Plumbata
Well-Known Member
Last week I spent a free afternoon tromping around in search of fresh dig spots and other interesting new things, and came across evidence that a TOC dump might be in (under) the area I'd slogged into. Here's what I saw (the scratching to the lower left corner was from my investigation last week with a claw hammer, which proved that the area was full of ashes/clinker):
So I eventually came back to the spot armed with proper equipment, and sank a test-hole in an essentially random spot. Aside from a few small shards, the digging was uneventful until I came across this:
Finding a nice old ginger beer put some pep in my step, and I continued digging deeper, until I was met with the welcome sight of a rust and refuse layer!
Sweet, a local med! "Bowman's Pectoral Syrup Peoria, ILL"
The rusty layer isn't the most impressive I've ever seen, being only 6 to 12 inches thick, but from all appearances the dump covers a large area and is likely to produce finds at a consistent/predictable rate. I love digging through 3-4 foot layers of rust and refuse as much as anyone, but such goldmine dumps aren't very common, so I'm rather satisfied with this addition to my list of worthy old dig sites. 2 food jars, and a hutch in the back!
This got my blood pumping for a bit! A gallon jug with 2 ears for attaching a wire handle. Sadly there was a small hole in the other side, so it was not a keeper. Besides this, there was a whole lot of broken jugs, crocks, mixing bowls and chamber pots, so chances are that I'll pull some intact bits out sooner or later. Please cross your fingers for me finding some stenciled local jugs in here! [
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Here are the finds cleaned-up! Common "The City Bottling Co. Peoria, ILL" hutch (was really hoping for one I haven't dug a few dozen of already, but a hutch is a hutch!), A "S.D. Co. Chicago" food bottle, a Liquozone, a big half gallon lightning mason with lame weak embossing, and in the front are a cracked colgate bottle, minty "Hamlin's Wizard Oil" (2nd one I've dug, what a fun name![]), a castoria, the pectoral syrup (cracked, sadly).
And 3 druggists, all cracked (Grrrr! []). A 1/2 ounce "Ferd. C. Pauley" from Pekin, IL, a 1 ounce Milwaukee druggist, and a 1 ounce Durkin from Peoria, of a style and size I need. Strange how my druggists were all damaged but the 1/2 gallon jar came out fine. Hopefully I can dig some intact locals soon, I really love finding my druggist bottles.
And now, here is the undeniable gem of the dig, unlisted in the local books, undamaged, and in nice aqua glass to boot!"P. J. Bourscheidt Pharmacist Peoria, ILL" 12 ounce Citrate! Wahoo! It's the 3rd citrate I've dug (dad dug a nice Durkin citrate last year, his first and only so far) and turned what would have been a rather unimpressive dig into a great one!
I don't want to reveal too much about this dump, as it's taken me years to finally locate it, but it is a landfill dump and the test dig suggests an age of late 1890s to before 1910, though I will need to dig there more before I can offer a better evaluation of the age. No Crown-tops broken or intact were seen, and the 2 damaged milks I found were both BIM, so I'm thinking that this spot is earlier than my honeyhole 1908-1914 TOC dump that got me back into the hobby with a vengeance in '07. I don't expect to be bringing home buckets full of stuff each time I dig here, but the age is good (saw broken bitters, blob beers, hutches, lots of Peoria Pottery co bits, etc) so what i do get will hopefully be of good quality. Thanks for looking and happy hunting! []
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]), a castoria, the pectoral syrup (cracked, sadly).
]). A 1/2 ounce "Ferd. C. Pauley" from Pekin, IL, a 1 ounce Milwaukee druggist, and a 1 ounce Durkin from Peoria, of a style and size I need. Strange how my druggists were all damaged but the 1/2 gallon jar came out fine. Hopefully I can dig some intact locals soon, I really love finding my druggist bottles.
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