Thanks For Flasking
Many of you privy diggers who live in areas of the US which are affected by COLD weather will know what kind of mental anguish one undergoes in the winter when the ground is frozen solid or is covered in snow. The wrestlessness of cabin fever can make the most balanced of men go mad. But, jolly good, spring is finally here and we’re going to dig bottles! (I hope.)
I was driving home from work the other day and I noticed a house which was falling apart. I quickly pulled into the driveway, whipped out my new probe and headed into the backyard. The house was vacant, and for sale too, so I figured that I’d take the liberty and probe away. It was one of those pits that screams at you and I found it in 10 seconds. Now what? The house was empty, for sale… what were the chances that I could get permission?? My fist step was to call the realtor and ask for the owners’ phone number so I could ask them if I could dig. I figured I’d take advantage of an offer from a local newspaper reporter who wanted to do an article on me as means of validating this rather unusual hobby. I called the realtor and explained my wishes, to which she replied, “Well, what historical importance is the house? I am the president of the Old House Society and would like to know of any significance.” I explained that it was simply old and would have old bottles in the outhouse. The realtor was very excited about the prospect of retrieving anything with historical context and gave me permission on the spot, saying, “Don’t worry, the owners and I are good friends… they won’t mind.” We talked for another 20 minutes on the phone and I was blown away by her enthusiasm for local history. I even got permission to dig 3 other properties, one of which is an 1872 manor that she had just purchased to restore and another early 1880s lot. I chuckled to myself that I nearly drove past the house without stopping and almost missed out on such GREAT opportunities.
I called an old friend to come and help dig as he had showed interest in digging old glass. Here he is with his first bottle.
Tricky tagged along too…The pit was a 5 ft 1890s cruncher with a pile of clinkers. We pulled out about 150 whiskey flasks, 79 of which were undamaged, and a few ales, wines, milk, ketchup, Pepto whatever and some slick druggies.
While we were digging some old man came by and started talking to us. I figured he was a neighbor until he started talking about “his stuff in the backyard”. I asked “Are you the homeowner?” He replied, “Yes.” Yikes, I thought I’d better explain why I was digging up HIS back yard as I hadn’t ever spoken to THE homeowner, just the realtor. It turned out that I had received permission from him before (over the phone) to dig the “Are you going to use all them bottles” and ” Sorry to bother you, but child is throwing things off the roof” digs (found in October ‘07 dig stories) and thought that I was just acting upon our previous conversation, he then went on to mention that he owns 85 houses!!! (exqueeze me) “85 HOUSES?” I said, “Would you mind if I checked them out too?” “Help yourself “, he replied… yet again I learned the lesson TALK TO ANYONE AND EVERYONE…you never know what may happen!
So, as for the split, I took home nothing… except for 82 permissions that is…YEAH BABY!