Nice large stone lined privy

[cannibalfromhannibal]

After a rainy weekend, I headed to where I was going LAST Monday before getting sidetracked. Arrived where I had probed a likely spot that appeared to be next to a large structure near the alley on the 1854 map, which was now a ca 1900 home. Before that, on the '85 map was a similar sized house on same spot, so I expected a privy from at least this time period. As I got to digging and opening it up, I discovered why I had so much trouble getting my probe to any depth......rubble! Everywhere, and lots of it! Took forever getting through the rubble, bricks and roots. Here is a shot of the site, well into day one, 9 hours later!

 

[cannibalfromhannibal]

Here is a shot of the big finds from day one.....pretty meager start for so much work, though the Hannibal hutch was a nice addition as I only had a clear variant. The flask was a nice surprise as I thought it was a whisk broom type, but I think this one might even be a tad more scarce. The green beer was starting to give me hope of some age......and I wasn't to be disappointed.

 

[cannibalfromhannibal]

When I started, I actually was finding 1910ish stuff, and subtracting 20 years in my mind was figuring it might bottom out in the 1890's. I was already plotting my next probing areas when returning the next morning. I still couldn't shake the feeling the stone liner looked awfully old and likely the oldest on the property. Figured it was most likely heavily dipped, as most of the old ones in town were. Here is a shot of the stone lining the morning when I arrived for day 2.

 

[cannibalfromhannibal]

With all the rubble extending to about the 5' level, I was surprised anything survived. Also were 3 monster limestone chunks that were discovered near the bottom at 10' and am sure had a devastating effect on the survival rate. Still, I found a couple bottles surviving around and under these monsters. After a few hours at around the 6' level, I actually hit a use layer. Up to then, I was finding occasional trash in the fill. Also, the shape of the hole was taking on an unusual, kidney shaped design and also much wider than expected. I began finding some 80's and 70's stuff before punching through a lime layer at about 7 1/2 foot level. It was here I pulled out my first bottle, and it was pontiled AND embossed H. Danford! Yee-Haw! It came out right next to a rolled lip smooth based Spauldings Glue, and suspect this might be a competitor but so far have found nada on it.

 

[botlguy]

Go Jack, Go ! I gotta have more, more !

 

[cannibalfromhannibal]

Here is an in situ shot of a local druggist in the 80's layer.

 

[cannibalfromhannibal]

Here are the older finds from the lower layers. Left to right front: E R Durkee & Co. open pontil aqua flaired lip, H Danford, open pontiled, Eureka The Infallible Hair Restorative, appears to be a refired pontil, Mitchells Perfumer New York, early smooth base original stopper, Umbrella ink open pontiled, embossed perfume though hard to decipher, Phalon & Bros Perfumer, smooth base, Spaulding's Glue, rolled lip, smooth base, smooth base paste, salve jar, Van Buskirks Sozodont For The Teeth smooth base, (Back to the left in rear,) Kemp & Day New York smooth based crude top food, Fruit jar base embossed J M Clark Louisville Ky. crude lip, Gooseberry jar (tall one in far rear) unembossed smooth based, Crude smooth base food jar, Halford's Leichtershire Table Sauce smooth based, G W Weston Saratoga N.Y., early crude with cross on base, cathedral peppersauce, open pontiled, crude smooth base unembossed med., Brown's Jamacia Gingers. A decent day for sure.....

 

[cannibalfromhannibal]

Here's a shot of the Eureka Hair bottle.....

 

[cannibalfromhannibal]

shot of the base, looks polished or refired pontil to my eye, with a couple glass points sticking up.....hard to see in pic though.

 

[cannibalfromhannibal]

Close up of the Kemp & Day.....