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Is it a Privey???

 
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Is it a Privey??? - 5/8/2008 10:33:03 PM   
GeorgiaVol

 

Posts: 130
Joined: 5/3/2008
Status: offline 		I found something odd today while rumaging through the woods.  I found 3 holes approx 10 feet from each other.  At least one of them was lined with bricks (like in an old manhole) Im not sure about the other 2.   The holes were only 2 feet in diam. so it cant be a manhole.  Did they ever line a privey like that waaaaay back then?  These holes are directly accross from an old train depot that was built mid 1800s.  If anyone has any idea what these holes may be please let me know.  By the way they are filled with dirt up to 1.5 feet.  And I know they have been left alone for awhile because there is a tree in one.

Thanks
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RE: Is it a Privey??? - 5/8/2008 10:57:39 PM   
JGUIS

 

Posts: 1688
Joined: 3/18/2006
From: New Lexington, OH
Status: offline 		I'd guess cisterns or wells, but without a pic......  Are they mortared bricks, or is there a mortar lining on the inside?

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A pipe gives a wise man time to think, and gives a fool something to stick in his mouth.

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RE: Is it a Privey??? - 5/8/2008 11:05:24 PM   
GuntherHess


Posts: 4486
Joined: 12/13/2004
From: Frederick Maryland
Status: offline 		planters?

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Looking for Frederick Maryland and Dr Fahrney Bottles

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RE: Is it a Privey??? - 5/9/2008 11:19:48 AM   
phil44

 

Posts: 75
Joined: 11/27/2006
Status: offline 		You

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Theres only one way to find out

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RE: Is it a Privey??? - 5/9/2008 11:21:04 AM   
phil44

 

Posts: 75
Joined: 11/27/2006
Status: offline 		should dig them

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Theres only one way to find out

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Post #: 5
RE: Is it a Privy??? - 5/9/2008 1:28:34 PM   
Staunton Dan

 

Posts: 164
Joined: 5/5/2005
Status: offline 		Yes, privies were brick lined as well as wood lined for example and a lot of times were side by side. Dig them down a few feet. If they go straight down they are probably privies. If however, they open up or widen out after a couple feet or so they are probably cisterns. I don't believe that there would be 3 cisterns in a row 10' apart though, so they are probably privies. By all means dig but get some help when they get over lets say 4' or so. You should get a pretty good idea what they are after digging a bit. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

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Post #: 6
RE: Is it a Privy??? - 5/10/2008 11:01:03 PM   
JGUIS

 

Posts: 1688
Joined: 3/18/2006
From: New Lexington, OH
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Staunton Dan

Yes, privies were brick lined as well as wood lined for example and a lot of times were side by side. Dig them down a few feet. If they go straight down they are probably privies. If however, they open up or widen out after a couple feet or so they are probably cisterns. I don't believe that there would be 3 cisterns in a row 10' apart though, so they are probably privies. By all means dig but get some help when they get over lets say 4' or so. You should get a pretty good idea what they are after digging a bit. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

He never said they were in a row, he said they were 10' apart.  All the vacated cisterns I've seen, were within 10-15' of each other.  I would check for mortar, then probe from outside the ring to see if you hit the tapered walls of a cistern.  Then probe inside.  If you hit a floor in them, it's just picking the right one to dig.  If they are privies, a probe would tell you everything.

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A pipe gives a wise man time to think, and gives a fool something to stick in his mouth.

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Post #: 7
RE: Is it a Privy??? - 5/10/2008 11:16:11 PM   
GeorgiaVol

 

Posts: 130
Joined: 5/3/2008
Status: offline 		This may seem silly but.....what is a cistern????  I did probe in them, and the rod went 3' down no problem, (thats the length of my probe rod).  I will try to get to them next week.  I do not think they are mortared as the bricks come right up.

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Post #: 8
RE: Is it a Privy??? - 5/11/2008 11:25:56 PM   
JGUIS

 

Posts: 1688
Joined: 3/18/2006
From: New Lexington, OH
Status: offline 		Probably is a privy if not mortared.  A cistern was a brick storage area for water, usually fed by spoutings.  Alot of them had the same profile of an igloo.  When the walls failed on one, they would build a new one, usually close by.

_____________________________

A pipe gives a wise man time to think, and gives a fool something to stick in his mouth.

(in reply to GeorgiaVol)
Post #: 9
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