William-NM
New member
Y'all have likely been thinking "Man, that William-NM is one lazy old son of a gun". That's only mostly true; I did have a nice break (the only way I could get myself to knock out the web design project for the client (a lawyer) was to lock myself in the hut until it was completed). Done, client happy. Then, I was just feeling kinda kicked back, though I did build some rustic display shelving (I'll post once I finish the lighting), buffed out the hut and car and did a bunch of other little projects that it felt good to finally get around to. I have gotten a few hunts in, though - a couple of ghost towners, a bike trek that turned very soggy, and a couple of in towners.
I think I have a contender for the dinkiest silver ring: a size 2 - won't even begin to go on my pinkie. It has greenish stone, maybe Malachite.
Moving right along, I was up in the ghost zone the other day, checking out a new area. I didn't feel like I found much, but when I got home and cleaned up the Iron spoon (thick layer of rust), I found that it had a pouring notch and had traces of copper and perhaps gold on it. I suspect that it was used to pour lead bullets, too, so I actually think that it was a pretty cool find. Just maybe 10 yards from it, near a dry (intermittent) creek, I found an 8# cannon ball. Pictured with it is the little brass and iron canon that I found in town.
Here's the ghostly hacienda and the creek where the cannon ball turned up, and the latest of the outhouses (I ID'd at least four previous privy sites):
and one of the locals who stopped by for a chat. I could tell it was a guy, because when I mentioned that he should take a hard left if he was migrating to Mexico, he replied "I don't need no stinking directions, gringo!". Well!
My other favorite recent find was this old railroad padlock. The chain would have been about a foot long originally, someone has snipped it, maybe a heist!? It is stamped AT&SF for Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Line.
I made one attempted bike trek on one of the old wagon roads between here and Fort Bayard. They were used by a sawmill north of the fort for hauling wood and supplies - I've mentioned the hardships & numerous Indian attacks that finally forced the closure of the sawmill. I'm hoping for an old coin or ?? . Unfortunately, the bright sunny day turned into torrential downpours rather quickly, and I had failed to put a shell in the pack (since remedied!), so I was reduced to listlessly standing in the brush with a bovine expresion on my face for half an hour or so. I did get a little hunting in, but will take another crack at it and get further in next time.
Dug a few bottles, the Coke's are "Hecho en Mexico", found them up in ghost country. The tokens and lead seals came from the same area (the president one is James Buchanan). Third photo is the diamond studded collar of some upscale pooch and little Fifi the poodle.
I like this tooled metalwork (it's a white metal, no rust, haven't tested it for silver yet??) I dug it out from the roots of a willow along the creek here in town.
Found another old Indian grinding stone, a few of my beloved marbles
, and a few copper, iron, and lead specimens and spills (and a ton of scrap brass & copper).
I did some poking around along the creek - the first shot is from the top of the CCC built stone wall (about 20' above the creek). I found this old iron lamp post part, I believe it's from one of the 5 globe lamp posts that were used in town as seen in the 1920 photo.
I dug a few religious medallions and the brass frame from a medal or ??. The sterling one is the nicest one that I've found and close to 1/4 oz with 20 little Hematite stones. Next is a few keys and clock bits, and a few costume jewelry pieces along with "Big Daddy's" wayfarers.
Here are a few toys - steering wheel for a peddle car, a "record" from a pull-string toy, etc., then some brass and tools - fancy hinge, ratchet that I took apart and fixed, with a large chunk of what I'm guessing was a switchboard at the back, and a shot of some insulators.
One drizzly day along the creek, I found a freeloader on my AT ! 2). A few iron finds including another miner's carbide lantern reflector. 3). Even more iron. If horseshoes really are good luck, then I'm all set for life (must have about 100 now, and over 30 Axe heads
)
Santa's Brass buckle and cosmetics & razors. Tiny Avon lipstick, cap for "Gay Romance" perfume (?), More cosmetics and buttons & beads.
Found a few military items- a number of dated Indian wars cartridges (most 1882), some Henry rifle carts, a couple of pieces of army silverware, and a river worn navy button. Also found my third heavy (1/2 pound) Copper mold - not sure what these were for, but I'm voting for Flan (the wonderful Mexican custard desert) !!
OK, that's it for now. It's great digging weather for now - 60's, my favorite biking weather, so I hope to take another run at the old wagon roads soon. Hope you all had a fun and safe Halloween & best of luck in the hunt to all!
William
I think I have a contender for the dinkiest silver ring: a size 2 - won't even begin to go on my pinkie. It has greenish stone, maybe Malachite.
Moving right along, I was up in the ghost zone the other day, checking out a new area. I didn't feel like I found much, but when I got home and cleaned up the Iron spoon (thick layer of rust), I found that it had a pouring notch and had traces of copper and perhaps gold on it. I suspect that it was used to pour lead bullets, too, so I actually think that it was a pretty cool find. Just maybe 10 yards from it, near a dry (intermittent) creek, I found an 8# cannon ball. Pictured with it is the little brass and iron canon that I found in town.
Here's the ghostly hacienda and the creek where the cannon ball turned up, and the latest of the outhouses (I ID'd at least four previous privy sites):
and one of the locals who stopped by for a chat. I could tell it was a guy, because when I mentioned that he should take a hard left if he was migrating to Mexico, he replied "I don't need no stinking directions, gringo!". Well!
My other favorite recent find was this old railroad padlock. The chain would have been about a foot long originally, someone has snipped it, maybe a heist!? It is stamped AT&SF for Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Line.
I made one attempted bike trek on one of the old wagon roads between here and Fort Bayard. They were used by a sawmill north of the fort for hauling wood and supplies - I've mentioned the hardships & numerous Indian attacks that finally forced the closure of the sawmill. I'm hoping for an old coin or ?? . Unfortunately, the bright sunny day turned into torrential downpours rather quickly, and I had failed to put a shell in the pack (since remedied!), so I was reduced to listlessly standing in the brush with a bovine expresion on my face for half an hour or so. I did get a little hunting in, but will take another crack at it and get further in next time.
Dug a few bottles, the Coke's are "Hecho en Mexico", found them up in ghost country. The tokens and lead seals came from the same area (the president one is James Buchanan). Third photo is the diamond studded collar of some upscale pooch and little Fifi the poodle.
I like this tooled metalwork (it's a white metal, no rust, haven't tested it for silver yet??) I dug it out from the roots of a willow along the creek here in town.
Found another old Indian grinding stone, a few of my beloved marbles
, and a few copper, iron, and lead specimens and spills (and a ton of scrap brass & copper).
I did some poking around along the creek - the first shot is from the top of the CCC built stone wall (about 20' above the creek). I found this old iron lamp post part, I believe it's from one of the 5 globe lamp posts that were used in town as seen in the 1920 photo.
I dug a few religious medallions and the brass frame from a medal or ??. The sterling one is the nicest one that I've found and close to 1/4 oz with 20 little Hematite stones. Next is a few keys and clock bits, and a few costume jewelry pieces along with "Big Daddy's" wayfarers.
Here are a few toys - steering wheel for a peddle car, a "record" from a pull-string toy, etc., then some brass and tools - fancy hinge, ratchet that I took apart and fixed, with a large chunk of what I'm guessing was a switchboard at the back, and a shot of some insulators.
One drizzly day along the creek, I found a freeloader on my AT ! 2). A few iron finds including another miner's carbide lantern reflector. 3). Even more iron. If horseshoes really are good luck, then I'm all set for life (must have about 100 now, and over 30 Axe heads
)
Santa's Brass buckle and cosmetics & razors. Tiny Avon lipstick, cap for "Gay Romance" perfume (?), More cosmetics and buttons & beads.
Found a few military items- a number of dated Indian wars cartridges (most 1882), some Henry rifle carts, a couple of pieces of army silverware, and a river worn navy button. Also found my third heavy (1/2 pound) Copper mold - not sure what these were for, but I'm voting for Flan (the wonderful Mexican custard desert) !!
OK, that's it for now. It's great digging weather for now - 60's, my favorite biking weather, so I hope to take another run at the old wagon roads soon. Hope you all had a fun and safe Halloween & best of luck in the hunt to all!
William
And I am beginning to think you live in Gods country. Next trip out to Az, I am going to make it a point to stop in your state. HH jim tn
Magnificent! 
.