125 Year Old Map Leads to a Massive Underground Structure Full of Valuables Buried in a Back Yard

[@susangolden4001]

Thank you for the thoughtful, professional presentation of your digs. The information you present to the viewer is top notch and helps us to understand the daily life of our ancestors. Alcohol, opiates and food items seems to dominate the ingredients of their daily needs. One might think that not much has changed over the last hundred plus years. Thank you again for sharing your passion for bottle digging with us.J.Au-en

[@crinklecut3790]

Ironically, the opiates available back then, without a prescription, were probably much safer than the ones of today that kill over 100,000 Americans every year. Maybe we should go back to the way it was. At least people back then had some idea of how much they were taking.

[@khamen723]

Went for a hike thru the woods yesterday with a friend just to go for a hike. We got about a mile in the woods when we found a large, flat area that we agreed would make a great campsite. Soon we noticed part of a fence and then some scrap metal. Minutes later we were picking up all sorts of bottles from the 1950’s - 1970’s. Lots of cool stuff, even found some tomatoes growing in the same place, 2 tomatoes, 1 was ripe 1 was green. They looked like those heirloom tomatoes you see at the store. Really large and giant, wrinkled top. 🎉 Had to be an old house that’s no longer there

[@crystallaws7050]

I've never seen anyone find so many unbroken bottles in one pit. You certainly DID hit the jackpot!

[@dustbowlhammer7119]

I stumbled across this channel and I have to say, this is archeology! I never knew that this kind of stuff was buried beneath our feet, and what was under an outhouse no less! Fascinating for anyone interested in history, and antiques. I also love the shout outs to the brand, and research into identifying what each item actually was!

[@CuttingEdgetools]

Man the Liquor sure Flowed in that Hotel Bar!!!! Several Bottle Dig channels have Popped up lately- but Nothing Compares to your Channel! Huge shout out to your entire crew that puts these cool videos together for us to enjoy 👍🇺🇸

[@mandyfr]

Seeing a new video notification for your channel always brightens my day. You gentlemen have put together a very engaging, genuine, enjoyable format. Bravo (standing ovation, actually), and thank you for sharing the fun.

[@taleandclawrock2606]

Wonderful dig and fascinating historical data. Would LOVE to know what happens to the finds afterwards, and see them cleaned up.

[@fouilleuseacadienne-darlen1553]

Me too 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@joannevdm6437]

Yes me too

[@lisacates4185]

Me too

[@kimkelly-kline3768]

Yeah, does he get to keep everything he finds?Especially when on Residential Yards??

[@lumberjill6598]

Me too

[@alisonmary1443]

Thanks to you both for brining me along every week, the digs just keep getting better, truly well deserved.

[@Looter8TreasureHunter]

105 bottles, wow! That’s insane! Amazing job sir!

[@kimberlywagner1638]

Thanks for the backstories... Happy Father's Day tomorrow.

[@hanksmith6086]

Hi you Two, great candy dish find. Your show has to be the best show that i found so far. great job. Thanks

[@alexikoerner8527]

Looking at your videos I tell myself that I should dig behind home, there was the entrance to a coal mine that was used for almost a century as a bottle dumping ground ...

[@AtomicBlonde1]

Yep you dig

[@melindahawk8540]

Definitely do that. There’s no telling how much great stuff you may find.

[@lharris4118]

Outhouse, no, thank you

[@jimjones8268]

I will go with you

[@daviddarrall9384]

Your Patience always amazes me! Enjoyed this latest video. UK.

[@brendagroff8478]

I never want your videos to end

[@kathyastrom1315]

My second great-grandmother’s third husband owned and operated the Hotel Success in Hilger, Montana in the 1910s. I would love to dig there, if I can ever visit the area and can locate where it was at in town.

[@kathyastrom1315]

Last night, I found a Sanborn (insurance) map of Hilger from 1916, when they lived there! I then combined that with the only photo I’ve found online of the town’s Main Street, as well as the one photo I have of their building from my own stash of pictures, to figure out where their building was at in town. Then I went to Google maps to see what’s there now, and it looks like there is one building on their lot, but I highly doubt it’s their building. It looks like just one building survives in that unincorporated town from a hundred years ago, and that was the only brick building in town, a bank when it was built, and a bar now.

[@GrannysGarage333]

Very cool!! Let us know about any updates!!

[@anitraduke2265]

I live just a hour from my 5 times Great Grandfather lived. He was a founding father of the little town outside of Atlanta. He founded the oldest Church, the Local Masonic Lodge, he rented out the family Cemetery to the city for a dollar, for 100 years, and he had Gold Mines. One of which is till listed on the map! We know where he lived, and there is a exhibit in a local Gold Rush Museum. I would love to go out to some of these places and dig. How cool would it be able to dig some around a old Gold mine. Maybe some day I can get out there and look around.

[@kennethstickney8819]

The milk glass lid is most likely a representation of the USS Maine or one of Admiral Dewey's battleships. The candy dish was manufactured right after the Spanish American war circa 1900

[@paulmorris1690]

I wasn't sure if anyone else knew what this piece was - good job with the ID!

[@ExperienceKevsworld]

what I like the most is that you know everything about each thing you find and I don't have to sit here wondering. Thanks for making these vids.

[@debbiebowman8071]

Love the crock lid. I have a 20 gal and had no idea they had lids....i would guess they are a.rare find. Its a.great piece even if glued

[@shepherd4406]

What a work out. My grandmother had a big crock like that on the back enclosed porch, it was for sauerkraut. Thanks for all the information and taking us along on the dig.

[@watchesfromedges]

I'm subscribed to another channel in the UK finding really interesting old stuff, it's called The Victorian Mudlark and is a young man with a first class London accent who has a licence to collect finds from the banks of the Thames River around London, he picks up some really intriguing old stuff from acres of sticky tidal mud and is well worth a visit by anyone who likes watching old bottles, pottery and clay pipes being recovered. I've no connection or agenda, it's just a nice channel.

[@beverlyhayshouston2770]

Check out Nicola White,Si Finds and The Northern Mudlarks.

[@AxelOlsson-ks2gu]

I think I know the one you mean. Was put off by the finds consisting of just the bottom fragments of bottles with the manufacturers' names..

[@thumpershd]

I'm holding my breath with each new discovery hoping for some embossing, great fun to watch. Thank you for showing how it's done!

[@soonzach4017]

Love your videos, always so interesting founding the old old bottles or what ever.

[@carolynsimone8647]

Poker chip... .that expains the booze bottles. I so enjoy being in those holes with you and can't wait to see what comes out next....thanks so much for sharing your passion and adventures...🥰🥰

[@soonzach4017]

Wow, Tom, lucky day very happy for you all.

[@stormy8207]

So many bottles. I like the crockery, the patterns and makers marks. They can say so much about history and origin. The seeds also interest me. I'd be tempted to take some and plant them to see what comes out of it. I'm an Australian but I appreciate your efforts in preserving history and learning about the past. I reckon you probably needed to be hosed down after that one.

[@kencannuck]

If those seeds are still alive then no telling what potentially harmful things are accompanying. Don't think of mixing them with food source, even accidentally. In western countries we tend to take our health too much for granted imo

[@stormy8207]

@@kencannuck ???? How is a growing plant harmful? I'm sorry that is silly.

[@joelhunter984]

Was thinking the same about the seeds. See if they would germinate. I think could be a valuable source of non GMO seed plants of an ancient variety. I know they have found ancient seeds in Egyptian digs that have germinated.

[@davefagerstrom]

Thanks for the great videos. Keep up the great work~!

[@dianesinnett4391]

Thank goodness a new video!!!!! I was on my fourth time watching these fantastic videos AGAIN! Thanks Tom and Jake

[@christhompson4270]

Wow that was an awesome dig with so many bottles, well done. Take care and thanks for sharing 👍🙏❤️

[@karyannfontaine8757]

Old maps can lead to dig areas and buried interesting items. Love to watch you find bottles and other items of times past. Thank you for sharing your digs and finds with us. This program gives me the incentive to investigate my property.

[@skeeterinnewjersey5256]

Looks like so much fun. Uncovering history while you get to play in the mud finding cool stuff. I'm jealous.

[@merideewelsh8722]

He’s digging in old poo!

[@warrenmink2429]

Awesome haul man , always amazed at the amounts of killer glass ! Thank you for sharing with us .

[@smspiwak1956]

Great dig! What type of lid would a bottle of preserved pickles have had? I learn so much from you two. Thanks again for taking us on your adventures.

[@brandonmcdaniel930]

Great job on your videos my man!! It seems your channel has been getting some traction. I hear others talking about it. Good job on research and video editing especially the pics and descriptions. Good luck I hope you get to a million subs.

[@peggybaxter8480]

Thank You!

[@cindystrachan8566]

What do you do with all the shards of pottery you uncover? I’m thinking they would be cool to use for making mosaic gardening step stones. And on the bottom you could provide the provenance of what building they were obtained from. Think this is the first dig I’ve seen you do that didn’t have a ton of ketchup bottles.

[@CRUZER1800]

I'm a first time visitor and I have to say... I had a great time. I especially like the historical information you provide.. Thanks .... from a new subscriber. Russ

[@antonfarquar8799]

the boat looking piece was a commemorative souvenir of the Battleship Maine - you can see the sponson mounted gun near the bow.

[@Jennifermcintyre]

Thanks for sharing this information with us! That’s something special!

[@roberthess3939]

Yes, I was going to say (given the dates for the pit) that it must have been a Battleship Maine souvenir/commemorative as the Maine exploded in 1898 and we responded by going into Cuba as part of the Spanish-American War.

[@vickinoeske1154]

Wow - that stoneware jug is a beauty.❤

[@larisarogers2649]

Another fun time in stinky mud, but it was worth it! I am so glad you found the hutches. See you on the next expedition.❤

[@philipcallicoat3147]

Thanks,Tom -&-crew🕊️!!! It's obvious that our great grandparents were devoted to opiates and alcohol consumption... Some things never change.. 😢

[@bobjohnston8316]

The civil war was a major factor in legitimizing opiate consumption. The standard pain reliever was Laudanum, which was opium dissolved in whiskey. When you consider the number of amputations alone the surgeons distributed a staggering amount of Laudanum, the only pain reliever available to them. After the war it was an over the counter item at drugstores. In the movie “The Shootist” James Stewart playing the doctor gives John Wayne playing the retired outlaw a bottle of Laudanum to relieve the pain as his incurable cancer progresses. This scene was actually highly accurate.

[@beverlyhayshouston2770]

🤣🤣🤣

[@ronbrandich4196]

Great Video and really enjoy seeing the PAST through your finds! May I ask what you do with the bottles you find? Do you "SHARE" the haul with the owners or are you allowed to keep them all? Please let us know and thank you.

[@bobjohnston8316]

Great site. I’m now going back and watching some of your earlier videos. Have you ever encountered milk glass containers with lids shaped like animals or military things like battleships or cannons? Prepared mustard was sold in these containers and my late father collected them. During and after the Spanish American war the squirrel, rabbit and other animal motifs were replaced by the battleships and cannons. When my father collected, back in the 1950’s and 1960’s, these were common in second hand stores.

[@andrewchase7684]

those stoneware jugs are amazing. im always surprised anyone would throw those away

[@dawnhaynes7784]

Wow an amazing dig love all your finds

[@vada7259]

Thanks!

[@barbarahatcher4552]

Thoroughly enjoyed your video again thank you. Keep up the good work.

[@dannmccord1923]

What an awesome haul. Just love that candy dish lid. I bet it was pretty when you got it clean up. Those sodas were awesome too. I bet your ready for a hot shower for sure .love your videos Tom. Keep digging always waiting for the next one

[@marydalton5752]

Very interesting! I helped dig up a yard where a historical meat market still stands and we dug up eyeglasses & teeth partials, square nails. It's definitely a history lesson!

[@georgehays4908]

......cool ! I used to dig a lot myself !

[@jefflundquist5771]

Love that big old handle jug. We had some of those on our old farm in Michigan.

[@conmckfly]

So, is there any smell when digging? I'm amazed at how many bottles you find every time and many of them are in great shape. Thanks for these entertaining and educational videos. Fascinating.

[@BelowthePlains]

haha when its dry, it usually just smells like soil. but if the area has a high water table, once you get about a foot below the water line, it generally starts to smell. i guess the stuff cant break down as well when its under water. thanks for watching

[@conmckfly]

​@@BelowthePlainsThanks for replying. I always wanted to dig the old outhouses on old properties up in Idaho.

[@geraldrector6170]

The boat piece ya dug looks like the top off of a candy dish the battleship Maine I beleive. Have a good one.

[@Travelling..Bottle..Digger]

Some nice old glass coming out of that soupy mess. Great Hutch 👍👍

[@terrancemiller8350]

That was a lot of fun and what a boys dream just playing in the mud a bit shitty but still fun. I really liked the communication you two had in the last video. Oh , yes, Jake you shy stud muffin you, great photography with you big new camera and great editing, the pictures are so clear and precise. I know the camera is so big and heavy but we know you are use to handling big heavy things. Love to you both, try and stay dry. Afriend.

[@momtrips6783]

Great haul!

[@michaelschuenemann3505]

Interesting Dools Legs - Great Hutches and Tons of Old Bottles and some Human Poooh - ha ! Poker Chip - that must be rare ? It was a very Productive Day - well done - Great Finds and many Cheers from Australia !!!!

[@inmyopinion_3672]

Love your videos. What do you do with all the bottles you dig up?

[@ritahall8653]

Good job

[@michaelbradford6990]

It's been a Good watch for the last few months - good channel for the vintage-curious but LOL, my goodness , who knew so many people drew treasure maps maps to their garbage pits - pretty nice of those folks!

[@roxannemacdonald8746]

I love what you do and love what you find. I’ve often wondered about the sanitary conditions. Does it smell? Are there traces of old humane debris including the water? Have you thought of sifting through the debris for lost jewelry? It would be interesting to do a mosaic or kitchen back splashes with broken pottery from outhouse finds!

[@jimmysinclair6943]

Really appreciate the persistence, I would’ve probably given up once I saw the ground water…

[@jerrylowden1977]

So are the Bottles Worth anything? Or is it just the fun of digging and finding them.

[@bridgetterichardson6804]

People dig old Victorian and Edwardian trash pits over here. I wouldn't have a clue where to look, I'm sure they're glad most of us don't know where, haha. Your definitely hitting jackpots for bottles, nice to see you doing a professional job! Keep up the great work!

[@clidemorrow8786]

Great work boys

[@monkigrl11]

I so love your videos! Im enthralled with all the amazing things you find. Much love from Louisiana ❤️❤️

[@darrylwillett8359]

Nice finds!

[@johnsnow6586]

Great job guys

[@susiereicheneker6844]

Absolutely awesome !!!

[@beverlyhayshouston2770]

Might be a butter dish top that you pulled out near the beginning. I once dug up a plaster cast of a foot advertising Dr. Scholls arch supports. It was the old drugstore dump underneath a building in the Town Square alley. Those were the days.

[@beverlyhanlon8376]

A lot of the same bottles. But you do find some awesome stuff. Good video. Thanks for sharing. Stay safe.

[@WilliamSedgeman-zk8si]

At 20:50 I believe that object is a sad iron which was usually heated on the wood stove. It was used for ironing clothes. Your example is missing the handle which often was made of wood.

[@yearounder]

When you're at a nice, well kept property, how do you determine where an old outhouse may have been? I'm amazed at what you find in these old places! Kudos, sir!

[@vanmonroe4346]

He's mentioned in other videos a depression in the yard, or a "sink spot" is a good indicator of an outhouse location on old properties.

[@thegoodearth7]

@@vanmonroe4346 If I am not mistaken, he then additionally confirms the pit's prior existence by running a long rod down into the ground. Soil that has been used as fill for a small pit is evidently soft enough for him to pierce by hand (again, I just saw him do it in one video, so he may have multiple ways).

[@vanmonroe4346]

@@thegoodearth7 yeah, you're right --- he does check for buried objects that way.

[@Ivehadenuff]

I live in Massachusetts. I found an old map of my neighborhood. One house had an underground gas tank in the early maps. I walked by the other day. There is a visible circle in the grass. My house sat on a huge piece of property and I think included what is now the high school. Fun looking at old maps at the library!

[@jorahmormont1154]

love the hutches. congrats on the great finds

[@mm-vi7he]

why can't you get a machine, (sump pump) to suck out all the water? what do you do w/ all the broken bottles? love your channel!!

[@BrokenWrenches]

Thats crazy how much intact stuff you find on your digs. Personally I couldn’t do the “outhouse” digs…. Just a big mental block for me 😂 or mental 💩log.

[@Kuulei265]

Bluing! I cant believe that! I remember that we would put bluing into our wash of whites. It as supposed to make clothes whiter. What memories.

[@mr.bearandpokekid24]

The milk glass boat part looks like the top from a Flaccus mustard from the Spanish American War era.

[@bobjohnston8316]

You answered the question that I posted earlier in comments. My late father collected those in the 1950’s and 1960’s. There were all sorts of variations as I recall, different battleships and also animals. He died in 1997 and I sold his entire collection for not much money. I consulted a couple of antique dealers and interest in milk glass and collectible glass had fallen off. I wish that he had collected civil war guns instead. Originals were widely available in junk shops here in PA back then.

[@mr.bearandpokekid24]

@@bobjohnston8316 I left the comment before I noticed there were others. I have a couple on my collection and really like them.

[@scottvaughn1763]

Wow! Well done again!!!

[@Jennifermcintyre]

Almost all Liquor and drug store bottles!! 😂 that hotel must have been a good time!

[@kaolinwasher]

Tom, great vid , loved the whole jug, & the Kilmers I would say that dump was used from late 1897 to late 1905 about 8 years, I bet you got one pit older and one younger on that lot , I will say prayor that you will find some embossed sho fly bottles

[@detecting_with_matt3643]

Always love your dedication to digging these pits! When I talk to people about doing this they look at me like I’m crazy haha I recently acquired some permissions and can’t wait to see what is hidden in the ol’ poop hole 😂

[@fishinwidow35]

I would say that blue cut glass lid was to a butter dish. I love the music you use while digging the top layer

[@fishinwidow35]

If you ever have doll parts you want to get rid of I would sure take them off your hands!

[@andrewowens9382]

Hi Tom and jake what a assorted bottles 🍼 old banner style bottles who ever was the owner he must have made a lot of dollars that was one big pit all the best Andrew south wales uk 👍 👌 😀 🇬🇧

[@janeswire8351]

Very interesting.

[@williamfoster7165]

2 different hutches from the same city! great going

[@kayrogers880]

The dark amber liquor flasks are so pretty!

[@wgrillojr]

That first blob top bottle has such a neat shape.

[@lisacates4185]

What a cool job😂❤

[@AxelOlsson-ks2gu]

Easy for you to say.

[@jamesonheche2899]

that candy dish lid was pretty cool. wonder how it ended up down there

[@jjdjj5392]

I would have liked to seen the poker chip cleaned up too. Way cool finds!!!!

[@smudgekids3203]

Wowzers!

[@pennyhughes513]

Hi, did you post a new dig last week? I haven’t found one, did I just miss it, thanks, Penny

[@tombraun572]

Love to see a video on how you use the Sanborns to pinpoint and probe out a privy Tom. Great videos 👍

[@douglaswiggins1810]

Luv this show

[@michaelpinreno]

the cut glass top that is banded in blue. That banding is called flashing. Flashing is generally done in either gold or platinum, but a colored flashing was done to keep the cost down and still look fashionable for the home.

[@kayrogers880]

I envy you, young man! Love your channel! @ Mesa AZ

[@BelowthePlains]

thank you!!!!!

[@420]

So, how to you locate these old maps to start picking spots for filming? After finding a map, do you just ask the random property owers permission to probe the ground and when you think youre hitting glass you dig?

[@amandamiller82]

I just discovered your channel. My whole property seems to be an old trash hole. Do you keep what you did up or do the homeowners keep it?

[@thisguy3800]

Forgot to say, great work by the camera person. The 4K pulls, from out of the muck is so enjoyable,e to watch.

[@danieltikusis5239]

Have you ever tried to see if any seeds will sprout? 🌱