Adventures in Privy Digging Episode 1: Meet Frank Harchak
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- Опубліковано 4 жов 2024
- You can find a lot of things at the bottom an old outhouse--including your local history. Watch in the PBS App: video.wpsu.org...
"Adventures in Privy Digging," a digital series from WPSU, takes a look at a unique kind of amateur-anthropology that involves digging up artifacts from the sites of former outhouses and privies.
In episode one, meet privy digger Frank Harchak of Houtzdale, PA, who says that his pastime is the last great treasure hunt in the United States.
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#privydigging
What a collection
I have an old beer bottle in a house that a customer was renovating. It was owned by a man who was high up in the church (LDS) so of course he was not supposed to drink so he dropped them in the toilet. This was a very old part of Salt Lake City.
very nice!
Really interesting.
They Dug the Old Privy at the Train Depot in Rawlins Wy, found Lots of Bottles and other Items. Check it out if you go Thru Rawlins. Cheers
Arrowhead hunting too
My house was built in 1795. I have no idea where the old outhouses or privy would be. My lot doesn't give my untrained eye any hints. Man I know there's probably some good stuff to find....... ugh
Look in the library of Congress at old Sanborn Maps. These were fire insurance maps that were very detailed. Pretty much every town had them. Best of luck!! We found ours and have been having a wonderful time with our treasures!
Frank, The Glass insulators in the video. Did you find them in the Privy?
Question for you...when you dig a privy on someone's property, do you sign a release waver or anything like that? Just wondering....thanks.
That's a great question. Hopefully the community can give you more advice.
No I never had to, everything was always verbal, but that may be a good idea
I've been in it since I was 10. I'm 30 now and have a collection almost as good as yours! Any hints on locating other than a detector or rod?
The Library is your best friend. Sanborn maps.
Common to find firearms too lol
Another question.....how do you go about getting permission? Do you ask in person or send like a letter if they are not close to where you live? Just curious...and thanks!
I usually knock on the door and speak to the owner and explain about privy digging . They usually let me and I always offer to share whatever I find with them . Sometimes, they want to get down in the hole and dig too.
Interesting. Wouldn't advise smoking that pipe.
Why not metal detect.
We do metal detect too. Sometimes we use metal detectors on the dirt that we dig up, or sometimes we sift the dirt.
How do you find them?
Old Sanborn Maps from the library of Congress. Free