Yea, I'll ask about the outhouse pit.
What I do is collect information about old towns that once existed in
the townships but have now disappeared. It's a project of mine toward
writing a book in the future. I collect data and old photos if there are any
and put folders together and then donate them to the public library in my
area and in the areas near where the old towns once existed. I make several
copies and then present myself to the locals in the area with what I have requesting
any knowledge they might have. I'm right up front about my project and that lends
credibility to my being there. Most people are receptive after I give them copies
of information I've gathered up to that point. So far I've had success finding places
to detect.
I started doing this last year around the end of the year, September, so the idea
is new for me, but I've gotten a lot of good leads playing detective like this. The lady
I've been in contact with has already told me of other people in the area who once lived
there who has an old house that belonged to HER great great grandparents. She rents it out.
I plan to follow up on that but first, one thing at a time.
The most difficult thing is finding old photos. Most of them went the way of the trash truck.
People die, leave their possessions to relatives who really aren't that interested in historical
records and OUT they go, all those photos, old letters and books, and anything else of
historical value.
I've met a lot of great people with interesting stories to tell, things they remembered their
parents telling them about the area. If you don't get the info now, it will be lost completely.
I think many of you could do well finding sites this way. Many people say, "Well, I'm not
a writer," but that's not important. Just make it a pet project of yours to go researching materials
about the area your interested in, make a folder, and take it with you when you knock on doors.
The public libraries and especially the historical societies love it when they get people
volunteering research in their community.
All I would add to this is, RESPECT their property if they let you MD there. Most
everyone here knows this but theres always the odd one who drops in to the forum,
reads a little bit, and off they go, digging holes and not covering them, trespasssing
etc. You name it.
Katz
.
Man, we'd love to walk around that property with the depth multipliers!
Too cool! Best of luck to ya with the book!
Sounds great!
Happy Hunting!