torscot said:
Necromancer,
Checking the snow piles is "cool" if you want coffee money for Tim Hortons. But, it may get a little boring after the snow's gone. This idea takes a little homework (like everything else on this site) but is alot more rewarding. Your info here shows you to be from Canada, and you brought up the Ontario heritage act, I suspect you're from Ontario. likewise.
In the 1880's almost every county in Ontario issued a "historical atlas" these have every township, lot and concession shown. Along with almost every building existing at that time. Most public libraries have reprints of these you can browse, or they are now all online at http://digital.library.mcgill.ca/countyatlas/ Most old township concessions have not moved in the last 120 years. Compare these old maps against the satellite photos on Google earth, Look for the lots that had buildings then, but not today. Habitation. People lost stuff back then too. Most farmers have no clue that there used to be a house in the middle of their field. Go early in the spring before crops are in. You'll seldom get turned down. Most of these sites have never been hunted before, and you get to collect old junk! Some of it's even good junk. Beats picking up pocket change. and bits of rusty Fords that fell off during the winter. Hope this helps. It's almost foolproof. I've been searching these sites for years and have alot of interesting finds from them. No hoards of gold coins.... Yet! Try it you'll like it.
Rob.
thank you, very helpful.
i have about 60 doc's from the late 18xx to the late 1990's of my town. i have done plenty of research. google earth has been my friend to.
along with a few detector forums, i am staying away from the bigger public parks for now, i see people detecting all the time
just so its clear, my post said that:
"my first try is going to be at the local mall parking lot to scope out the mud left over from the winter snow piles."
this is my "test batch" for my very first detector run, people loose money, car keys & there gold in the mall parking lot. i know this cause as a youngster i would go to the
yorkdale shopping mall & dig through the mud from the melted snow piles with my friends, we found lots of change & a few gold, silver rings, chains, earrings & we got very dirty (very dirty) we would also go there at night, when the wind was blowing strong all day. walk around the fence & grab all the dollar bills that were stuck to it that people didn't want to chase down 8)
i didn't want to go knocking on doors asking people if i can detect on there personal land until "after" i know how to use my metal detector.
also if i find two bucks in dimes and nickles in the mud at the mall there is always a tim's close by to get a extra large 3 cream 4 sugars.
sorry, i didn't mean to sound like i was going placer prospecting in the mud at the mall, but if i have learned one thing here on the GRF is that if your not going to do lots of reading & research you may not want to start working on the project.
plus i didn't want to tell people all about the 2 lane expansion of the major road by my place and how buildings that have been there for 150 years have been moved off there foundations, due to local eminent domain laws, i wanted to be the first one there :!: (shhhh, dont tell anyone please)
the new road went right up to the front doors of these old houses & since x-mas i have been hoping for the spring to come quick.
Dave C.