Two old home sites and old barn

[jakechiro]

Just wanted to give everyone a heads up. I just talked to my friend and he has some land with an old barn (still standing) and two old home sites that date back to at least the 1940s. I am planning a trip to go over there w/in the next month or so. Any suggestions on where I should start looking? I have a Garrett GTI 2500. I have yet to find a silver coin, so I have my hopes up. Send any encouraging stories that you have to motivate me! Also, there is an old elementary school nearby that I want to go check out. They have two playgrounds and a dirt parking lot next to one of them.

Jake

 

[NM5K]

Myself, I try to visualize where people would have
often walked, etc. IE: all the doors, pathways, sidewalks
leading to doors, driveways, etc. All over the yards.
Heck...About everywhere really..But I'd try to find the
places for busy foot traffic first.
MK

 

[Uncle Willy]

Take a long, steel, probe and a shovel with you and locate and probe the outhouse pits and dig up some goodies. Watch when probing so you don't bust an old, valuable bottle. If these were farms check the yards well as during harvest they fed the farm hands out in the yard. Check any old cellar holes. Also check any lightning rods on the barn or house. Back in the old days many were made of platinum as platinum was worthless back then.

Bill

 

[tonypizza]

Check the fences post.If there is a loose one pull it out and check inside.I know old people use them for CAHES little jars with silver or even gold coins in them.IN THOSE DAY'S THEY DIDN'T TRUSS THE BANKS.good luck and enjoy the search.HH

 

[Ralph Bryant]

Yeowzzzza ! Could you imagine finding a 6 foot long, 1/2 inch diameter PLATINUM lightning rod ?

Ralph

 

[jakechiro]

Thanks for the good advice. I am excited to go!

 

[Uncle Willy]

A dream come true. They also used to use it to make dentures from. In the Gold Rush days the miners threw it away. My how times have changed.

Bill

 

[Arkie John]

where you might envision the clothes line being strung. It's my FAVORITE spot. Remember, today's stumps were yesterday's trees. Yesterday's trees were good for tire or bag swings, clothes line anchors and a good place to play for kids.

Also...the old folks could be quite superstitious. It was a common practice to place silver coins on certain corners of the rock foundations for good luck when building a house.

Now, I would figure out where the driveway once was and think of how the old man would get out of his car and fishing for his keys, would loose a bit of change along the way. I once found a beautiful barber half thinking just that way.

TIme to saddle up and go to the barn. Go inside and scan the standing walls with your metal detector...the parts that are within good reach of the ole boy. Detect the floor of the barn, especially in the back of the stalls adn in the corners.

Next, go to the chicken pen (don't forget the coupe). Chickens are excellent watch dogs. Many a farmer entrusted his cache to the watchful eyes and keen ears of his chickens.

Someone mentioned post holes. They must be within earshot of the bedroom, I would think.

Finally, I would go to the creek nearest his house and look for anything strange...a well, a culvert...ancient stumps, concrete slabs etc. Give each a good goin' over, around and through.

You're gonna have a BUNCH of fun and who knows--you might even find that first SILVER coin. With a machine like you have, the only other variable is your WILL to find them.

Take some water and some fresh batteries and ... be systematic and best of luck to you. <><

Arkie John

 

[Uncle Willy]

Yeah check the section of the barn where they milked the cows. Guys sitting on milking stools lost a coin or two.

Bill