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All Forums >> [Bottle Forums] >> Digging and Finding >> Big Privy Dig!

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Big Privy Dig! - 12/5/2006 10:00:04 PM    Jim Posts: 3626 Joined: 7/5/2005 From: Lewistown, PA Status: offline Gene and I have finally hit our first good privy. This is a big stone-lined pit that was shared by three or four buildings which date to 1850-1860. So far, we are down to 15 feet. The first six feet were debris and new trash . Then, 1930s trash and ash down to about 12-13 feet . Finally, at about 13 feet a short 1910-1915 layer, quickly followed by 1890-1900. That's where we are now, and it shows no sign of stopping. The ABMs are all gone, and it's just getting good. Hopefully it was never dipped, and the 1850s-60s goodies are waiting below! Here are some pics. I will update daily until we are done, probably this weekend. We only get a couple of hours through the week. Gotta work . Work sucks...digging bottles rules! ~Jim _____________________________ Preserving our buried history, one pit at a time. http://www.freewebs.com/lewistownbottles/index.htm Post #: 1

RE: Big Privy Dig! - 12/5/2006 10:01:56 PM    Jim Posts: 3626 Joined: 7/5/2005 From: Lewistown, PA Status: offline Here is the pit site before we opened anything up. Attachment (1) _____________________________ Preserving our buried history, one pit at a time. http://www.freewebs.com/lewistownbottles/index.htm (in reply to Jim) Post #: 2

RE: Big Privy Dig! - 12/5/2006 10:03:54 PM    Jim Posts: 3626 Joined: 7/5/2005 From: Lewistown, PA Status: offline I'll get some "down in" pics tomorrow. Here is one of Gene ripping through the 30s garbage and ash on the way down to the goodies. Attachment (1) _____________________________ Preserving our buried history, one pit at a time. http://www.freewebs.com/lewistownbottles/index.htm (in reply to Jim) Post #: 3

RE: Big Privy Dig! - 12/5/2006 10:07:28 PM    Jim Posts: 3626 Joined: 7/5/2005 From: Lewistown, PA Status: offline My share of today's haul from about 14-15 feet down. Lots of common meds, two nice pieces of china, a local soda and an embossed druggist. I also spotted a badly corroded 1873 Indian Head cent from a bucket of dirt that we pulled out. Attachment (1) _____________________________ Preserving our buried history, one pit at a time. http://www.freewebs.com/lewistownbottles/index.htm (in reply to Jim) Post #: 4

RE: Big Privy Dig! - 12/5/2006 10:08:53 PM    Jim Posts: 3626 Joined: 7/5/2005 From: Lewistown, PA Status: offline Yes! Lewistown Bottling Works tall blob! Attachment (1) _____________________________ Preserving our buried history, one pit at a time. http://www.freewebs.com/lewistownbottles/index.htm (in reply to Jim) Post #: 5

RE: Big Privy Dig! - 12/5/2006 10:11:14 PM    Jim Posts: 3626 Joined: 7/5/2005 From: Lewistown, PA Status: offline J. KLECKNER M.D./ DRUGGIST/ MIFFLINBURG, PA. Sadly, this little guy is damaged at the bottom left corner, but still a keeper for display. Dates 1890-1900 from the maker's mark on the base. Attachment (1) _____________________________ Preserving our buried history, one pit at a time. http://www.freewebs.com/lewistownbottles/index.htm (in reply to Jim) Post #: 6

RE: Big Privy Dig! - 12/5/2006 10:11:26 PM    Tony14 Posts: 2757 Joined: 2/15/2005 From: Fond du Lac, Wisconsin Status: offline Looking great Jim you have to keep us posted. _____________________________ Looking for any Fond du Lac bottle. Also looking for any embossed wisconsin medicines. And any Carters cone inks (in reply to Jim) Post #: 7

RE: Big Privy Dig! - 12/5/2006 10:13:25 PM    Jim Posts: 3626 Joined: 7/5/2005 From: Lewistown, PA Status: offline We'll be back in the pit tomorrow after work for a few hours. Hopefully, we can at least bust into the 1880s or so. Here are a few things from yesterday's thin 1910-1920 layer. The earlier slicker meds were hung up in the wall. More pics tomorrow evening! ~Jim Attachment (1) < Message edited by Jim -- 12/5/2006 10:40:37 PM > _____________________________ Preserving our buried history, one pit at a time. http://www.freewebs.com/lewistownbottles/index.htm (in reply to Jim) Post #: 8

RE: Big Privy Dig! - 12/5/2006 10:48:48 PM    digger mcdirt   Posts: 1921 Joined: 8/8/2005 Status: offline Looks like a fun dig so far. Good luck as you go deeper! _____________________________ McDirt (in reply to Jim) Post #: 9

RE: Big Privy Dig! - 12/5/2006 11:17:05 PM    Jim Posts: 3626 Joined: 7/5/2005 From: Lewistown, PA Status: offline I sure will, Tony. The weather is looking prime for tomorrow! Thanks, Bobby. I have a good feeling about the deepest part of this pit. ~Jim _____________________________ Preserving our buried history, one pit at a time. http://www.freewebs.com/lewistownbottles/index.htm (in reply to digger mcdirt) Post #: 10

RE: Big Privy Dig! - 12/5/2006 11:36:49 PM    Trying not to break it Posts: 2590 Joined: 12/18/2004 From: balt. md. Status: offline hi jim,  looks like your off to a great start.  i agree about work.    good luck,  rhona (in reply to Jim) Post #: 11

RE: Big Privy Dig! - 12/5/2006 11:39:23 PM    bikegoon Posts: 692 Joined: 10/2/2006 From: Kettering, Ohio Status: offline Great job! What does the embossing on that jar say? _____________________________ Bottles...without them we have...."gasp!" (in reply to Trying not to break it) Post #: 12

RE: Big Privy Dig! - 12/5/2006 11:52:58 PM    Jim Posts: 3626 Joined: 7/5/2005 From: Lewistown, PA Status: offline Hi Rhona, Thanks for the good wish. The only good things about work are that it A) Pays the bills, and B) Raises cash to buy more bottles  Hey Howie, The three jars that I have got out of here so far are all quarts: A plain Ball (smooth lip), a plain Mason's 1858 (ground lip), and a Mason's 1858 with SG Co. monogram (That's the one in the last pic.). That one is from Swayzee Glass Co., 1894 to 1906. We have also found numerous busted-up Mason's 1858s . ~Jim _____________________________ Preserving our buried history, one pit at a time. http://www.freewebs.com/lewistownbottles/index.htm (in reply to bikegoon) Post #: 13

RE: Big Privy Dig! - 12/5/2006 11:53:36 PM    frank   Posts: 544 Joined: 3/13/2005 Status: offline Nice bottles jim !!!! How old is the house  jim is it the first privy for the house??? (in reply to bikegoon) Post #: 14

RE: Big Privy Dig! - 12/6/2006 12:00:31 AM    bikegoon Posts: 692 Joined: 10/2/2006 From: Kettering, Ohio Status: offline To bad about the Masons, but par for the course with that fragile thin glass. Nice finds though! _____________________________ Bottles...without them we have...."gasp!" (in reply to frank) Post #: 15

RE: Big Privy Dig! - 12/6/2006 12:00:59 AM    Jim Posts: 3626 Joined: 7/5/2005 From: Lewistown, PA Status: offline Thanks, Frank. This pit served several big houses and businesses. The way the buildings are laid out, there was not enough room for individual privies. There is only one small common yard. So they just dug one huge pit for all of them. The buildings are all 1850-1860 era. It is a shame for all of the Mason's 1858s that get broken. They are rather thin and easy to break. Although they are mostly common, I still like 'em! Lots of varieties, and there is always the small chance of finding one of the good ones like the 404 or an odd color . ~Jim < Message edited by Jim -- 12/6/2006 12:02:58 AM > _____________________________ Preserving our buried history, one pit at a time. http://www.freewebs.com/lewistownbottles/index.htm (in reply to frank) Post #: 16

RE: Big Privy Dig! - 12/6/2006 12:15:09 AM    zanes_antiques Posts: 2238 Joined: 9/3/2006 From: Steubenville, Ohio Status: offline That pipe is pretty slick. Never seen one like that before. Nice dig. _____________________________ I buy, sell, barter, and beg....Zane (in reply to Jim) Post #: 17

RE: Big Privy Dig! - 12/6/2006 3:25:47 AM    kastoo   Posts: 1874 Joined: 9/7/2004 From: Lagrange, GA Status: offline Was this embossed and if so what did it say?  Seen plenty slick but never embossed. Attachment (1) (in reply to Jim) Post #: 18

RE: Big Privy Dig! - 12/6/2006 10:03:39 AM    frank   Posts: 544 Joined: 3/13/2005 Status: offline Hey Jim those masons are hard to find complete !! I digg at lot dumps and the druggist bottles are the best  and the inks too. Do you think there will be some cone inky in there jim ?? (in reply to Jim) Post #: 19

RE: Big Privy Dig! - 12/6/2006 2:35:47 PM    Bottleman Posts: 936 Joined: 9/3/2004 From: Central Pennsylvania Status: offline Way to go Jim!! That is great you guys got your self a nice privy. That must be hard digging though being so deep. I really like that Mifflinburg druggist! That pipe is nice too. Is the pipe a clay one?   ~~Tom (in reply to frank) Post #: 20

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