Lil Brother
New member
Last week I was at work and it was an unusually slow day. I sell fences to people here in the local community and carry my own personal metal detector with me to locate property pins. This day was realy slow so after debating for what seemed like weeks, I decided to take my Garretts GTA 750 over to the old McElhaney place off of Congo Road to see what I could find.
I was born and raised in this part of town and knew that all the McElhaneys were long gone. Their old house had been gone for at least 10 years and all that remained was the foundation with a driveway beside it. I really didnt know who to ask to see if I could run my detector over the old place, so I went against my better judgement and did it any way.
I wqsnt there over 10 minutes and after searching around the driveway and front porch of the old place without finding anything of value, I suddenly got a very strong signal a few feet away from the foundation. I expected to find a coin of some type, but what really was going throuh my mind was thinking that I might find something significant like a Barber half dollar or something of that sort.
I carry a chipping hammer and a small spade to dig with so after digging about six or eight inches deep, I hit a solid piece of old tin. I kept digging and after a second or two, my spade sunk up to my wrist and it was then that I saw the bottom. It seems as though I had dug to an old root cellar that looked to be about 4-5 ft deep and maybe 6 ft by 6 ft in diameter. I immediately noticed the floor had water covering it.
It was kind of erie and creepy knowing that no one had sen this "hidden chamber" for 40-50 years. I was sure of it; however, I didnt dig any further. I covered it back up only to go home to think what my next step would be. What was in this old room? was it really a room, a cellar, a septic tank, or what? I didnt know if I would stumble across a mason jar full of double eagles or if I would come out smelling like Do-do.
There is an apartment complex next door to this old place and a blacktop road in front. I cant expect to go back without being "detected" I would like to have some advise on this from all you experienced folk. Remember that eventually this place will probably be the site of another apartment or something simular. I dont know who owns this place , but Im betting probably a real estate company.
Have any of you guys ever come across a situation like this before? Please advise and
Thanks,
Lil Brother
I was born and raised in this part of town and knew that all the McElhaneys were long gone. Their old house had been gone for at least 10 years and all that remained was the foundation with a driveway beside it. I really didnt know who to ask to see if I could run my detector over the old place, so I went against my better judgement and did it any way.
I wqsnt there over 10 minutes and after searching around the driveway and front porch of the old place without finding anything of value, I suddenly got a very strong signal a few feet away from the foundation. I expected to find a coin of some type, but what really was going throuh my mind was thinking that I might find something significant like a Barber half dollar or something of that sort.
I carry a chipping hammer and a small spade to dig with so after digging about six or eight inches deep, I hit a solid piece of old tin. I kept digging and after a second or two, my spade sunk up to my wrist and it was then that I saw the bottom. It seems as though I had dug to an old root cellar that looked to be about 4-5 ft deep and maybe 6 ft by 6 ft in diameter. I immediately noticed the floor had water covering it.
It was kind of erie and creepy knowing that no one had sen this "hidden chamber" for 40-50 years. I was sure of it; however, I didnt dig any further. I covered it back up only to go home to think what my next step would be. What was in this old room? was it really a room, a cellar, a septic tank, or what? I didnt know if I would stumble across a mason jar full of double eagles or if I would come out smelling like Do-do.
There is an apartment complex next door to this old place and a blacktop road in front. I cant expect to go back without being "detected" I would like to have some advise on this from all you experienced folk. Remember that eventually this place will probably be the site of another apartment or something simular. I dont know who owns this place , but Im betting probably a real estate company.
Have any of you guys ever come across a situation like this before? Please advise and
Thanks,
Lil Brother
