Your thoughts, River Bank & Woods

[IndianaSmith]

osros- Have you tried your county office or the library for old platt maps? Those I've been researching show homes, schools, churches, etc. There's nothing in the way of "scale" to work from on them however.

I printed out some I'd found online, and found the drainage map for that particular county as well. I was able to locate roadways, and see how much shorter the creeks are, and changes in the location of the rivers. Compare the 2 maps will help in narrowing locations.

Look for a historical cemetery website in your county, many times they provide these maps. Alot of settlers built along waterways as a matter of convience.

Smitty

[rip]

Look for things like broken glass and bricks.Bricks made pre late 1800's were usually larger than modern brick.Also cheak the high ground along the river as this would be the most likely place for a homesite or Indian camp/village.I also look for non native plants.Perrywinkle was a popular ground cover in the old days.If you should find a site on the high ground then cheak the closest low area close to the river that would offer a good portage.

[osros]

Originally Posted by rip

Look for things like broken glass and bricks.Bricks made pre late 1800's were usually larger than modern brick.Also cheak the high ground along the river as this would be the most likely place for a homesite or Indian camp/village.I also look for non native plants.Perrywinkle was a popular ground cover in the old days.If you should find a site on the high ground then cheak the closest low area close to the river that would offer a good portage.

There is no high ground on that side of the river, however there is on the other side but its on private property and already denied access. There is dirt trails that lead to the river but they they seem more current, used by hunters, campers and fishing so there is more trash close to the trails.

On the down side the area is very rough, very dense forest and brush I would really need a machete in most areas. This place would be very challenging to MD it would be extreme metal detecting for sure. If I am going to find anything interesting I would really need to trek in the forest which may turn into a whole new hobby but fun.

Now on the positive I found the following in research and a short walk in the woods.

a) Two ferry crossings.
b) A toll bridge was there.
c) 1902 map shows about 4 dots? possible Homesites? in that area.

By studying maps I believe I know where one ferry crossing is the other ferry crossing I believe turned into the toll bridge that was there and some cement pillars are still there. I believe the toll bridge is from the 1940's to 60's. Still trying to find more info on the bridge.

I will take some pics tommorow and post them really like to know what you all think.

[dougdann]

If you have the time, a short walk through the trees would be a good idea.
thick under brush could hide a trail that was used or anything else.

I was out in the woods at my Brother in laws a parents house in east Texas.
We were looking for a shed that was out and didn't even see it until we were on top of it.


Doug

[rip]

If there were homesites in the area and it's thick brush,you may want to be on the lookout for open wells.These can be a big danger so be carefull ! I was hunting around an old foundation awile back,and sweeping my coil through some high grass when I was suddenly standing on the edge of one that was about 30 foot deep.

[NCHL]

I'll offer two things that I'm discovering in my own quest for sites to hunt:

1- It's amazing how completely and quickly time erases the traces of humankind. I'm supposed to go hunt an old homesite this weekend that positively existed and yet there is also absolutely no visible trace of it.

2- I'm continually amazed by how much help "Old timers" (and I want to use that word very, very gingerly....) can be. I'm finding the folks who have "lived" the history to be one of my greatest sources of information.

Bottom line? Unless it's too rough to hunt, I'd hunt it.

Best of luck. Hope you discover the mother lode!

[osros]

Here are the pics of the area. They show the river, river banks, the remains of the toll bridge which I also belive was a ferry crossing before.
So far this is the only structures I found in the area. The woods around the pillars has decent room for MD, after that it gets dense.

[PAPPY]

Looks like some MIGHTY FINE HUNTING GROUNDS to me !. No telling what has been lost or thrown off the bridge when it was in place. Looks good toward the water and around the roadway too. Lot of hunting to do there.

[DougsGraphics]

I second Pappy on this one. You've got a good spot there with lots of possibliities. Be sure and hit those river banks when the water is low as in the picture.

[Nighthunter]

I personally wouldn't waste my time. If you do you'll be looking to catch lightening in a bottle and thats counter productive when there are better sites to hunt.