1840's Village

[Joker]

I had posted a note on the bulletin board a few months back about my MD hobby inquiring about places to hunt. I did get a few permissions from some fellow coworkers but nothing that old came up.

Last week I had a friend tell me that hed been meaning to get with me about my notice and informed me that he had 11 acres, including a mill pond. He went on to tell me that in the 1840s there was a Grist mill on the south end of the mill pond. He said that I could hunt the property anytime and signed my permission form.

He told me the village was called Pettysville and that it was just about gone by the beginning of the 20th century.

This sparked my interest in the history of the property so I went to work. I called the archevist of the Hamburg Mi library and we talked about the land and the village. She was very excited that I would have a chance to hunt the property. I also found a few things on the net as well.

After researching the property I found out that the village buildings were in fact just off off my friends property even though he owns 10 feet around the mill pond. Everyone that has houses on the mill pond actually use 10 feet of my friends property.

Well i went out there today to investigate. I walked around with my detector and found a few bullets casings but I was only surveying the land for the next hunt.

Before I left, I thought i would pay a visit to his neighbor whose land is actually where all the buildings were. I drove up and there it was, The Pettys Grist mill!! They live in the grist mill!! I could not believe it...

I drove up the driveway and was suddenly taken back in time.. The property hadnt changed much in 160 years!!!

Well i got out of the car and walked up to the house. I was met there by the owners wife and we had a chat for a few minutes. I wanted to tell her that I had permission from my friend to hunt around the mill and not to be spooked by my presense. I also began to talk about the property and its past. She obviously knew about the mill but was very surprised and excited to hear about all the other buildings that were once on their property. (Grist mill, cidermill, blacksmith, carriage house, post office, school and general store)..

I asked her if the property had ever been hunted and she said that it had not!! oh my!

I asked her if she could discuss with her husband the possibility of me and my wife hunting it and she said that she would. I gave her my business card and I left with a smile on my face and dreams in my head of what we might find there...

Wish me luck!!! Here are a few pics of the area.. 1840s land plat map and current pic...

[EBCIII]

Good luck Joker!! It sounds like a great place to hunt! I hope you get permission to the other land, Beale.

[Yardog]

WTG Joker, Congrats on the find, and getting permission. Now I only hope the other owners will give You permission. Surely there's ton of stuff there. Keep us informed. Look forward to some great finds!!! Best of Luck

[Buster]

Joker, that sounds like a good place to hunt...Even if you don't get permission, the other part of the mill should prove interesting...I do hope they let you hunt it...Happy Hunting...Buster...

[deadhead]

I also do alot of research-great job-it really helps when you get an old map overlay-should find alot there-let us all know what pops up!!!

[anne]

Good luck

[Joker]

You got it deadhead, research pays off and I love doing the research almost as I love finding the goodies..

[leelo]

VERY NICE JOB RESEARCHING JOKER> GOOD LUCK, YOU SHOULD DO VERY WELL.

[Ric-san]

Sweet deal and neat story. Good luck for the opportunity to hunt this place.

[certified male]

Man, that sounds so exciting! Good luck, I want to follow this are see what you find... we can all have a "virtual" hunt with you. Good researching