Old site near Frankfort Mineral Springs, Pa

[Wyatt Earp]

Years ago....when the steelers were winning super bowls...I was into deer hunting. I went to a place right near Frankfort Springs Pa....right near the intersection of Rt 18 and 168. It is State Game lands. You park, walk a pretty good trail to the old Nichols barn.I even found a stone cylinder marker from the original survey of the township right off the trail where it's been for centuries about 100 yards before the barn on the right hand side of the trail. I was able to identify it (the marker...as well as the fact that it was the Nichols barn) after reading a volume on the early history of Beaver county Pa.

Anyway.....I was in the woods for a good while when I happened upon a section of the woods which was open floored forest...zero second stage growth. I located an old road bed, lined with Osage Orange trees (easy to Identify in the fall) and followed it to a very old stone foundation alongside a dried up stream bed. I assumed it was an old Mill.

I was scouting for a deer stand....not looking for old sites...and despite 2 more trips back into those woods with detector in tow....I was never able to locate it again. It should be easy to find because the foundation is right to the side of one of the fire cuts. But I spent 2 days looking for it to no avail. It may not have been a Mill at all....but Frankfort Springs was a resort ca 1890 and this was not in the "commercially developed" part of the park. It may have been part of the original health Spa complex.

Wyatt Fawley

Wyatt:
You are correct when you talk about the Springs. You can hunt there but, if I am correct it is a part of the park. There is also old Boy Scout camp in the park which is quite old. I hunted the Springs in the 70's. If the park rangers find you detecting in that area they will ask you to leave. Metal detecting is not allowed in Racoon State Park. A couple friends asked if they could do the park and the Springs and were given a very firm NO. You should check with the rangers before you get the detectors out. I hope I am wrong but I don't think so.

[Wyatt Earp]

You're probably right. Things change over time, and I was there in the late 1970s. I actually was allowed to (and did) hunt the main part of the park at that time. On the other hand....unless they run around on 4 wheelers....I'd be willing to bet that the rangers have never even been to the part I'm talking about. It's very, very deep in the woods. Since my 2 heart attacks this summer....I wouldn't think it wise to be going on outings that are a 3 hour walk into the area I intend to hunt. Those days are over for me...at least until I build up my strength again.

Wyatt Fawley

[Mr.Silver]

To Wyatt: I hunted until 1993, back then you have to a permit at the rangers station, and you have turn in any relics, coins,etc.. It was a pain in the as..We only found some wheats, and a couple of
indian heads nothing to brag about.

Mr.Silver

[Wyatt Earp]

I wouldn't have gone through all that monkey business. If they want the reward...they need to make the investment in equipment and break their own backs.

I know some great private sites in Allegheny county that I want to go back to....including one where I found a Pike's Peak or bust Aqua glass historical flask...open pontiled, but unfortunately broken. I did manage to find a Kendall's 12 sided amber glass chemical bottle at the same small site, but it was an "Improved pontil". I think that one was sold years ago. I don't know what the one site was....but I remember there is an absolutely huge amount of glass "exide" batteries broken all over the place....maybe a telegraph relay station? I never could figure that one out. Any thoughts on the profusion of batteries?

Wyatt Fawley