map help needed

[greasecarguy]

Been striking out at parks and would like to get into cellar holes more. I have downloaded a few maps of the areas I want to work, however, have yet to find a plat map from the early 1800's or late 1700's. I will head to the library soon. I have seen topo maps from the late 1800's, beers county maps from 1875 and read a bit. Any idea if I can resize theses with easy software like paint so that I can match up residences?

One location I have read about locally is the site of an old (I guess ghost town) factory, complete with church and school. Most of it is on private land, but I have heard that there are some foundations on state land. This place is very deep in the woods, maybe a 2 mile hoof through the tic infested woods. No modern roads there at all.

My experience with the topo maps is that they are not very accurate. I saw a few foundations on this map on state land a bit deep into the woods and three of us could find no trace of the sites. No square nails, nothing but junk; not much,and not really old junk. We did locate a few, however , they were way, way off. It did yield an 1890's O barber for my son, but nothing else.

I really feel the need to get a handle on the map thing as I feel this offers the most opportunity. Any help is much appreciated.

HH Aaron

 

[JHM]

I try to locate the area on a modern map then get the gps coordinates. Go to the spot and circle the spot fanning out with each pass using a fast response detector. Sometimes it will be 100 yards or more away. Sometimes it doesn't work, sometimes it has already been hunted to death, Sometimes it's underwater. It's a crap-shoot.