Exploring History with a Metal Detector. April 12, 2018

Copyright © 2018                                      John F. Oyler

April 12, 2018

Exploring History with a Metal Detector

The March program meeting for the Bridgeville Area Historical Society nearly had to be cancelled when the scheduled speaker called in sick the day of the meeting. Fortunately, program chairperson Rosemary Kasper was able to come up with a last-minute substitute, the speaker scheduled for next month.

The person who came to the rescue was a young man named Rob Hilt. He and his partner had announced a subject, “History Hounds: Preserving and Saving Local History Through Metal Detecting”. The topic did not arouse much enthusiasm in me; my exposure to metal detectors had been limited to watching a pair of unusual young men in camouflage clothing prowling around our woods with a metal detector in one hand and a shovel in the other, and serious frowns on their faces. They looked all the world like a pair of sappers trying to defuse a mine field.

Instead Mr. Hilt turned out to be a very interesting gentleman with a sincere interest in things historical, coupled with the investigative skills of Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poiroit. His electronic equipment is merely a tool that he uses very effectively to achieve his discoveries.

He brought an impressive collection of display cases, each organized around a specific theme. Artifacts he displayed ranged from eighteenth century treasures – old Spanish silver coins, Pilgrim-style knee buckles, and pewter tableware – to contemporary trivia – a cap pistol, pocket knives, and dog license tags. As Mr. Hilt reported, each artifact has two stories – the story of how he managed to find it and its own story which we can only imagine.

Someone in the audience asked the speaker to pick out his favorite of all the artifacts he has found; he pointed out a plate that was significant enough that it made the cover of the magazine “American Digger”.

He emphasized the fact that success in finding historical artifacts is based on extensive research. His stomping ground is western Washington County and Brooke County, West Virginia. He pores over old maps of that area, trying to locate long-abandoned homesites. When he believes he has found one, he approaches the current owner of the property and courteously requests permission for an exploration.

Although this isn’t always successful, cooperation of the owner is essential. Mr. Hilt also emphasized the importance of minimizing disruption to the landscape, especially when a lawn is involved. He explained how he carefully takes a plug – rolls back the sod and digs out the dirt, placing it on a piece of canvas so it can be returned to the hole once it has been examined. He remarked that the greatest treasures he has found have been friendships he has made with folks on whose property he explored.

Another key to Mr. Hilt’s success is his ability to quickly narrow down possibilities and find the best places to investigate. He looks for what he calls “travel corridors”. The path from a house to the location of the outhouse is a perfect example of a travel corridor. Another interesting story was of the time he was looking for an abandoned homesite in what is now a wooded area. While pondering where he should explore he noticed a patch of blooming daffodils and correctly concluded he had found his homesite.

Mr. Hilt has made a significant contribution to finding and preserving artifacts at the historic Isaac Manchester Farm near Avella. Originally built in 1815, its stately brick Georgian manor house and outbuildings is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its future is threatened by nearby longwall coal mining.

The speaker explained that Isaac Manchester came here from Rhode Island in 1797 and acquired the property from Captain Samuel Teeter. The property, originally warranted by Teeter in 1780 as “Plantation Plenty”, lies between Avella and West Middleton. Teeter was a prominent historical figure in this area, a veteran of Braddock’s Defeat, Major Grant’s Defeat, and Forbes’ successful campaign to capture Fort Duquesne. His two-story log house and a blockhouse, enclosed inside a stockade, were known as Teeter’s Fort during the years of Indian raids.

Mr. Hilt’s knowledge of this specific historic site and his enthusiasm about researching it was quite impressive. He was thrilled to talk about a watering trough there that has been running since 1818. We history buffs are fortunate to have artisans like him committed to finding and preserving artifacts.

The next Historical Society program meeting will be at the Chartiers Room, Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Department, on Commercial Street, at 7:30 pm, Tuesday, April 24, 2018. Mr. Brian Charlton will speak on “Cement City, Donora, Pa.” The public is cordially invited.