Researching the places we hunt

[Cherokeefan68]

We all have different preferences on where we hunt. This being said, I found a neat resource for those of us hunting in urban areas or on abandoned properties. While researching an old rail depot(the building is long gone) in the small town I live in, I found Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps(found it googling historic maps). The great thing about these are that you can get them for the early 1900's or even the late 1800's. The other cool thing is that most State Libraries have digitized a large part of this collection(over fifty thousand editions) for their state. I had to apply online for a State Library Card here in Iowa to see the states collection. The maps are downloadable so that you can take them with you out into the field. That old rail depot I was looking for, now has the town fire department building on the same piece of property, but the buildings are NOT in the same place. I am in the process of getting permission to hunt there. I am relatively new to this hobby, however, on the days I can't go out and hunt, I can do research which is a treasure hunt all on its own.


I have attached an example of a map from a small town here in Iowa.

 

[dougmoore34]

n/t

 

[BH-LandStar]

Those maps are cool...they even show where outhouses were if there were any there...They are great for seeing where buildings that are no longer standing once stood.

HH,

BH-LandStar

 

[Cherokeefan68]

I'm just glad that the info is useful to other people.

 

[JJ]

here is a good link for anyone else not registered with Sanborn. Should give you full access.

sanborn maps

username: Residence

password: Welcome

i'll repost if i didnt do that right. I agree Bryan, this is a fantastic resource for old maps in many different eras. i would also recommend downloading Microsoft Virtual Earth, very comparable to Google Earth, but better in my opinion. (bird's eye view is stellar!) up to the minute satellite imagery, great for armchair scouting and saves money on gas!

Microsoft Virtual Earth


JJ from Southwest Iowa

 

[dirt jockey]

Cherokeefan68, that is some really great information. We are always interested in finding new ways to find new places. I'm sure most of you already use Google Earth, but if you don't, it is a very fascinating and interesting way to find new places to hunt. Just go to Google Earth and download the FREE program. In just a few minutes you can look at any location in the world using satellite images. You can even look in your own back yard...or your neighbors back yard. I use it to locate parks, schools, salt and fresh water beaches. I thought it might be a neat way for us to share the actual locations we are hunting, helps us visualize how you are working the area.

For example: if you will go to 3625 E Powell Blvd. Gresham, Oregon, you will see the middle school I am currently hunting. You will see the track, with the footbal field and the small concrete seating area on the South side of the track where I am working the "grassy knoll." That's where I found the really nice men's sterling ring about a month ago. If you have a location you are hunting, put in the address and we can see what it looks like. Anyway, I thought I'd throw this out there and see if any of you would be interested. By the way, I live in Gresham Oregon and you can see some of the parks and schools I hunt. You can even use this when going out of town to locate places to hunt. It's a fun tool.

OOPS! I read your post so fast I didn't catch the part about Virtual Earth...I agree, Virtual Earth and Google Earth are two very good tools.

 

[JJ]

something else i like to do to get a good "glimpse" into the past is research old postcards on the internet. ebay is a good source of old postcards. no need to buy, just copy image and save for future reference. good way to find past haunts.

 

[dobbie]

i looked up old places in the town i live in and i found an old stage coach station. a few saloons and an old racetrack. all gone now of course.

 

[waltship]

Another place to go for old pix of your village, town, county or events of years past is your local/county historical soc. Check the early years of newspapers that are on microfilm in your library. The county library in our county have newspapers on microfilm back into the early 1800s.

 

[ikandigit]

Hi,I have also found a useful source for finding old towns,stage depots,encampments etc....its a state treasure guide offered for each state and can be found on E-Bay for about Ten Bucks!!!!!!!!!!!! HappyHunting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!