PRIVY & CISTERN EXCAVATION:
ARE YOU A PROPERTY OWNER (Whose Property Goes Back to the 1870s or Older)?
PLEASE READ:
This pertains to anyone who lives in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut:
Besides maintaining this site for recording the history of New York City's bottle industry. I am also hoping to reach out to those who own a piece of history themselves. What do I mean? Its simple.
Many of the bottles on this website are dug in areas of New Yorks forgotten past, mostly from old landfills and dumps. But what landowners and construction workers dont know is that every location that dates back to the 1870s or older may contain a treasure trove of bottles, pottery, and other relics right beneath your feet. Virtually every backyard and or basement in Manhattan, and most neighborhoods in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Staten Island will have 2 things: A Privy, which was used for sanitation, and A Cistern, which was used for storing rain water. Both of these structures were essential back then because sewage systems and garbage disposal were nearly non existent. Each Cistern AND Privy will contain relics and bottles dating back from the era in which it was built (going as far back as the 1790s) all the way up to the 1870s (when the sewage system was built). For other areas outside of New York City, the story is pretty much the same, except for the fact that the structures could have been used much later into the early 1900s. For Philadelphia, it is the exact same story as for New York City.
Many homeowners and construction workers dont pay any attention to the potential treasure trove that could be excavated through a very simple process. But with the homeowner or builder's permission we could save history. These are the steps which would be taken if we would receive permission for a dig (We have all of the tools and maps necessary for the process):
First, it is necessary to look at the old maps dating back to the 1870s to see if there was a structure located on the property.
Second, we would use a tool known as a "probe", a five foot long steel rod to check the soil in the backyard or basement to locate the Cistern and Privy (which would have been lined with either wood, bricks, or stone). The contents of an old Privy or Cistern would be ash, allowing the probe to gently sink into the ground, as opposed to regular soil. The probe also beings up a sample so that we can be sure exactly where the structures were located.
Third, the excavation would take place which would span from between 1 and 3 days, depending on the size and depth of the structures.
Fourth, we restore the area of excavation to its prior condition, also sifting the soil for relics such as marbles, pipes, buttons, and coins, before filling the hole back in.
Fifth, we equally share the treasure with the homeowners and every party involved. Sometimes there could be so many artifacts in one structure that every party involved goes home with dozens of bottles. The best part about the whole process is finding out the history of the people who lived in that dwelling. We could tell their living habits, what the drank, if children were present, and if they were sick or healthy, just by the treasures that we find.
We would love to be part in a historical adventure with you!
PRIVY PICTURES, AS WELL AS CONTACT INFORMATION ARE LOCATED ON THE HOME PAGE: http://mikesbottleroom.weebly.com/
Besides maintaining this site for recording the history of New York City's bottle industry. I am also hoping to reach out to those who own a piece of history themselves. What do I mean? Its simple.
Many of the bottles on this website are dug in areas of New Yorks forgotten past, mostly from old landfills and dumps. But what landowners and construction workers dont know is that every location that dates back to the 1870s or older may contain a treasure trove of bottles, pottery, and other relics right beneath your feet. Virtually every backyard and or basement in Manhattan, and most neighborhoods in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Staten Island will have 2 things: A Privy, which was used for sanitation, and A Cistern, which was used for storing rain water. Both of these structures were essential back then because sewage systems and garbage disposal were nearly non existent. Each Cistern AND Privy will contain relics and bottles dating back from the era in which it was built (going as far back as the 1790s) all the way up to the 1870s (when the sewage system was built). For other areas outside of New York City, the story is pretty much the same, except for the fact that the structures could have been used much later into the early 1900s. For Philadelphia, it is the exact same story as for New York City.
Many homeowners and construction workers dont pay any attention to the potential treasure trove that could be excavated through a very simple process. But with the homeowner or builder's permission we could save history. These are the steps which would be taken if we would receive permission for a dig (We have all of the tools and maps necessary for the process):
First, it is necessary to look at the old maps dating back to the 1870s to see if there was a structure located on the property.
Second, we would use a tool known as a "probe", a five foot long steel rod to check the soil in the backyard or basement to locate the Cistern and Privy (which would have been lined with either wood, bricks, or stone). The contents of an old Privy or Cistern would be ash, allowing the probe to gently sink into the ground, as opposed to regular soil. The probe also beings up a sample so that we can be sure exactly where the structures were located.
Third, the excavation would take place which would span from between 1 and 3 days, depending on the size and depth of the structures.
Fourth, we restore the area of excavation to its prior condition, also sifting the soil for relics such as marbles, pipes, buttons, and coins, before filling the hole back in.
Fifth, we equally share the treasure with the homeowners and every party involved. Sometimes there could be so many artifacts in one structure that every party involved goes home with dozens of bottles. The best part about the whole process is finding out the history of the people who lived in that dwelling. We could tell their living habits, what the drank, if children were present, and if they were sick or healthy, just by the treasures that we find.
We would love to be part in a historical adventure with you!
PRIVY PICTURES, AS WELL AS CONTACT INFORMATION ARE LOCATED ON THE HOME PAGE: http://mikesbottleroom.weebly.com/