I hope you all enjoy this video at this very historic and well known landmark. It has functioned as an Inn for over 225 years and maybe closer to 250. Remarkable time capsule and a true treasure in and of itself. Special thanks to Crawford and Becky for inviting me and making this happen. Saving history one story, one dig at a time.
Can’t believe I missed this vid when you posted it Todd, but it is one of your best so far. Dennis is right about the ingots and they are probably confederate lead. Asked my brother about this, he is an archeologist and detectorist with an interest in American history (mostly Swedish immigration related to be fair, but he knows a great deal about the civil war too). Apparently the confederacy had problems maintaining a steady supply of ammunition to their troops, so they supplied those ingots as well and some, if not all confederate soldiers (my brother was unsure) carried a bullet mould kit. The mould carried could usually make a couple of different bullets as well as roundballs to cover the different types of weapons used. The practice was not as common among union troops. What a cool find!
Thanks Christian. I’m having fans tell me they aren’t getting the notifications but YT changed this to where you only get them if you turn on “all notifications”. The ingots are interesting. Some have mentioned that the P on them is for Petersburg and are Confederate. I need to tell Dennis because he may actually have something there. I really appreciate him inviting and taking me in this adventure. Thanks for watching and commenting
wow good show ol' boy.you knocked it out the park with this one my people fought in that battle. they were in grimes brigade. thanks again todd lookin forward to your next one
The tour of the Inn was worth it for me! Finding a thing or two was just icing on the cake. Great job, Todd! BTW, going to get me a T-shirt and mug soon!!
Rock on!....Please Roger send me a photo of you with them. When people order, I don't know who it is so I cannot see what the products look like. I just started with TeeSpring. However if you want long sleeved, hoodies, or a sweatshirt you will need to go through my Etsy link in the description since TeeSpring does not do these.....
Glad you enjoyed it! My views are down on this video so I'm not sure if I should have titled the Thumbnail differently...it's funny how some videos perform real well while others do not...This was a place I was thrilled to be invited too and film.
Excellent video, love the story and that well in house with glass cover was so sweet ( ; Thanks for sharing, look forward to the next. HH and take care (:
This great! Bed is early 1800's! Looks mostly original! This is a gem! I've been by it but thought it was for tours only, I would love to stay there. Great job Todd, thanks to the owner for keeping it orginal.
Thanks for a trip down memory lane. My maternal grandfather, Tom Mauck, was an employee of the Wayside Inn during the 60's and 70's. The owner then, a Mr. Bernstein, also owned the Gafia Farm. It was a working farm with a hunting lodge and small lake, about 5 miles from the Inn, right on the North Fork. Grand Dad hauled trash and did small building maintenance. He also took care of the bees. The Inn had a visible bee hive in the dining room. You could watch them work while you ate. They sold the honey. He also maintained the equipment and buildings on Gafia Farm and bush hogged the areas not under cultivation. What I'd like to remember is where Grand Dad dumped the trash!!! Sorry your dig wasn't more productive, but the locals have pretty much picked that area clean. Plus there have been so many additions and alterations to the Inn over the years. The place I'd like to detect is under the parking lot. I never saw anything at the Inn, but Grand Dad always said it was haunted. Thanks. I really enjoyed this.
Thanks Callie for taking me down memory lane. The old Inn sold shortly after I did the video, and the owner then said it was haunted. It was an interesting place and worth the visit. I was disappointed in what was uncovered but also agree with you, the place had been hit over the decades many times. This was an invitation for me but I could not pass up that story. Them holding Wedding venues, the ground was full of small aluminum can slaw. Just not enough ground to detect there. I would like to know where the privy was located...thanks!
@@AppalachianHistoryDetectives i struggle with that too brother I just always try to experiment with different things to see how the videos do but heck your channel is doing great!
Wow...my ears really perked up when you said "Wilkerson". Around that time...I believe my family had settled in Granville, NC, which is up on the Virginia line. They were farmers that had immigrated from Europe, mostly from England. I wonder now if these people are my ancestors. Anyway, great video. I loved the inn...absolutely gorgeous. Thank you for letting me ride along again. Stay safe and healthy.
We are moving from the Iron Age to the Aluminum Age! We metal detected am old camp ground, Gasthaus area in Germany looking for a lost gold ring. It was nearly solid with tent stakes that had been left in the last 400 years.
LOL...you know I've often considered doing a video on the "realities of Metal Detecting" and film what it really is like....I'm not sure many would watch it, but when my son went with me and we spent 13 hours digging aluminum trash only to find 4 CW bullets, he said, dad I'm done! I told him I'm done too and it was about the end of my channel.....
Wonderful diorama. It looks like you could spend hours seeing every piece, then come back and look and see new things. It needs a professional cleaning, but that just emphasizes how old and precious it is!
It really is! The thing needs restoration and placed in a museum. Many people go through live not seeing anything of this age...it truly is historical treasure.
This was marvelous Todd! I loved every nook and cranny that you showed us of that delightful Inn. All the old historic items and that original part of the Inn were so interesting. The diorama was amazing and I hope someday they can have it fully restored by a professional. What a wonderful place steeped in history. I could see very well in my minds eye, Jubal Early's army marching up the street and he riding with his officers to that very Inn to stay for the night. I also can see the Union army coming through the same town, and maybe General Sheridan or Macauley staying at that self same place?! As the Inn Keeper said, both sides came back and forth, numerous times. My husbands 2nd grt. grandpa was in the Valley in 1864 and was a surgeon with the 11th Indiana Zoaves, under Gen. Phil Sheridan. He was at Cedar Creek, Hale Town, Charlestown etc...and was wounded at the battle of Winchester, but not mortally. He may have ridden past this very Inn, and I only wish I had a record that he stayed there. It is too bad that once again the landscape has been altered, so that the history is buried too deep to be found easily. It takes a lot of sweat and effort, sometimes with so little historic reward, but still you looked like you had a fine day out with friends, and that is priceless. As to those large rods, they look very similar to the large venue tent pegs used out here for weddings and such, but they also do look like the pegs used for horse shoe throwing, so your guess is as good as mine. I thought the J shaped square nail like object could be a fence staple, but only if it showed signs of being struck on its curve. If not, it could have been curled at one end, (that is now broken off), and used as a small hook for hanging ladles by the fireplace or other things. One thing for certain it was hand forged, and looks to date from an early period. Sometimes its the everyday small things we overlook that can turn out to be the oldest historical pieces. I just love old square nails and everyday objects. These are the things that people needed and used every day, which had to be made by a blacksmith. I thought you finding that charcoal meant there could have been a blacksmiths shop and forge right there. Some Inn's had one. Do you know if this one did?
Hey Lesa there was a Blacksmith out back I’ve learned and this was where it was. We did find coal and iron there. Your grt Grandfather passed by this place and likely has been it it. The Valley Pike was here well before the war and Cedar Creek is just outside the town. If he fought there and Winchester then he was right by it on the street. That’s cool! The pegs could be from tents. They have big weddings there. This place has changed little over the years but they definitely added tons of top soil to it. Too bad...it wasn’t my permission or I would have done better. LOL. Poor Dennis didn’t find anything.
@@AppalachianHistoryDetectives Hey Todd, That is really cool that there was a blacksmiths shop out back. It would have been really useful for fixing everything from horseshoes to wagons, to say nothing of all the hinges, pans, and cooking utensils for the Inn. This was one of the best video's you've done yet, even if you didn't find much. That Inn is really a national treasure. I wonder if the Inn was ever used as a hospital for any of the battles? My husbands 2nd grt. grandpa, was present at many of the battles and skirmishes in the Valley in 1864, but he never fought or shot at anyone. He was a noncombatant surgeon. Poor Dennis, maybe he will hit the mother load another time?! It was sure grand of him to invite you!
@@lesahanners5057 yeah I felt bad for him. He was so excited to see me and introduce his grandson to me. Poor Dennis thinks I’m famous but I told him heck no....he is almost 80 and this was his last hunt. He said my videos on Patsy Cline were his favorite and made him cry.
Yes me too. I was honored they brought me in. The Inn has been closed to business for a long time and they opened it up for me to shoot the video. I hope the awareness of the place gets locals to support them in the recovery they need.
I really enjoyed that. Thanks for showing us around that beautiful old inn and for sharing the owners stories about the place. I think your right about the fill dirt. When they decided to use that area for tents someone brought in fill to level it off and then laid sod on top of that. The old stuff is buried to deep to find now. If government wanted to be useful they would outlaw fill dirt, the enemy of dectorists everywhere.
Great start to my Friday morning. Very interesting video Todd. I so enjoy and appreciate the dedication you have to documenting Appalachian history. I live in Green Mountain, NC which is located just 5 mins. from the App Trail so I have a thirst to learn anything Appalachian. See ya next week. ~ Stay safe.
Glad you enjoyed it! You live in a beautiful place in the country. I too love learning about those who walked the ancient paths and are long forgotten. I always say I may not find the treasure everyone wants to see but when I find these lost and forgotten places, anything I find is treasure to me.....LOL
We agree! I'm glad they cherish the place so much and made the well even a feature by placing lights in it so you can see down and with glass covering the top. That Diaroma is an exquisite piece of art...how they got that across the ocean in one piece had to have been a story to itself.
Todd the way side inn was awesome. Great video footage. The detecting wasn't as good as you hoped but you had a great time an that's what matters most. The video of the inn speaks for its self. A wonderful place to visit for sure. An it's got alot of history that follows it. Wishing you lots a of luck on your next adventure. Lots of thanks to your friends permission an inviting you along. Have a great weekend. As always safe an happy hunting/digging. 😁👍👍
Those long iron rods that are pointed on one end and flat on the other end...looks like tent stakes. I've seen some very similar to those being used for larger commercial tents...like the ones at weddings, store tent sales, and such. Fits in with the narrative about gatherings held at that inn.
That "J" hook looks like a fencing staple...idk. If it is...I would assume it's quite old since it's made of square stock. Just speculation on my part.
@@AppalachianHistoryDetectives I don't know about others...but I like trying to identify objects you dig. Most time it's just speculation, sometimes I know what they are, but for me it's fun . It makes me feel I'm a part of your dig. Another facet of your works.
Great video! Few of my kin fought for Jubal. One was captured the later part of September, 1864, so he was sitting in Maryland at the time of the battle.
Glad you like them! I'm always hesitant to post these types of videos as a lot of my fans are Metal Detectorists but I want my channel to feature and have history as it's foundation because that is what I'm trying to save....unfortunately "Adventure" videos featuring history seem not to perform well. People just don't click to see the video. I am uploading more though so we will see if this changes any.
WOW! What a wonderful place. What tales the walls could tell. This is definitely on my list of locations to visit. Thank you Todd for sharing it with us. 👍 " Dirty hands are happy hands"
Glad you enjoyed it! The Wayside Inn is a true local landmark and very well known here. To even be asked to come there was an honor...I felt bad for Dennis that we struggled to get through the thick topsoil layer. The only reason I found more than them was the ability of the machines, but my finds were limited too.
Dennis is probably right on what those lead ingots are for. The two big stakes are for large tents or canopies. I really enjoyed this one, the history of the inn was fascinating.
Thanks Chris...I'm certain there are great artifacts in the ground but with the events they have there, we spent hour after hour digging aluminum and just got worn out....
I really enjoy your historical videos. I agree with Dennis, I believe they are lead bars. I’ve been detecting near a 1930’s blacksmith and gunsmith shop and have found some lead bars. Mine aren’t as thick as his.
We think they were minted in Petersburg VA for the Confederate Troops and stamped with a P. That would make them quite valuable but Dennis does not know this....I need to tell him.
But you did find something...... A great story at thee most interesting place in Middletown Todd! I'm going to put that place on my bucket list, thanks Mr.Dennis for inviting Todd and sharing. The spikes are for tent ropes to hold down the tents.
Hey Matthew thanks. Not everyplace has treasure in the ground but if there is a story, there is treasure to be told. I appreciate Dennis inviting me down to detect this place but the real treasure is inside.
That was a wonderful video. The inn has a lot of history and is totally beautiful. It has some very interesting objects. I was going to call them “knick·knack”, but that terms usually refer to objects with little monetary value. The two large metal rods are likely large tent pegs like the ones I have seen for large canvas tents, you did say they had wedding there. The square “j” shaped object looks like old fence staples. Most staples look like an “U”, but I have seen a few shaped like the object you found. The lead appears to be lead ingots possibly from the civil war era. Back in the sixties, a Mr. Fox from Roanoke, West Virginia gave my dad some lead ingots as well as some round stock. My dad melted them and made fishing sinkers with them. Did you know that dropped melted lead forms round ball as they fall and cool. (That’s how my dad created the round sinkers). Dad had an object with uniform holes drilled in the bottom. It looked like a large metal tea cup and he would pour melted lead into it. The lead would drop through the holes and surface tension held until they got to the weight to break free and would form round balls as they fell and would become solid after falling six feet. They were all the same size! The size (weigh) was related to the hole diameter. That was a great documentary, one of my favorites.
Original shotgun shot was made that way on a commercial basis. Large towers and different size holes for different shot sizes. Sold as "Drop Shot". That is amazing to hear about the same result from a home process. I got to learn something new today. Thank you.
@@michaelkullas2031 “Drop shot”, wow. I learned something new also. I never thought to ask dad how he knew how to do it. Growing up I always felt he knew everything. Miss him a lot. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks. The lot there was small so they made half into parking and the other half for events which unfortunately put a lot of small trash in the ground. They raised the landscape with top soil and made the lawn very nice but all the old artifacts are below the reach of our detectors.
We never thought of it then and not until the comments started rolling in but I think you all are exactly right. We left them behind but put them where a mower wouldn't hit them. I think we need to tell them where we put them.
It seems that places like that along what are now modern roads , don't generally yield too many finds. Between the modern sidewalks and, no doubt, a lot of digging and landscaping, finding anything would be lucky. Still and all there's a lot of history surrounding that Inn. Where did George Washington nit sleep:) I remember seeing his surveying initials near natural bridge ,VA I always loved the Shenandoah Valley. Cheers, Rik Spector
Those were tent spikes left by one of the event management companies. One of my customers uses these all the time and leave them at event sites all the time.
The long rods, one of which has a flat top on it, are modern tent pegs for the large entertainment tents.(goes with the grommet you found). It would be expensive but that diorama needs a museum-quality restoration otherwise it should not be touched internally.
I think so too. That Diorama is ancient and more than 500 years old. It needs to be housed in a museum and restored to period. I just fear a place like that if caught on fire would be devastating. It is a museum of sorts itself.
That “gas pipe” looks like the cover to a old underground gas valve. Probably the shut off valve to the inn. It should be marked in case it is ever needed👍🏻
Thanks for the info! Poor kid was over there digging his heart out and came up to me saying he had to get water that he was digging something big....I should have filmed the interaction but I'm glad I didn't since he was a teen and this was his first time out with a machine.....it was funny though when Dennis and I came up on it..
I live a block away I’ve been finding relics and coins for over 3 years in my big yard. Great video enjoyed it! You can see what I’ve found on my channel!
What’s the name of your channel? I was surprised at the dearth of finds but clearly you can see they added a lot of topsoil. The place has some amazing history though and we enjoyed the day there. So if you are down then that’s a great place to detect.
Yes....they were thrilled to see me come and detect with them. It was Dennis' last dig...after this he hung up his detector but I was thankful he took his grandson to experience this moment.
32:06 Those long stakes look like older property markers for staking corners on a parcel. Put in deep so aren't mistakenly removed if that's what they turn out to be. : ) How many current surveyors find previous marked perimeters.
I think they are event stakes. We spoke to the Inn Keeper and she said they do large gatherings under circus type tents and these were probably left behind by event organizers......we left them there...haha..
First thing I thought was how much I hate modern highways, especially in front of old taverns. Then I thought... the best finds are going to be under the front sidewalk. Dig it up... (city would probably nix that.)
That Diaroma is exquisite. I wish I could capture it better. It was dark in there and it was higher than my head but over 500 years old and true craftsmanship.
I am curious as to whether you are rural West Virginia? I think maybe there is some confusion because although you may find some civil war, pre-civil war relics, alot of what you will find will be 1900 and beyond. You are likely to find parts off old cars, farm tractors and equipment etc. Instead of earlier stuff. Alot of houses had wood stoves instead of chimneys. The houses would be clad in clapboard. I say all this because I have watched some of your earlier videos and I'm afraid you seemed not to know these things which can make it hard to identify what you are digging up. I grew up in Northern Va.. My dads family were Virginia and West Virginia pioneers. Newcomers often are uneducated about how people lived in that area. There are alot of cool websites with pictures that might give you a good idea of life in that area back then. Good luck with your digging!
Hey Jennifer I live in Virginia but mostly Metal detect sites pre-1920 and mostly on the border region with West Virginia. The houses in my “Egypt” series all predate 1924 as the community was abandoned then. I have 8-10 videos on that community. It was a logging community and post Civil War. The Griffin house is the only one remaining and was lived in through the 1940’s. A lot of my videos are 1820 era or earlier but were lived in into the 1900’s so there is a mix of old and “modern”. I don’t find a lot of Civil War artifacts west of the Shenandoah Valley but I do find artifacts like bullets at most of my sites.
Yeah I need to talk to him. I heard from him yesterday. We’ve had over a foot of snow since his last upload. I detected today but the snow is coming down and I had to call it quits. He couldn’t make it out today but he says he’s booked so keep an eye out.
No doubt that well was well kept so I'd doubt much would be that in the first place the whole place was fascinating. They probably graded 25 to 50 ton of topsoil if that standing pipe was buried that deep. Great video of the Wayside...
The place is like a museum and well regarded I these parts. I was thrilled to be invited by Dennis even though we didn’t find much. Poor guy he didn’t find anything.
Yes the blocks look like lead ingots. Now that I have seen the close up they are possibly pewter ingots. The p on the ingots and the lead patina make me believe they might be old pewter which was mix of lead and tin. It would be interesting to see what a metallurgical analysis would come up with. I don't know how late it was that they were still using tin and lead to make pewter but this is my best guess.
Those lead ingots are for casting bullets. Did any have a name on them ? Not sure if Lyman was around during the civil war but that is a company that supplies roll your own bullet fixings.... Really enjoyed the tour of the old home / restaurant.
I have found about 6 Lyman ingots on battlefield land but still not sure if they were left there by soldiers but I doubt it. A lot of people through the years bought them to cast their own bullets and for making fishing sinkers.
If I recall there was a letter in them. Dennis found gobs of bullets back in the day and these ingots were with them so it is interesting how they carried these to melt into bullets.
That might be an oops! 1/2 inch rod and 5/8 property markers , 1/2 inch usually used in mid points and 5/8 are property corner markers. Ya might want to put them back if they match the survey points.
@@AppalachianHistoryDetectives tell whomever did, they might cause the property owners a problem if they don't get put back and in the right place! Best it's not you that did it! Whew! Close call! Lol
@@AppalachianHistoryDetectives tell Dennis to always assume rods are always survey pins, in most states it's illegal to remove/alter pins and land owners get pissed. Same for that gas line; dangerous to be digging that up! Those fellas need to find some common sense! Lol
Depends. If it is through a Realtor I go through them to the owner. I always get permission and most of the times in writing. I’m an Architect by trade and have realtors or developers who know me find these places too. If it is privately owned is best but I have detected land owned by organizations and gave them what I found but definitely had to get permission in writing from them.
This Title matches up to The Lancaster Inn not this wayside and still in operation today. Our Revolutionary hero the famous baker, scout , mountain highlander the german speaking swiss. It goes back to before 1736. Its NOT THE WAYSIDE INN. It is THE LANCASTER INN!
Where are you talking about in England? There are 13 that claim to be the oldest in America with Beekman at 1766 being a hotel but the Wayside is the oldest. I can’t find anything online about the Lancaster Inn. Provide a source document so we all can see
Todd, in a time when some want us to forget our history, you are providing an awesome service to those of us who only want to learn more. Don't stop.
Hey James thanks. Quitting is always in the back of my mind. These videos take a lot of time and energy but I love hearing how they touch people.
I hope you all enjoy this video at this very historic and well known landmark. It has functioned as an Inn for over 225 years and maybe closer to 250. Remarkable time capsule and a true treasure in and of itself. Special thanks to Crawford and Becky for inviting me and making this happen. Saving history one story, one dig at a time.
First and foremost before I finish the video....thank you Dennis for procuring this expedition 💗🕊️. And to Becky for the insights and permission 🙏
Thank you Todd for a great hunt and adventure. Hope we can get together again soon. Keep up the good videos.
You bet
Can’t believe I missed this vid when you posted it Todd, but it is one of your best so far. Dennis is right about the ingots and they are probably confederate lead. Asked my brother about this, he is an archeologist and detectorist with an interest in American history (mostly Swedish immigration related to be fair, but he knows a great deal about the civil war too). Apparently the confederacy had problems maintaining a steady supply of ammunition to their troops, so they supplied those ingots as well and some, if not all confederate soldiers (my brother was unsure) carried a bullet mould kit. The mould carried could usually make a couple of different bullets as well as roundballs to cover the different types of weapons used. The practice was not as common among union troops. What a cool find!
Thanks Christian. I’m having fans tell me they aren’t getting the notifications but YT changed this to where you only get them if you turn on “all notifications”.
The ingots are interesting. Some have mentioned that the P on them is for Petersburg and are Confederate. I need to tell Dennis because he may actually have something there. I really appreciate him inviting and taking me in this adventure. Thanks for watching and commenting
wow good show ol' boy.you knocked it out the park with this one my people fought in that battle. they were in grimes brigade. thanks again todd lookin forward to your next one
Thanks Omarthe!
The tour of the Inn was worth it for me! Finding a thing or two was just icing on the cake. Great job, Todd! BTW, going to get me a T-shirt and mug soon!!
Rock on!....Please Roger send me a photo of you with them. When people order, I don't know who it is so I cannot see what the products look like. I just started with TeeSpring. However if you want long sleeved, hoodies, or a sweatshirt you will need to go through my Etsy link in the description since TeeSpring does not do these.....
Todd, I think this was one of your best. Loved it. I may have to take the wife there. Thanks again for the hard work.
Glad you enjoyed it! My views are down on this video so I'm not sure if I should have titled the Thumbnail differently...it's funny how some videos perform real well while others do not...This was a place I was thrilled to be invited too and film.
Excellent video, love the story and that well in house with glass cover was so sweet ( ; Thanks for sharing, look forward to the next. HH and take care (:
Thank you so much!
Old zippo lighter. Great find! Thank you for the historical journey Todd!
Glad you enjoyed it
Fascinating story of the inn. Love how you always share the history of a place
Thanks Gaye. I wish I had found some relics there but the history is long and old and the place real cool.
Learning the history of the locations you visit is very important to know and to remember for the future....the Inn is awesome...
Thanks Steven. it is a local landmark and well known historical place. I was thankful to Dennis for his invitation.
This great! Bed is early 1800's! Looks mostly original! This is a gem! I've been by it but thought it was for tours only, I would love to stay there. Great job Todd, thanks to the owner for keeping it orginal.
Thanks PD.
@@AppalachianHistoryDetectives thank you!
Thanks to Dennis. Hello to Gabriel. And a very special thanks to Ms. Becky for maintaining a treasured piece of history and inviting us all in.
Thanks for a trip down memory lane. My maternal grandfather, Tom Mauck, was an employee of the Wayside Inn during the 60's and 70's. The owner then, a Mr. Bernstein, also owned the Gafia Farm. It was a working farm with a hunting lodge and small lake, about 5 miles from the Inn, right on the North Fork. Grand Dad hauled trash and did small building maintenance. He also took care of the bees. The Inn had a visible bee hive in the dining room. You could watch them work while you ate. They sold the honey. He also maintained the equipment and buildings on Gafia Farm and bush hogged the areas not under cultivation. What I'd like to remember is where Grand Dad dumped the trash!!! Sorry your dig wasn't more productive, but the locals have pretty much picked that area clean. Plus there have been so many additions and alterations to the Inn over the years. The place I'd like to detect is under the parking lot. I never saw anything at the Inn, but Grand Dad always said it was haunted. Thanks. I really enjoyed this.
Thanks Callie for taking me down memory lane. The old Inn sold shortly after I did the video, and the owner then said it was haunted. It was an interesting place and worth the visit. I was disappointed in what was uncovered but also agree with you, the place had been hit over the decades many times. This was an invitation for me but I could not pass up that story. Them holding Wedding venues, the ground was full of small aluminum can slaw. Just not enough ground to detect there. I would like to know where the privy was located...thanks!
What a neat place that Inn is and I loved the diaroma ☺️. Thanks again for the history and dig.....safe travels 💗🕊️
That diaroma is just a fascinating piece and at least 500 years old
Your best episode thus far brother! Thanks for capturing these pieces of history to share with us here on youtube! All the best my friend
Thanks a ton! I'm not sure how to increase my views on these videos though....do my Thumbnails need to be less descriptive?
@@AppalachianHistoryDetectives i struggle with that too brother I just always try to experiment with different things to see how the videos do but heck your channel is doing great!
Wow...my ears really perked up when you said "Wilkerson". Around that time...I believe my family had settled in Granville, NC, which is up on the Virginia line. They were farmers that had immigrated from Europe, mostly from England. I wonder now if these people are my ancestors. Anyway, great video. I loved the inn...absolutely gorgeous. Thank you for letting me ride along again. Stay safe and healthy.
Well the Great Wagon Road went from Philly to east TN and NC so a good possibility
“But we had fun” is the most important part of this hunt!
We are moving from the Iron Age to the Aluminum Age! We metal detected am old camp ground, Gasthaus area in Germany looking for a lost gold ring. It was nearly solid with tent stakes that had been left in the last 400 years.
LOL...you know I've often considered doing a video on the "realities of Metal Detecting" and film what it really is like....I'm not sure many would watch it, but when my son went with me and we spent 13 hours digging aluminum trash only to find 4 CW bullets, he said, dad I'm done! I told him I'm done too and it was about the end of my channel.....
Wonderful diorama. It looks like you could spend hours seeing every piece, then come back and look and see new things. It needs a professional cleaning, but that just emphasizes how old and precious it is!
It really is! The thing needs restoration and placed in a museum. Many people go through live not seeing anything of this age...it truly is historical treasure.
This was marvelous Todd! I loved every nook and cranny that you showed us of that delightful Inn. All the old historic items and that original part of the Inn were so interesting. The diorama was amazing and I hope someday they can have it fully restored by a professional. What a wonderful place steeped in history. I could see very well in my minds eye, Jubal Early's army marching up the street and he riding with his officers to that very Inn to stay for the night. I also can see the Union army coming through the same town, and maybe General Sheridan or Macauley staying at that self same place?! As the Inn Keeper said, both sides came back and forth, numerous times. My husbands 2nd grt. grandpa was in the Valley in 1864 and was a surgeon with the 11th Indiana Zoaves, under Gen. Phil Sheridan. He was at Cedar Creek, Hale Town, Charlestown etc...and was wounded at the battle of Winchester, but not mortally. He may have ridden past this very Inn, and I only wish I had a record that he stayed there.
It is too bad that once again the landscape has been altered, so that the history is buried too deep to be found easily. It takes a lot of sweat and effort, sometimes with so little historic reward, but still you looked like you had a fine day out with friends, and that is priceless. As to those large rods, they look very similar to the large venue tent pegs used out here for weddings and such, but they also do look like the pegs used for horse shoe throwing, so your guess is as good as mine. I thought the J shaped square nail like object could be a fence staple, but only if it showed signs of being struck on its curve. If not, it could have been curled at one end, (that is now broken off), and used as a small hook for hanging ladles by the fireplace or other things. One thing for certain it was hand forged, and looks to date from an early period. Sometimes its the everyday small things we overlook that can turn out to be the oldest historical pieces. I just love old square nails and everyday objects. These are the things that people needed and used every day, which had to be made by a blacksmith. I thought you finding that charcoal meant there could have been a blacksmiths shop and forge right there. Some Inn's had one. Do you know if this one did?
Hey Lesa there was a Blacksmith out back I’ve learned and this was where it was. We did find coal and iron there. Your grt Grandfather passed by this place and likely has been it it. The Valley Pike was here well before the war and Cedar Creek is just outside the town. If he fought there and Winchester then he was right by it on the street. That’s cool!
The pegs could be from tents. They have big weddings there. This place has changed little over the years but they definitely added tons of top soil to it. Too bad...it wasn’t my permission or I would have done better. LOL. Poor Dennis didn’t find anything.
@@AppalachianHistoryDetectives Hey Todd, That is really cool that there was a blacksmiths shop out back. It would have been really useful for fixing everything from horseshoes to wagons, to say nothing of all the hinges, pans, and cooking utensils for the Inn. This was one of the best video's you've done yet, even if you didn't find much. That Inn is really a national treasure.
I wonder if the Inn was ever used as a hospital for any of the battles? My husbands 2nd grt. grandpa, was present at many of the battles and skirmishes in the Valley in 1864, but he never fought or shot at anyone. He was a noncombatant surgeon.
Poor Dennis, maybe he will hit the mother load another time?! It was sure grand of him to invite you!
@@lesahanners5057 yeah I felt bad for him. He was so excited to see me and introduce his grandson to me. Poor Dennis thinks I’m famous but I told him heck no....he is almost 80 and this was his last hunt. He said my videos on Patsy Cline were his favorite and made him cry.
I loved getting a look into the inn especially since I'm on lockdown at an assisted living facility..
Yes me too. I was honored they brought me in. The Inn has been closed to business for a long time and they opened it up for me to shoot the video. I hope the awareness of the place gets locals to support them in the recovery they need.
I really enjoyed that. Thanks for showing us around that beautiful old inn and for sharing the owners stories about the place. I think your right about the fill dirt. When they decided to use that area for tents someone brought in fill to level it off and then laid sod on top of that. The old stuff is buried to deep to find now. If government wanted to be useful they would outlaw fill dirt, the enemy of dectorists everywhere.
Wow Todd. What an awesome video. Thank you for what you do.
Hey Harold thank you very much
Great start to my Friday morning. Very interesting video Todd. I so enjoy and appreciate the dedication you have to documenting Appalachian history. I live in Green Mountain, NC which is located just 5 mins. from the App Trail so I have a thirst to learn anything Appalachian. See ya next week. ~ Stay safe.
Glad you enjoyed it! You live in a beautiful place in the country. I too love learning about those who walked the ancient paths and are long forgotten. I always say I may not find the treasure everyone wants to see but when I find these lost and forgotten places, anything I find is treasure to me.....LOL
The Inn is so beautiful, thank you for the interesting adventure.
Glad you enjoyed it
The well in the house with the glass over it is super cool and the carved 16th century thing is absolutely incredible!!!!!! WOW!!! 😲
We agree! I'm glad they cherish the place so much and made the well even a feature by placing lights in it so you can see down and with glass covering the top. That Diaroma is an exquisite piece of art...how they got that across the ocean in one piece had to have been a story to itself.
Todd the way side inn was awesome. Great video footage. The detecting wasn't as good as you hoped but you had a great time an that's what matters most. The video of the inn speaks for its self. A wonderful place to visit for sure. An it's got alot of history that follows it. Wishing you lots a of luck on your next adventure. Lots of thanks to your friends permission an inviting you along. Have a great weekend. As always safe an happy hunting/digging. 😁👍👍
Those long iron rods that are pointed on one end and flat on the other end...looks like tent stakes. I've seen some very similar to those being used for larger commercial tents...like the ones at weddings, store tent sales, and such. Fits in with the narrative about gatherings held at that inn.
Interesting! I think you are right! Maybe I need to tell the Inn Keeper where we put them....
That "J" hook looks like a fencing staple...idk. If it is...I would assume it's quite old since it's made of square stock. Just speculation on my part.
I agree, I have seen fence staples that looked just like that. 👍
Now why didn’t I think of that. What a tough place to detect.
@@AppalachianHistoryDetectives I don't know about others...but I like trying to identify objects you dig. Most time it's just speculation, sometimes I know what they are, but for me it's fun . It makes me feel I'm a part of your dig. Another facet of your works.
Love the Inn...that diorama(horses,people)so interesting and unique.
Beautiful inn and beautiful day to share history !
Yes it was! We need to go there on a Sunday.
@@AppalachianHistoryDetectives most definitely
Great video! Few of my kin fought for Jubal. One was captured the later part of September, 1864, so he was sitting in Maryland at the time of the battle.
Very cool. Thanks for sharing.
I love these type videos even more than the metal detecting one's.its beautiful.
Glad you like them! I'm always hesitant to post these types of videos as a lot of my fans are Metal Detectorists but I want my channel to feature and have history as it's foundation because that is what I'm trying to save....unfortunately "Adventure" videos featuring history seem not to perform well. People just don't click to see the video. I am uploading more though so we will see if this changes any.
WOW! What a wonderful place. What tales the walls could tell. This is definitely on my list of locations to visit. Thank you Todd for sharing it with us. 👍 " Dirty hands are happy hands"
Glad you enjoyed it! The Wayside Inn is a true local landmark and very well known here. To even be asked to come there was an honor...I felt bad for Dennis that we struggled to get through the thick topsoil layer. The only reason I found more than them was the ability of the machines, but my finds were limited too.
Dennis is probably right on what those lead ingots are for. The two big stakes are for large tents or canopies. I really enjoyed this one, the history of the inn was fascinating.
Thanks Chris...I'm certain there are great artifacts in the ground but with the events they have there, we spent hour after hour digging aluminum and just got worn out....
GREAT CHANNEL, keep up the good work....
Hey thanks Thomas. The great comments like yours makes all the hard work worth it.
I really enjoy your historical videos. I agree with Dennis, I believe they are lead bars. I’ve been detecting near a 1930’s blacksmith and gunsmith shop and have found some lead bars. Mine aren’t as thick as his.
We think they were minted in Petersburg VA for the Confederate Troops and stamped with a P. That would make them quite valuable but Dennis does not know this....I need to tell him.
Very Interesting , Thanks Todd
Thanks for watching
It is possible the lead ingot bars were made by Confederate States Leadworks in Petersburg, Va. in 1862.
Holy Cow that is a real possibility none of us considered. I will have to tell Dennis just in case. Thanks!
Awesome day for you young people best time for me and information about the life Todd lovely pictures of the history 👍💯
Thanks Roger. Yep this place has a storied history and well known here. Though we found diddly in the ground the place was full of artifacts
But you did find something...... A great story at thee most interesting place in Middletown Todd! I'm going to put that place on my bucket list, thanks Mr.Dennis for inviting Todd and sharing. The spikes are for tent ropes to hold down the tents.
Hey Matthew thanks. Not everyplace has treasure in the ground but if there is a story, there is treasure to be told. I appreciate Dennis inviting me down to detect this place but the real treasure is inside.
Way cool! I will try to book a stay there, thank you for great video and info.
Please do! Tell me if you see or hear any haints...
That was a wonderful video.
The inn has a lot of history and is totally beautiful.
It has some very interesting objects. I was going to call them “knick·knack”, but that terms usually refer to objects with little monetary value.
The two large metal rods are likely large tent pegs like the ones I have seen for large canvas tents, you did say they had wedding there.
The square “j” shaped object looks like old fence staples. Most staples look like an “U”, but I have seen a few shaped like the object you found.
The lead appears to be lead ingots possibly from the civil war era.
Back in the sixties, a Mr. Fox from Roanoke, West Virginia gave my dad some lead ingots as well as some round stock. My dad melted them and made fishing sinkers with them. Did you know that dropped melted lead forms round ball as they fall and cool. (That’s how my dad created the round sinkers).
Dad had an object with uniform holes drilled in the bottom. It looked like a large metal tea cup and he would pour melted lead into it. The lead would drop through the holes and surface tension held until they got to the weight to break free and would form round balls as they fell and would become solid after falling six feet. They were all the same size! The size (weigh) was related to the hole diameter.
That was a great documentary, one of my favorites.
Thanks Ricky and I love the story you shared. I can just envision that process.
Original shotgun shot was made that way on a commercial basis. Large towers and different size holes for different shot sizes. Sold as "Drop Shot".
That is amazing to hear about the same result from a home process. I got to learn something new today. Thank you.
@@michaelkullas2031 “Drop shot”, wow. I learned something new also. I never thought to ask dad how he knew how to do it. Growing up I always felt he knew everything. Miss him a lot. Thanks for sharing.
I love your desire to hang on to history. I would assume that lot had fill brought in and covered up all kinds of history.
Thanks. The lot there was small so they made half into parking and the other half for events which unfortunately put a lot of small trash in the ground. They raised the landscape with top soil and made the lawn very nice but all the old artifacts are below the reach of our detectors.
@@AppalachianHistoryDetectives So unfortunate. I can just imagine what's under there.
Todd Cool video love the Wayside Inn. I need to stay there. Would love to stay in the Jubal Early room
It is like walking back in time....the place is intriguing
Tent Stakesfor big "Armey type tents" CCC ... ?
That’s exactly what I was thinking.
We never thought of it then and not until the comments started rolling in but I think you all are exactly right. We left them behind but put them where a mower wouldn't hit them. I think we need to tell them where we put them.
It seems that places like that along what are now modern roads , don't generally yield
too many finds.
Between the modern sidewalks and, no doubt, a lot of digging and landscaping,
finding anything would be lucky.
Still and all there's a lot of history surrounding that Inn.
Where did George Washington nit sleep:)
I remember seeing his surveying initials near natural bridge ,VA
I always loved the Shenandoah Valley.
Cheers,
Rik Spector
Chigg wants to find the privy here. We didn’t have much yard and the landscaping has buried the treasure too deep I think.
Thanks Todd..very interesting
Beautiful Inn loveeeeeeeee seeing all the old beautiful things just beautiful
We took field trips there when i was a kid. Saw afew plays there. It has a deep deep history to us in the Valley
It is a unique place. I was elated when invited to check this place out.
This is a really pretty place. I enjoyed seeing it.
Thanks Cathy I'm glad you enjoyed.
Those were tent spikes left by one of the event management companies. One of my customers uses these all the time and leave them at event sites all the time.
You know it didn’t even o cue to me that’s what they were but it makes sense.
Wayside Inn is a wonderful peek back in time. Ann and I ate there once.
I heard it closed shortly after I filmed this and it was sold off.
Looking forward to stop in there for breakfast sometime, hopefully soon. 🍳🍽🥓
It is a very unique and interesting place
The long rods, one of which has a flat top on it, are modern tent pegs for the large entertainment tents.(goes with the grommet you found). It would be expensive but that diorama needs a museum-quality restoration otherwise it should not be touched internally.
I think so too. That Diorama is ancient and more than 500 years old. It needs to be housed in a museum and restored to period. I just fear a place like that if caught on fire would be devastating. It is a museum of sorts itself.
That “gas pipe” looks like the cover to a old underground gas valve. Probably the shut off valve to the inn. It should be marked in case it is ever needed👍🏻
Thanks for the info! Poor kid was over there digging his heart out and came up to me saying he had to get water that he was digging something big....I should have filmed the interaction but I'm glad I didn't since he was a teen and this was his first time out with a machine.....it was funny though when Dennis and I came up on it..
Great video. Thanks!!!👍🏻
Thank you too!
I live a block away I’ve been finding relics and coins for over 3 years in my big yard. Great video enjoyed it! You can see what I’ve found on my channel!
What’s the name of your channel? I was surprised at the dearth of finds but clearly you can see they added a lot of topsoil. The place has some amazing history though and we enjoyed the day there. So if you are down then that’s a great place to detect.
and thanks dennis and gabriel.
Yes....they were thrilled to see me come and detect with them. It was Dennis' last dig...after this he hung up his detector but I was thankful he took his grandson to experience this moment.
:25- broken fence post staple for attaching wire.
32:06 Those long stakes look like older property markers for staking corners on a parcel. Put in deep so aren't mistakenly removed if that's what they turn out to be. : ) How many current surveyors find previous marked perimeters.
I think they are event stakes. We spoke to the Inn Keeper and she said they do large gatherings under circus type tents and these were probably left behind by event organizers......we left them there...haha..
First thing I thought was how much I hate modern highways, especially in front of old taverns. Then I thought... the best finds are going to be under the front sidewalk. Dig it up... (city would probably nix that.)
Yes....I can't imagine what lies beneath all that pavement...the backyard was just so full of event trash detecting it was impossible.
Wow that 3D art I missed what you called it that is really cool.
That Diaroma is exquisite. I wish I could capture it better. It was dark in there and it was higher than my head but over 500 years old and true craftsmanship.
Beautiful old location ☺
Yes it was...just lovely.
Those spikes are for putting up event tents. The little round thing is probably a lightning rod cable insulator.
We gave them to the Inn Keeper....we weren't sure then but I believe you are 100% right!
I am curious as to whether you are rural West Virginia?
I think maybe there is some confusion because although you may find some civil war, pre-civil war relics, alot of what you will find will be 1900 and beyond. You are likely to find parts off old cars, farm tractors and equipment etc. Instead of earlier stuff. Alot of houses had wood stoves instead of chimneys. The houses would be clad in clapboard. I say all this because I have watched some of your earlier videos and I'm afraid you seemed not to know these things which can make it hard to identify what you are digging up. I grew up in Northern Va.. My dads family were Virginia and West Virginia pioneers. Newcomers often are uneducated about how people lived in that area. There are alot of cool websites with pictures that might give you a good idea of life in that area back then. Good luck with your digging!
Hey Jennifer I live in Virginia but mostly Metal detect sites pre-1920 and mostly on the border region with West Virginia. The houses in my “Egypt” series all predate 1924 as the community was abandoned then. I have 8-10 videos on that community. It was a logging community and post Civil War.
The Griffin house is the only one remaining and was lived in through the 1940’s.
A lot of my videos are 1820 era or earlier but were lived in into the 1900’s so there is a mix of old and “modern”.
I don’t find a lot of Civil War artifacts west of the Shenandoah Valley but I do find artifacts like bullets at most of my sites.
Is Aquachigger ok. No posts in a week?
Yeah I need to talk to him. I heard from him yesterday. We’ve had over a foot of snow since his last upload. I detected today but the snow is coming down and I had to call it quits. He couldn’t make it out today but he says he’s booked so keep an eye out.
I love the history behind this dig but feel like this has been gone over many times
Yes and I knew it given its history and location but who could pass up the opportunity to try.
The Stormking lighter (not a bic ) could be vintage 1950’s -60’s .
I believe it is vintage in fact.
Wow thanks for that it was a nice treat very cool.
Glad you enjoyed it
What a great place!
Lead ingots? The shape is there. Maybe the "P" stand for a town or a smithy that poured them. Cool!
Yeah it’s a mystery for sure but definitely civil war
I haven't been there in many years. Might have to visit there for dinner one night.
Yes he is right about the lead. Thanks for the video
You bet! Thanks for watching.
😎👍 love your show
Glad you enjoy it!
No doubt that well was well kept so I'd doubt much would be that in the first place the whole place was fascinating. They probably graded 25 to 50 ton of topsoil if that standing pipe was buried that deep. Great video of the Wayside...
The place is like a museum and well regarded I these parts. I was thrilled to be invited by Dennis even though we didn’t find much. Poor guy he didn’t find anything.
Loved the history.
Todd i have reenacted at cedar creek many times i was at the inn many times have not stayed there yet maybe some day
Charles you should. The Inn has been struggling due to COVID and needs locals to patronize it. It is an amazing place to visit.
Yes the blocks look like lead ingots. Now that I have seen the close up they are possibly pewter ingots. The p on the ingots and the lead patina make me believe they might be old pewter which was mix of lead and tin. It would be interesting to see what a metallurgical analysis would come up with. I don't know how late it was that they were still using tin and lead to make pewter but this is my best guess.
Huh! none of us ever thought of Pewter but that P on there might indicate that. If this is the case, it is much older than the CW. Good call!
That carved piece needs to be restored .... and that case it’s in is English Oak .... beautiful old wood , probably repurposed 500 years ago . Lol
Those lead ingots are for casting bullets. Did any have a name on them ? Not sure if Lyman was around during the civil war but that is a company that supplies roll your own bullet fixings.... Really enjoyed the tour of the old home / restaurant.
I have found about 6 Lyman ingots on battlefield land but still not sure if they were left there by soldiers but I doubt it. A lot of people through the years bought them to cast their own bullets and for making fishing sinkers.
If I recall there was a letter in them. Dennis found gobs of bullets back in the day and these ingots were with them so it is interesting how they carried these to melt into bullets.
That might be an oops! 1/2 inch rod and 5/8 property markers , 1/2 inch usually used in mid points and 5/8 are property corner markers. Ya might want to put them back if they match the survey points.
Haha. Glad I didn’t dig them.
@@AppalachianHistoryDetectives tell whomever did, they might cause the property owners a problem if they don't get put back and in the right place! Best it's not you that did it! Whew! Close call! Lol
@@PDGreen-ec7ss uh oh for Dennis. We left them there but who knows where he got them on the lot.
@@AppalachianHistoryDetectives tell Dennis to always assume rods are always survey pins, in most states it's illegal to remove/alter pins and land owners get pissed. Same for that gas line; dangerous to be digging that up! Those fellas need to find some common sense! Lol
Did you have to do anything special to get permission to hunt a historic listing in va? Or was it ok since it was privately owned?
Depends. If it is through a Realtor I go through them to the owner. I always get permission and most of the times in writing. I’m an Architect by trade and have realtors or developers who know me find these places too. If it is privately owned is best but I have detected land owned by organizations and gave them what I found but definitely had to get permission in writing from them.
Old Bic lighter lol, how soon we forget👍🏻
Yep I got reamed over that one! I'm not a smoker and my ignorance shone brightly there.....LOL
Just awesome
Thanks Tim
Still overall a great day.
Thanks Glenna. It was a great day to explore and learn and see for sure.
i think you are right on the lead looks right.
I can just see the soldiers making lead bullets around the fires in the evenings.
The giant stakes are from the same place as the big grommet. The giant event tents that were set up there.
Yep....we didn't know it then....LOL
The small J-hook looks like the end of a ladies shoe buckler; it had a small handle on it with the j- hook.
I would love for it to be.
Bic only ever made disposable lighters.
i TAUGHT AT FIRST IT WAS A ZIPPO BUT IT WAS A STORMKING LOL YOU CAN TELL TODD DONT SMOKE HE CALLED IT A BIC LIGHTER
Nope I've never smoked...did I call it a Bic?? You know when filming these live I just say what first pops in my mind....often the wrong thing.....LOL
This Title matches up to The Lancaster Inn not this wayside and still in operation today. Our Revolutionary hero the famous baker, scout , mountain highlander the german speaking swiss. It goes back to before 1736. Its NOT THE WAYSIDE INN.
It is THE LANCASTER INN!
Where are you talking about in England? There are 13 that claim to be the oldest in America with Beekman at 1766 being a hotel but the Wayside is the oldest. I can’t find anything online about the Lancaster Inn. Provide a source document so we all can see
So cool
Said Appalachian correctly 😊
Tent spikes
The j nail is a fence staple
Just like everything I find.....one amazing artifact short of being something....LOL
Is that a j hook?
I thought so but I’m never really certain.
The "J" could be a J hook used on straps on uniforms during the civil war - the head could have broken off
That was my thoughts too....I kept it just in case it is historic! My luck, it's a square nail.
cool shotgunhead
Brass at that!
A tap from a show
Could be actually.