probing for privies can save someones life.

[RICKJJ59W]

I recently got permission to dig a late 1880s house.
When I first went to the yard I noticed a "dip" 30 feet from the back of the houses. I asked the nehibor right away if I could dig his. I was hoping he would say yes because the dip looked like it was all one privy that was shared.The houses were side by side.

Today I went by my self to probe. I stabbed away until I got a good feel and some ash on the tip. I moved over a foot and probed. The probe went down like it was pure air! thats because it was. I started to do a test hole and it opened up! A 20 foot OPEN brick pit! I think it is a cesspool. There was a huge pipe going all the way to the bottom. It did not look like it was a converted privy because the way the brick was laid. Besides it was to close to the house.

There was nothing covering this hole,just that little bit of dirt and some fill (foot 1/2). It was crazy. Both of the family's use the same yard there is no fence to separate them. They have kids that could have fell down this thing. It is a wonder no one did. The 2 home owners were very happy (and thankful) I came to look for privy's in their yards. One of the home owners has a brick business he is going to fill the hole in with cut up scrape bricks tomorrow.

That dig went up in smoke but I think I probed one out at the back ally line.Where a pit should be.

 

[Jim]

Crazy scary stuff, SR. Good thing you found that big-azz thing before someone got hurt or even killed. You'd think they would have at least put a steel plate over that deathtrap. ~Jim

 

[CazDigger]

Holy Cow Rick, that is scary! I can just imagine someone getting swallowed up by that.

 

[JOETHECROW]

Geez!!! I tend to wonder how it even stayed covered over.... Glad you found it without going to the bottom!!

 

[RICKJJ59W]

ORIGINAL: Jim

Crazy scary stuff, SR. Good thing you found that big-azz thing before someone got hurt or even killed. You'd think they would have at least put a steel plate over that deathtrap. ~Jim

Jim I found a thin piece of concrete on the bottom of that sod layer. What I think happened was that hunk of ground sank a little over the years and broke the create. I bet if I go to the bottom of that thing I will find pieces of Concrete

 

[RICKJJ59W]

I still don't know what that was.Was the crap getting run to the sewer through that big pipe? ? There is ash around that big pipe. Its weird

 

[surfaceone]

Man, Rick, you are a Lifesaver with that probe, to say nothing of privy detectorist extrordinaire. [8D]

The Bottle Gods were really smiling on you and that family!

This, I can already see, is gonna make a helluva good Rickstory.

A wave of the spade & tip of the hat to ya.

 

[epackage]

Considering the possiblities for harm to any kid that ever played in that yard ths might be your best digging story ever Rick, you're gonna have to start wearing a mask and tights, and turn your car into some sort of "Rickmobile"..... You're like a Superhero, I'm gonna call you PRIVYMAN!!

 

[RICKJJ59W]

LOL[] E not bad for "paint" you need photo shop

I might dress like that to get permissions [] Hey only a 3 pack? you should have gave me an 8 pack lol

 

[epackage]

ORIGINAL: RICKJJ59W

LOL[] E not bad for "paint" you need photo shop

I might dress like that to get permissions [] Hey only a 3 pack? you should have gave me an 8 pack lol

I like the crudity of Paint, I just wish I knew how to cut and paste images in it, I just can't seem to "get it"...