Pete in MI
New member
not far away is a ghost town (Pere Cheney). Population was 5,500+ back in the 1800's by 1920's the population was down to about 18. Diptheria was a major cause of the drop in population. I know many people have metal detected this town before me but I have something they never had - a map. There are maps on the web for this town (1921 date) and is only a recollection of the town by a senior citizen.
The map I have is a combination map - containing property lines, streets, etc. from an 1874 plat map, contours from a topographical map, and it has key locations numbered and identified on this map. It makes the 1921 map look useless in comparison.
I've been there with Ken and we hit the hotel and the school (found the foundation to the school and got lots of square nails there). There is a cemetery in the town as well and has been vandalized over and over again. RIght now there is a group who are trying to save the cemetery and get it listed as a historical site so it will be protected from vandals and another group that want to shoot a movie about the strange happenings in and around the cemetery. Both are local groups and I have been giveny privy info not available to the general public - so come spring this boy will be ghost towning.
I can't believe how big this town is compared to what the puny 1921 map shows. Once I find the property owner (which shold be fairly easy when I get in touch with the movie crew) and get permission to detect then anyone coming to visit me will get a chance to do some ghost towning too.
Any pointers on detecting the railroad are Steve in SoAz (and others)?
Open to suggestions where to concentrate efforts but probably be better if you had the map in hand....oh yeah about the map. I made a promise that no one else would get a copy. Only 4 people as far as I know have this and the originator is making us swear we will not give out the map to others without his or his 2nd in command so to speak permission.
I'm excited...maybe we should hold the forum hunt up here eh?
The map I have is a combination map - containing property lines, streets, etc. from an 1874 plat map, contours from a topographical map, and it has key locations numbered and identified on this map. It makes the 1921 map look useless in comparison.
I've been there with Ken and we hit the hotel and the school (found the foundation to the school and got lots of square nails there). There is a cemetery in the town as well and has been vandalized over and over again. RIght now there is a group who are trying to save the cemetery and get it listed as a historical site so it will be protected from vandals and another group that want to shoot a movie about the strange happenings in and around the cemetery. Both are local groups and I have been giveny privy info not available to the general public - so come spring this boy will be ghost towning.
I can't believe how big this town is compared to what the puny 1921 map shows. Once I find the property owner (which shold be fairly easy when I get in touch with the movie crew) and get permission to detect then anyone coming to visit me will get a chance to do some ghost towning too.
Any pointers on detecting the railroad are Steve in SoAz (and others)?
Open to suggestions where to concentrate efforts but probably be better if you had the map in hand....oh yeah about the map. I made a promise that no one else would get a copy. Only 4 people as far as I know have this and the originator is making us swear we will not give out the map to others without his or his 2nd in command so to speak permission.
I'm excited...maybe we should hold the forum hunt up here eh?