Ferry Crossings

[hanjixlt]

Hello

I have some leads to multiple ferry crossings that existed from 1880 - 1900. They're all gone, and all signs of them are pretty much non-existant. Does anyone have any advice on work these sites? Would the best targets be close to the ferry landing, up the road or in the general area?

I've read that crossing the river took approximately 25 minutes.. so there was definitely 'down' time if you were waiting for the ferry to return, etc. Also, I'd assume that this is a bottle-neck to traffic, so I could see people hanging out, etc.

Any ideas are greatly appreciated!
hanjixlt

[Detector de Metales]

Mostly next to the road would be my first reaction. I would think that crossing a river ( which we still have a river ferry here in Wisconsin that I have used) you have to wait for the ferry to come back from the other side. Due to mode of power used (Horses were sometimes employed using a cable strung across the river and also steam power). This would give idle time to people waiting there turn on the ferry. I would check woods, cleared areas next to the road as kids and adults would need to stretch there legs..

Happy Hunting!

J.J.

[osros]

I also discovered two ferry crossings close to me. One side on private property and got denied access which bummed me out, but looking at the other side I found out its on Public Land! :D. I did a quick expedition to one of the crossings and turn out to be a not so nice trek through dense woods and brush. It was sure nice to have my handheld GPS which certainly saved be from getting turned around.

The edge of the river bank was just as rough with high grass? and woods only small areas of clear patches to MD. But I can clearly see what was a structure on the opposite bank with a huge log still standing at the edge of the bank that may have been used for the rope that came across, so its a good chance I got the right place. Nothing is left that I can see on the side I was on. I hoping they took the shortest route and came straight across.

Well I MD and found nothing but I was using a weak MD a BH Sharpshooter II. I will be going back with a more capable MD the Explorer SE when I get it in a week or two.

A fun adventure even if it turned up nothing at the moment.

[hanjixlt]

Well I MD and found nothing but I was using a weak MD a BH Sharpshooter II. I will be going back with a more capable MD the Explorer SE when I get it in a week or two.

Wow.. you found nothing? No trash, debris.. anything? I'm hoping you found something to help verify that you're at the right location.

I'm very excited about the prospects of this summer. Congrats on your new SE purchase. There is a lot to take in... put in a lot of practice before you hit your spots.. that way you're really taking advantage of the situation.

After I got my SE, I pounded parks, over and over again. Pulling everything out of the ground. It sucked, but it's what I needed to do understand the unit, and experiment with different settings.

If you have some questions, post them on the Minelab board, I'd be happy to help.

Thanks!!!
hanjixlt

[osros]

Wow.. you found nothing? No trash, debris.. anything? I'm hoping you found something to help verify that you're at the right location.


Well I had two things working against me one the area was very dense with very tough & high foliage and woods, left only small areas and in between trees to search and second my confidence in the BH SS II is low.

I will have to look more in that area to see if I can find any clues to be 100%sure if im in the right spot. Im thinking perhaps when the area was made into public land that maybe any structures where removed. Its interesting to see that the private land still has evidence of the crossing but the public land side does not, Hmmmm. So what Im doing now is pure random MDing of that area. :confused: The History of the whole area started in the 1840's.

What I did find alittle further inland were more current bullets and shot pellets. The land has alot of hunting going on.

Thanks for the tips on the SE I got a 2 acre spread here at home I now have to go over again with the SE so will get plenty of practice.


Thanks

[DetectorBase]

Hopefully this weekend I'll be hitting a virgin ferry crossing. I know alittle about it.. it'd be nice to luck out and pull something from there. But I definitely know how it can go sometimes.

Wish me luck.

DB

[DetectorBase]

Hmmm... Ferry crossing was a bust. Not much there at all, but I'm thinking my research is wrong.

We also got a chance to hit a stage stop, and that too wasn't very productive. It was in a grazing pasture, and the owner gathered farm equipment and automobiles over the years and dumped it there. I think if had a chance to hit that place a lot, we'd be able to find some goods. We'll need to try to clean up all the surface metal to give the detectors a chance.

DB