A Massive Payday Found After Accidentally Digging into an Underground Structure from the 1880s

Excavating a privy at the former residence of Clarence and Ada Hale, a prominent family that lived in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
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#antiques #mudlarking #archeology #bottledigging #antiquebottles #bottles #dumpdigging #privydigging #southdakota #treasurehunting #oldbottles #metaldetecting #ghosttown #northdakota #vintage #vintagebottles #abandoned #old #stagecoach #adventure #mudlarker #mudlark #wildwestgold #wildwest #buried #buriedtreasure

[@BelowthePlains]

hi everyone! just wanted to say thanks for watching! just a reminder to hit that like button, it really helps us out. We have been getting help at finding some digging locations from another youtube channel called "detecting dakota" and i would consider it a personal favor if you went over to his page, and subscribed, and tell them we sent you there. heres a link for that: www.youtube.com/@samsager1/featured and if you are able to help support the channel and you want to see early content you can sign up on our patreon. we try to stay a few weeks ahead on the videos and once you sign up, we will put your name in the end of the video to say thanks. heres a link: www.patreon.com/belowtheplains

[@bobjohnston8316]

I wish that you could come east with your endeavors. Our house was built in 1797. A creek on the property has likely been rerouted by human hands over the years. My grandkids have found parent medicine bottles and bits of broken crockery in the creek bed. One parent medicine bottle traced back to a doctor in Phoenixville, PA who served briefly in the Union army before being drummed out as a rebel sympathizer. Isn’t history great!

[@SoulandButterfly]

So crazy all those prescription bottles in one place. Did they just bury their trash/glass in one spot? Loved watching. Interesting. ❤

[@eegarim]

Done! Love those glasses being made from old bottles with their tops broken. Those would be a hot commodity on Etsy.

[@eegarim]

Can’t get over how enthusiastic you remain near the end of what must have been a long dig. I love your “Oh, wow.” And, “Cool, this one’s ornate.” Thanks for keeping up your enthusiasm and making your videos so watchable!❤

[@wendyrobertson3899]

My grandmother would have been over the moon with happiness. She collected bottles from ever home she ever lived in. I think she had over 10 thousand bottles from all over Louisiana State, Arcadia Florida, and Conroe Texas! When she died I was heart broken that I didn't get to connect with the family to get her blue and purple bottle collection. Those bottles always fascinated me because she always had them on shelves across the windows on the eastern side of the house so they could get the morning sun shining through them. The sunlight should send rainbow colors throughout which ever room she had them in. They always installed shelving above the door, encircling every room in the house, each room had it's own set of glass colors. The bottle trees were her favorite, lined up the walkway to the house. They sparkled so many colors in the yard. As a little kid they were the most fascinating thing I had ever seen. Just row after row of different color bigger bottles and glass insulators all over the yard and garden. At Christmas every bottle tree had lights to decorate them. I was able to get a couple bottles from my cousin Donnas house which I later found out that they had been part of Grandma's collection. Happy trails and safe travels to you, happy hunting those pits of treasure!

[@wes11bravo]

Wow, Wendy! Thanks for sharing that cool memory. I'm glad you got some of the bottles she collected.

[@kathydobbs1822]

Wendy what an awesome women your grandma must have been ❤ thank you for sharing that wonderful memory !

[@donnalothes7085]

I love watching your digs because you explain what things are.

[@lindashipman8253]

Your videos are very relaxing to watch - low-key narration and no distracting background music.

[@laurelshugars2866]

Bake-a-lite. The second piece of bakelite reminded me even more of, dare I say it? Part of an enema apparatus. Very cool gunpowder label and I adore sample size bottles! Thanks for sharing your dig with us.

[@rachelhelen898]

That's what I thought too. Good observation. 😊

[@nancyeaton731]

First one might have been a safety razor handle.

[@maryd9331]

I thought an enema implement too, and the bulb pulled out later might have been part of it too!

[@sixbacons5107]

Quick note- no criticism- Geneseo is pronounced "Gen-nis-he-yo". It's an Iroquois word for "Beautiful Valley." It is indeed beautiful. Love your content and always look forward to what you'll did up next!

[@shainazion4073]

This happened to be an exceptional dig! The amounts of intact and glass with imprints was incredible!! Good job!!

[@larrymunden1753]

Absolutely fascinating! Amazing how knowledgeable you are. All the time and effort in producing these videos is quite a feat. Especially appreciate all the back stores and history of the companies. Bravo!!

[@StirlingLighthouse]

He actually keeps track of how many digs they’ve dug. I heard it mentioned in a previous video. I think, but don’t quote me, that it was like 1350 digs! That would be how one would research such a diverse variety of specimens. 👍

[@AprilRaine60]

You really know your stuff. I appreciate the facts you place at the top of the screen so we can all learn and have fun seeing what you find. Do you ever sell your bottles?

[@larisarogers2649]

I have to say the video quality is so amazing that it makes you feel like you’re in the pit beside you! Great job guys, have a great weekend.

[@handimanjay6642]

As a teen living in Connecticut a group of us would locate old homes and farm houses. We would walk straight out the back yard till the terrain dropped off and find massive dump sites from the homes trash. Made some amazing finds.

[@manderson3231]

The name of the NY town on the first bottle you dug, is pronounced Gennesee like the beer, with an O on the end. Genneseo. Also the Bakelite piece that unscrewed, actually went to an antique douche, used for feminine hygiene. 😂

[@debbiegillespie4454]

😅😅😅😅

[@Dave5843-d9m]

An attempt at contraceptive.

[@cherylsnead727]

Could it be the the tool attached to the hose for an enema? That was my first thought.

[@budgreenjeans]

@@cherylsnead727you’ll never know till you try it 😅

[@kylemoses2298]

Actually Geneseo is a town I'm sitting on a couch in Geneseo NY right now lol....also Genesee is a river...also a county not a town 😂

[@Jennifermcintyre]

Appreciate you guys showing a little bit of the process of finding the spots you dig and the history of the site!! I wonder how old the spark plug was! I live a 30 minutes drive from the Champion Spark plug Mine where between 1920 to 1942. They mined a rare mineral, known as Andalusite to create spark plugs! They discovered another substance to make spark plugs with so the site was abandoned but the entire camp is still in amazing condition and you can hike up there and stay in one of many fully stocked and furnished cabins! Not much near me is as old as what you find in your area because it all started because of the California gold rush.

[@lindyhoppingfool]

Typically you ignore all the metal. I am so happy to see you take the time to carefully remove and show some of your metal finds thank you.

[@haseo8244]

36:58 you can see an animal leg bone in the dirt pile.

[@alisonmary1443]

Interesting bits and bobs among the bottles. I can't hide my love for mini and perfume bottles and there were a few of the smallest I've seen you dig, beautiful. Thank you, true professionals.

[@ginnystuart2267]

That little porcelain doll you found is known as a “Frozen Charlotte” or Charlie, if a boy. They’re called that because their arms, legs, neck do not move. Possibly inspired by a folk song about a poor lass who froze to death on the way to a winter ball. 😊

[@maureenfitzgerald1895]

Amazing finds. My favorites are always the embossed local bottles. But that German shooter marble took my breath away!

[@michaelschuenemann3505]

2x Shotgun Advertising around 130 Years old - wow - the Doll Head and Figurine was Special and that Chamber Pot sooooo Color Full and to top it of all those Rare Bottle - I will call it a "Jackpot" Pit ! Many Cheers from Australia !!!!

[@sawmillsam7156]

I cringe at the thought of the value of some of the bottles I dug as a kid in the 60's. Tip Top Bitters, Hildebrandt Posner, SF, CA amber whittle mold pumpkin seed whiskey flask, cathedral pickle and sauce bottles with pontil, and one cathedral bottle with a whiskey neck, to name a few! Of course all I have now are the memories! Antique bottles paid for 3 new Yamaha motorcycles by the time I graduated high school.

[@kd1841]

The tiny doll is a frozen Charlotte. They were often used as a bath toy. Usually porcelain, often made in Germany. ❤ Great video!

[@heehaw8401]

Frozen Charlotte turns up everywhere! 😳

[@rachelhelen898]

Also put in cakes. 😊

[@rosatorres6668]

I just love wstching these videos gives me a chance to look at how otherd use to live and what they had really tells a story keep up the good work!❤

[@jerrybaldwin7543]

The bottles you dig are incredible maybe someday you can show us your bottle collection

[@kellyschroeder7437]

Love your videos, enthusiasm and work ethic. Love the history too and birds chirping in background !!!!

[@diane1390]

I'm really impressed by the bottles you find, and the decoration on some of them. My late father found a bunch of old bottles in a cellar under a store on Yosemite Blvd in downtown Madera over 50 years ago. They were amazing. He even saw a old leather button up shoe.

[@kathydobbs1822]

Tom i have been watching your channel for a long time and everyone of em is top notch ,you are so interesting to watch . I love finding old bottles too and how you make it look easy, LoL i'll never know ,i guess thats the professional in you ! Your awesome !

[@BelowthePlains]

haha well there is a LOT of work behind the scenes to make these videos turn out well... and a lot of days wasted just looking for a pit. but thank you! glad you like the videos, glad you found the channel, hope you think the videos are getting better!

[@jesscvideo]

Very cool old bottles and things. That old saying is true “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” especially over time

[@cecoya]

Some neat old bottles and dishes found. I have seen that picnic flask before but it was called something else though. Happy digging and have a great day

[@BelowthePlains]

haha yeah, i think they call them a "pumpkin seed flask" too, but the name in the patent book says picnic flask, so thats what we started calling it. tand thank you, you have a great day too, and thanks for watching and commenting

[@StirlingLighthouse]

I’ve often heard that people love to metal detect old human waste pits because of the coins and watches and all kinds of goodies that fall in and people just don’t want to retrieve them. Can’t say I blame them. Lol Thanks a bunch for your outstanding content 🙏 ❤

[@tamran127]

Hi BTP 👋🏻! I just love the smalls. The sample sizes are so sweet and cute! Thanks for another fine dig!!

[@dannmccord1923]

Those labels for shotgun was really amazing Love that amber flask was awesome . that German. Marble was really pretty. Love all of them love your videos Tom . cant wait till the next one

[@jaybirdjargon]

Never ceases to amaze me how you find the places to dig and even *where* to dig on these sites just probing.

[@Jennifermcintyre]

Yeah I’ve never considered a prob purchase but I’m seriously considering it!! 😂 with my luck I’d probably find an old grave site behind an abandoned homestead!! 🤦‍♀️

[@maryhommen1499]

I would LOVE you to come and dig my yard!!! There are records of a house that was built in the mid eighteen hundreds. You can stay with us!! Think about it!!😊

[@wildernessofzinn17]

I am now clipping 60. A friend and I used to do this as kids back in the late 70s. We managed to find some cool things in city dumps in Western Maryland and household dumps scattered around southern Pa. and Md. Outhouse pits are tough to find for old homesteads that were back in the hills. They're now woods and it's tough to find where the houses even stood let alone the outhouses. I remember looking at the Antique Bottle Magazine way back then. There would be photos of these lucky assholes digging up caches of figurative bitters, historical flasks, rare cures, embossed pontiled sodas, and all sorts of rare and expensive things a bottle digger can only dream of. I think they were staged. Anyway, it brings back memories.

[@kristijensen7457]

Seems to me that instead of being discarded, somebody’s pocket watch was dropped by accident. I just imagine some guy yanking his watch out of his pocket to check the time and watching in horror as it falls thru the hole of the privy. Like today when we accidentally drop the cell phone.

[@CaptainJackScrapper]

And they say everything will happen it's own time. Hopefully it went by accident after he had concluded his primary duties or he may of had some laundry to do as well

[@connieholley1124]

Always surprised at the age of bottles you dig out of the pits. Keep the videos coming, really enjoy.

[@brendagroff8478]

Hi, have you ever thought about taking all the broken dish pieces and patching a broken pitcher or jug together. It looks really cool. I've even put them on lamps. Love you show.

[@2115virgo13]

Love listening to the history. Really loved the round amber bottle.

[@nancyeaton731]

I enjoy watching what you find and learning about the bottles. I especially love the old ads and info you post to illustrate what you find, that's awesome. When I put in a new water line at my house, I found a bottle dump from circa 1920s-30s, there was a hotel across the street. The bottles aren't as old as what you are finding but there were a few cool finds, and now my property is a registered archaeological site in the county, lol.

[@Bequeefed]

What a time capsule of a dig! Great finds, especially liked the amber piece! Always a treat to get that new notification 👍🏻

[@juneyshu6197]

All the channels I watch in Great Britain would rejoice for years over an intact doll head, let alone it Looked like it had eyes? Find of a lifetime!

[@sandy81054]

I have the small lamp that was used to heat the Crestline... dispersing it into the air so it could be breathed in. So awesome to see what the bottle look like that held that product.

[@romapotter6803]

Watching here in England - cant get to do this sort of stuff here. It amazes how wasteful householders were back then: the lemon juicer was still usable surely. And all tjose little fat bottles would have made petfect flower vases. And how much quack medicine were these people taking! A really satisfying video. Thank you so much for sharing your fascinating digs.

[@davefagerstrom]

Thanks Tom. We really enjoy your content ~~

[@jdjd962]

My favorite one yet here all these years I been thinking the original owner of my house died of alcoholism... cool learning and seeing I'd be looking at everything tho trying to preserve the metal pieces as well... well done guys...

[@oilerfreak]

Nice to have a dry pit dig for a change eh Tom?1 LOL one pair of gloves from start to finish, great work.

[@MrSpock002]

Some fascinating finds in this pit guys!!! You keep inspiring me to continue my research for the area I am in here in the panhandle of florida. Hope to start digs in the fall.

[@susandonnell5019]

I would love to see your treasures cleaned up and displayed!

[@warrenmink2429]

Awesome dig guys ! Y’all killed it ! Amazing glass and artifacts! Thanks for sharing with us

[@Endtimescoming]

I live not very far from where this video was taken in Minnesota, earlier this summer I started digging under my firepit after watching your videos as I knew there was something down there. Turns out there is a large pit with a lot of broken glass and ashes I found some old bottles and various plates and cups a mason jar that was cracked all around but was still in 1 piece, an old ice skate that was just the metal remaining...it might actually have been a strap on I am not sure. Anyway judging by the size of the depression in the ground I only dug out a small portion of it. But it was quite interesting. The stuff in there appears to be from right around the turn of the century...oh and several small cylindrical bottles that I took to be pill bottles those I think were thrown in the pit in a box because the were packed tightly together in a rectangular fashion but the box was long rotted away. Also what I believe was a chamber pot lid. Anyway its interesting to me to see you are so close to my location now. If you happen to have interest in digging up the pit that would be groovy as I am not sure how else I can convince my wife of the necessity of digging up the rest of it. The bottles that I did find intact were 2 drug store bottles no embossing and 2 what I believe were whiskey bottles embossed with 1/2 pint full measure. I am not sure if there is anything really good in there, but then one can never tell without digging eh?

[@Gunsmokepedia]

I loved this dig! The bottles are great but I'm fascinated by the other added discards. Thanks for sharing!

[@ChrispyMulder]

Love it when pits are packed with older stuff. Keep going

[@robertunderwood3393]

Miss bottle digging when I was a kid. Love your treasure hunts.

[@i.r.wayright1457]

Two pieces of Bakelite you found, the first was a screwdriver handle which stored one bit in the handle and a different one goes on front. The smooth tapered piece after that was the business end of a enema set up, picture a hanging rubber bag with a hose attached. There should be some small holes near the tip of that one.

[@soonzach4017]

Thank you Tom. I really enjoy watching your videos.

[@angelajones1352]

Love watching your videos. You find all kinds of cool stuff... Keep up the good work... Makes me want to dig in my backyard cause I know there was a burn pit back there in 1952...🤩🤩🤩

[@marlenemeinhard8956]

Really awesome finds Tom. Great dig.

[@mikerhodes9198]

Quincy, Illinois is my home town. You have a great channel.

[@whiskeycitydiggers]

Those celluloid cards are awesome examples. You must have a pretty nice collection of local ones. I'm catching up, you guys have a lot of high quality footage. Great dig, thanks for sharing!

[@lindacunningham1574]

So interesting watching your videos. I really appreciate the knowledge of your finds.

[@bobjohnston8316]

The Laflin & Rand story continued to acquisition of the company by DuPont then its divestiture on antitrust grounds, then acquisition by Hercules Powder who was in turn acquired by Alliant, Powder. Laflin & Rand developed a line of their own sporting gunpowders, some of which are still produced and sold by Alliant today. Bullseye and Unique are still popular powders for reloading ammo and they go all the way back to Laflin & Rand.

[@doug_sports_collector]

I don't know if this has been asked before or not; but do you guys leave something for the family whose property you excavate, as a souvenir or a piece of history?

[@MrJimmyjoe5]

L

[@Steve-j1s]

Fascinating, Tom! You are awesome!!

[@KAVS1973]

You're more than welcome to dig in my backyard. Our house was built in 1907.

[@ariennelandry9207]

Mine too! 1895

[@kathyastrom1315]

That consumption medicine bottle reminded me of the Little House on the Prairie books. When they moved to what later became South Dakota, they encounter various people who have come to the area for the “prairie cure,” hoping that the drier air would help them breathe better.

[@barrywainwright3391]

The antique handmade German swirl marble was the find of the day.

[@susanblackley7065]

Here for that Geneseo drugstore bottle (emphasis on the last syllable)! Love your channel - thanks for the digs!

[@tombraun572]

Awesome video, good to see some probing action. Great way to start a video 📸

[@DavidJones-smiley]

What a great pit! Congrats on all the embossed bottles! Great job

[@wayneweidman1543]

You can pronounce words anyway you want. Don’t let the Karens get to you. Love your channel and the way you shoot your videos.

[@Lucinda_Jackson]

I know this is old, but... I did t see any comments being rude or like Karens (so far, at least. What I saw were people who are from the area of Geneseo NY who are proud of their town and were intending to be helpful so he'd know. Not everyone has ill intent. I don't think they're the Karens here...

[@wayneweidman1543]

@@Lucinda_Jacksonwasn’t referring to the town. People were correcting his pronunciation of bake-a-lite.

[@cecoya]

Some awesome finds and interesting advertisements on tin too. I am surprised that quite a few bottles actually made it out of the ground in one piece. I am sure they were not gentle when they threw them down the hole. lol Have a great day and happy digging

[@lisahampton8431]

I stumbled upon your videos & find them fascinating. I was never a history buff, but I am intrigued by "personal" history of the individual person.

[@nanettebarling1222]

And that marble was very cool!

[@VolcanoTimeLapse]

I’m very pleased that drugstore bottles are coveted so much! I have a few nice example’s from Louisville. Have a nice summer. Don’t stay away to long!

[@korycrane]

That one bottle from April 21 is 93 years older than me. Crazy!

[@653j521]

Amazing that the world existed before you!

[@xxgrizbearxx830]

Have ever done any digging in Deadwood, SD ? I lived there for 9 months and the house next door vacant and destroyed and the outhouse had been tipped over and had been filled in and by the looks of it, it had been for years.

[@tommychew6544]

Awesome pit find! I love the ones from the 1800's area, like I'm sure you do too. I can only imagine how good they would be if they hadn't been cleaned out occasionally. People complain about jobs now, that would have been the worst job I can imagine!

[@robertkreiling1746]

And once again the best in outhouse archeology and history all wrapped up in one ! Question ? Why do you use a trommel instead of a sharp wooden tool for getting out the bottles ?

[@mikearonson1071]

My son and I found lots of glass bottles and medicine bottles from the 1800's in central Florida on a section of land behind our neighborhood. It was an old homestead from over a century ago. Even found a couple of intact moonshine jugs.

[@twindiggersminnesotapamandpat]

A wonderful dog Tom. The house had great history. Wonderful permission.👍👏

[@carolynsimone8647]

Just love your digs and the history behind them...your knowledge is amazing ..still love the smalls but the brown liquor flask was great, tòo...keep on digging ..🥰🥰

[@joanmccreless5979]

I have never seen anyone find so many bottles...you really know your business..that's what it takes..happy hunting

[@sparrowmoses48]

This is my first time finding you -- what a dig! It almost (almost) makes me want to dig the outhouse behind the chicken coop. Am now following you and looking forward to more.

[@annedewitt6974]

So cool! Watching from San Diego, CA. Great finds!!

[@bigbelconut]

Who'd have thought a poop pit would be such a time machine.

[@fleurjardin1012]

What a great pit! So many interesting finds!

[@kenwestern2821]

Very awesome episode! Nice job once again. Thank ya much

[@dangregson2635]

Tom I am an old man I grew up on North Dakota stories my father told. I really like watching youre show and listening to you talk about the Dakotas. Truly wish my father was still here so I could show him youre channel. Seems like you can find out things about N.D so I want to tell you a story about a man in Valley City in the 1930shis name was John Helens story go he caught his wife cheating on him so he killed her and then killed him self dont know if that is true or not. maybe you could find out if you did maybe you could mention in youre video. if you read thisI hope you do you'll hear from me again. youre show has made me remember things I have forgot about. When I was a kid I lived in Oriska N.D Truly hope you read this.

[@CaptainJackScrapper]

Fasinating ! New Subscriber here. (Love the humorous title as well, Privy, Payday. They did have more nuts back in the day lol) Oh and a predictable place to find a chamber pot.

[@Teresa19781000]

Watching from London UK 🇬🇧. Amazing finds 😊

[@juneyshu6197]

Love these vids, and If not a repeat, will watch. No comments yet say its old!

[@doveandpatch]

As someone who moved away from the northern plains, I miss that beautiful rich black dirt.

[@glennmurphy1820]

Those shotgun adds are fantastic.

[@kathiehacht9156]

How did you find the spot you dug in? Just by sticking the rod into the soil? Can you expand on this for me? Was No metal detecting is involved with the beginning search process?

[@BelowthePlains]

no metal detecting. the pits are usually somewhere behind the house. sometimes on the lot lines, or up here, directly out the back door, usually 30 paces.. a lot of the time there is a sink spot, but not always.. well we use the probe rods and go up and down the yard until we hit a crunch. that crunch is stove ash that they threw down on the top of the pit. it feels a lot like now you would think sand feels, but slightly different. and once you hit that, you just keep probing and try to feel glass make a "ting" sound. there is a lot of broken glass scattered throughout the pits, and when you hit a piece it will crack and its very subtle, but its noticable.. another dead giveaway, is that the ground is a lot softer in these pits than it would be where the ground is undisturbed. and in the pits when they threw the ash in, it would be in layers, and you can feel these layers as the rod passes thru it.. its really hard to explain, its just something you kind of have to do for yourself to fully understand. but the biggest giveaway is the crunch ash at the top of the pit. hope that was easy enough to understand. thanks for watching

[@christinarobertson4442]

I like when you use an old pool cue, given the hardness of wood vs. glass.

[@BelowthePlains]

haha thats exactly why we used to use wood. but the reason we switched to the trowel, is because the wooden stick was very slow going, and on youtube, you are basically vying for the attention of your views, so you kind of need to keep things fast paced.. we could just cut out all the digging, but we try to put as little cuts in the videos as possible.... because people always accuse us of faking our videos, so when you have a longer shot without cuts, it makes it harder to accuse us of that. thanks for watching

[@daviddarrall9384]

Fabulous medicinal finds! Always educational, thanks. UK

[@robgepford1547]

Thank you for sharing this with us

[@iwalkincircles2960]

Wow. That marble was awesome.

[@mauriceclark4870]

Fascinating. Stuff. All these old. Bottles. They clean up well. Multi various. Types. Put on a shelf. !!!!!!?

[@treasurehuntingscotlandmud9340]

enjoyed the video well done on the finds 😊