but below is a website with some info. The ones I have are only 1/2 inch in diameter, and they are powerful enough to pinch a blood blister on your finger if 2 decide to mate! (lol) You may want to get some to help bring out the big stuff.
http://www.gaussboys.com/
Breezie

Ill have to order one of those for my beach scoop.

BCH, those magnets are the bomb! Great idea for the beach scoop. I have a garaged '54 Chevy, but still like it covered, and 4 of those 1/2 inch magnets will hold 2 full size bed sheets on the car. Walmart has some in the craft department, but they don't seem to be quite as strong as the ones I ordered. Breezie