Old Water Wells

[Sysop]

Too bad you're in Texas. Locally we'd just look for the spot the frosts or light snows don't stick to...

 

[TomSeller]

Plow the area to see where the rocks are? Rock types used around a well would be noticeable I would think. Make sure you keep us posted because if we don't hear back from you, we will need to send out the search party figuring you fell in.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Probably different than here. The well where I grew up my Grandpa dug when he was 72 years old. That old bird was tough. He dug a lot of wells by hand. He used divining rods to find water. He dug it 63' deep through hard pan and such. I remember a string of lights going down to light it as he dug it then sending up buckets full of dirt. It wasn't lined at all nor shored with wood.. Crazy old Greek......

 

[ArmyPair2]

I don't know the science behind this but I can find water on our land using two coat hangers. So far I am batting 1,000 and my wife is very religious and it scare the bejesus out of her when she see's I was right. Our well is way over a 1/4 mile away so may have to find another water site near where in the future for a pond.

 

[yelbike]

Why are you searching for the well? Safety, reuse or something else?
Metal detector as suggested is a good idea. Work in a grid pattern. Also as your already doing with the tractor. Work in pairs and tied off if possible. Be careful.

 

[npalen]

Those old wells can repurposed by cutting them up and using for post holes.

 

[Redneck in training]

Why are you searching for the well? Safety, reuse or something else?
Metal detector as suggested is a good idea. Work in a grid pattern. Also as your already doing with the tractor. Work in pairs and tied off if possible. Be careful.

I would also suggest metal detector. I bought my in Bass Pro for about $80. Very useful around the farm when you lose some metal part and can't find it.
If the well was just covered there will be quite likely nails or rebars.

 

[JerryK]

Those old wells can repurposed by cutting them up and using for post holes.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

...Since this well was so old did they did 50 foot wells back then by hand? seems that would be pretty difficult if it was only 4 feet wide but who knows.

50 foot? Oh yeah. There have been instances of hand dug holes going 250 feet down through soil. The problem is bracing against cave ins. There are a lot of dead settlers buried deep underground from cave ins from well digging (and mining for that matter.)

 

[oosik]

I built my new house exactly where the old homestead (1890) house was. I still use the hand dug spring for house water. The well is four feet in diameter and 25 feet deep. It is build of hand laid brick and still has some of the best water in this area.

The do make detectors that would be able to find the old well(ground penetrating radar). Only problem is you would almost surely have to walk directly on & over the old well. I would consider that fairly hazardous. It would be advisable to check into companies that have the necessary equipment and can locate old wells. At least you could find out how much it would cost for them to do the locate.