cordilleran
Well-Known Member
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- Feb 13, 2008
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Rick:
Sorry I haven't responded in a timely manner. Between pits and myriad daily responsibilities, I've been strapped for time.
Since my original post the Privy Posse and a crew from over the hill (Seattle area) have excavated about 20 additional pits. The pits in Walla Walla average five- to six-feet in depth so, excavation is not as time-consuming as other locations, particularly those in the eastern U.S.
We've taken hundreds of bottles during this time including African Bitters, Hostetters Bitters, various cures, ground-lip fruit jars, whiskies (quarts, pumpkinseeds, coffin flasks in amber and clear), beers, wines, ales and medicines including Stewart and Holmes, J.C. Hockett (both Walla Walla embossed) and a good number of rare Washington Territory embossed medicines, Kennedy's Saltrheum, Dr. Miles Restorative Nervine, et. al. Most notably we dug a W.T. from Spokane Falls in aqua, of which there is only one other known. Unfortunately, the lip was broken...
Additionally, we've found your typical array of non-bottle artifacts including bisque doll's heads (with eyes), a Goodyear 1851 patent vulcanite ear syringe, coins, marbles (china, clay, Bennington, agates, a peppermint swirl, and a marble that is three inches in across), a brass lock, an undamaged English China transeferware bowl.
Generally we will dig in one neighborhood block per weekend, hitting all the privies from house to house. The privies usually are but two to three feet apart along the alleyways and date from the 1870s to the early 1900s. Interesting to note that the early 1900s privies are usually only partially filled and probably due to that fact that folks were getting indoor plumbing about this time. Needless to say, digging is good in Walla Walla.
I will attempt to post photos of this weekend's digs and cannot currently since I do not have a digital camera but will secure one.
Sorry I haven't responded in a timely manner. Between pits and myriad daily responsibilities, I've been strapped for time.
Since my original post the Privy Posse and a crew from over the hill (Seattle area) have excavated about 20 additional pits. The pits in Walla Walla average five- to six-feet in depth so, excavation is not as time-consuming as other locations, particularly those in the eastern U.S.
We've taken hundreds of bottles during this time including African Bitters, Hostetters Bitters, various cures, ground-lip fruit jars, whiskies (quarts, pumpkinseeds, coffin flasks in amber and clear), beers, wines, ales and medicines including Stewart and Holmes, J.C. Hockett (both Walla Walla embossed) and a good number of rare Washington Territory embossed medicines, Kennedy's Saltrheum, Dr. Miles Restorative Nervine, et. al. Most notably we dug a W.T. from Spokane Falls in aqua, of which there is only one other known. Unfortunately, the lip was broken...
Additionally, we've found your typical array of non-bottle artifacts including bisque doll's heads (with eyes), a Goodyear 1851 patent vulcanite ear syringe, coins, marbles (china, clay, Bennington, agates, a peppermint swirl, and a marble that is three inches in across), a brass lock, an undamaged English China transeferware bowl.
Generally we will dig in one neighborhood block per weekend, hitting all the privies from house to house. The privies usually are but two to three feet apart along the alleyways and date from the 1870s to the early 1900s. Interesting to note that the early 1900s privies are usually only partially filled and probably due to that fact that folks were getting indoor plumbing about this time. Needless to say, digging is good in Walla Walla.
I will attempt to post photos of this weekend's digs and cannot currently since I do not have a digital camera but will secure one.
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