FRANKLIN — Long before I retired, I had the opportunity to purchase and renovate a historical building located in the town of North Brookfield, Massachusetts. During the remodeling phase of this building, my team and I recovered over 200 artifacts that were directly tied to the building and the town of North Brookfield. I had planned to move to Florida following the renovation of this building and recognized the historical importance of the artifacts that had been found.
I decided to donate them to the Historical Society Museum of North Brookfield rather than put them in storage. We placed them on display and they remain there so visitors can continue enjoying them.This was the beginning of my metal-detecting journey and the growth of my interest in historical artifact recovery.
After living in Florida for a while, I decided to return to New England. With the help of my son and grandkids, the New England Historical Artifact Recovery Group was created.
This group offers free services for artifact recovery to historical societies, private residents, and homeowners throughout New England. Occasionally, we are also asked to search for and recover lost personal property like jewelry. When I was asked to write about my hobby of metal detecting and treasure hunting, I thought about the questions I have frequently been asked.
For example, what is one of the best treasures you have ever found? My answer is my wife! She never gets tired of hearing my answer. As a bonus, she also offers a little extra forgiveness for a bad decision or two I may have made that week!
Another question I’m frequently asked is, what is the most memorable item you have ever found? There have been so many interesting things that it is hard to answer. However, the following is perhaps the best!
On April 19, 2015, I was working with the Hollis, New Hampshire Historical Society. Unexpectedly, I received permission to detect on the Town Common land and areas around private homes. These are normally restricted areas in the town for metal-detecting.
I was very excited and honored to receive this permission because the Town Common was the location where local men and family members would gather to celebrate and organize before marching off to war. For some, it was the final time family members would see these soldiers alive. In this location, I found three historical buttons: one from the Revolutionary War era, a Civil War Infantry button, and one from the War of 1812!
Amazingly, the three buttons were all found within a 12-foot radius of one another. To further my excitement, they were found on the 240th anniversary of the beginning of the Revolutionary War, April 19,1775. This was truly a monumental event. The three pieces of history are now on display at the Hollis, New Hampshire, Historical Society Museum.
I am often asked by folks interested in this hobby about recommendations for a good beginner’s metal detector. My pointers include first deciding whether you will be metal detecting on saltwater beaches, in freshwater areas, or relic hunting, as there is a difference between metal detectors. My best advice is for beginners to look for a device that is both budget and user-friendly.
The ease of use will enhance your experience, and it does not have to have all the “bells and whistles.” Further, consider durability. Remember that these are electronics, and most entry-level detectors are not waterproof. You will need to take extra precautions when working in wet environments or under wet conditions.
As a beginner, I recommend that when you first use the detector, you dig up all the targets, as this will help speed up the learning process. There are also many questions asked about getting permission to metal detect.
Most locations my partners and I get permission to metal detect now are by invitation from homeowners who have heard about us from friends or relatives. In addition, if I see an interesting property or home, I will stop and introduce myself and inquire about the history of the property. If there is an interest in having me metal detect around the property, I will initiate asking for formal permission to work on the grounds.
Historical finds can also come from areas where old homes once stood and new ones were built. Our practice is to give to the homeowners everything we recover with the understanding that if they are not interested in keeping the historical items themselves, they either loan or give them to their local historical society. If by chance we find a buried treasure chest of gold coins or the lost Oak Island treasure map, we might bargain for a 50/50 split!
If you are interested in becoming a future treasure hunter, please be aware that we have a strict metal detecting code of conduct. The rules we use are as follows:
- Landowner permission: Always get permission from the property owner before metal detecting on any land, whether it is public or private.
- Respect boundaries: Never trespass on private property or areas where metal detecting is prohibited.
- Fill in all the holes: Use proper digging techniques to create small holes and carefully fill them in after retrieving an object. The land should be left as you found it!
- Leave no trace: Take all trash with you and leave the area as you found it.
- Protected sites: Avoid metal detecting on prohibited areas, like archaeological sites, historical landmarks, or environmentally sensitive zones, without proper authorization.
- Follow all local laws: Be aware of and comply with all local, state, and federal laws regarding metal detecting.
- Help protect the metal detecting hobby by being a good will ambassador at all times.
Are you looking for something different for children ages 6–14 to enjoy? My company offers unique metal-detecting treasure hunts for birthday parties and special events.
If you are interested in locating possible hidden treasures on your property or would like more information about our unique metal-detecting treasure hunts, please contact us at 603 438-6613.