What to do.....

[Sompa]

I have a site near me that, through research, I have found to be a location of several old homes dating back to mid 1700s. That site (has been a corn field in modern times), is just now being bull dozed for a shopping and home development. The dozers seem to be taking a foot or two off the top.....using for grading elsewhere. I'm pretty sure I could track down the owner of this site to ask him to MD there. I am concerned tho, that he may think that I will find something of "historical significance", which may in some way lead to a delay in his project. I guess I could say that I would keep anything I find a secret, but I'm not sure if that would be enough. How have other's handled situations like this? Also, WHAT IF I do find something(s) of significance......keep it to myself? I would hate to have a real historical site paved over forever before it's properly looked into. I know there's always "you have nothing to loose to just ask", but I'm looking for a creative approach I guess.

Thanks,
Sompa

 

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[jeff of pa]

I did a site Last summer, where I had to promise the owner I would NOT let anybody know if I found something Historically Significant. NO BIG DEAL. I can Keep secrets on a site a few years ago we found evidence which would stop a project. were asked to keep it to ourselves. NO BIGGIE. ..................................... Thing is, if he don't bring it up. Don't you bring it up. .... GET PERMISSION, ENJOY THE SEARCH & good Luck ! Happy Hunting ; jeff

 

[Lowbatts]

Ah, the dirty little secret on the archie's. When the riverboat casino went in downtown just over ten years ago, There were more siginifigant holes in that ground than you could count. I found watch faces from the Elgin Watch factory numbering in the thousands. They were representative of the piece work doen outside the factory at the numerous boarding houses that once stood there. There were aggregate clusters like you see of coinage at the sea floor from shipwrecks.

When building the launch deck for the riverboat, they dug down almost 5' an area almost footbal field in size. I got into it for two days, it was the site of the first city dump and oh man, the bottles, many with corks and stuff still in them were unreal. Local historians and "preservationists" were uninterested. Not a matter of priority, just because they would have to take on big money. Yep I was called names for it, but pulled hundreds of bottles out in only two days time and got some dolls, nick-nakcs and other unmentionables. All were lost in a flood 100 years earlier when the site was buried. All was lost when they ground it up and laid the foundation for the launch ramp a few days later. I and two friends were the only ones doing anything about recovery there.

Since then I know none of the archies care about commercial development, I've seen thousands of acres around here go under and no one doing anything as simple as a walkthrough except on those occassions when I do. Go for it, if you get permission then you will be heading the effort to get something before it's removed and spread to where ever and when ever it might ever get located again, if ever. Good luck!

 

[cedarratt]

Go on a Sunday and tell any one that asks that you are checking for buried pipes. Hope they leave it at that.

 

[TOWcritter]

I've got the same thing down the road from me. There ia a 40 acre farm that has been deserted since I moved here 4 years ago. It has a main house 2 outbuildings and a barn on the back end of the property. now the is a sign up from the local builder. 200 town houses are going in real soon. I have always wondered what was in the ground up there. I like the sunday idea.

 

[eathabs]

I work in sales. Bottom line is if you don't ask for the sale you don't get it. Some times you have to be creative in the way you deliver the pitch. Before you try to ask someone you don't know and something you have never asked before, practice it while looking in the mirror. It will flow more smoothly and convincingly.

 

[spotz]

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Try offering to show him your finds, or even invite him along to see what you are doing & finding. Spotz