Strange things found in the forest

[Luke'sScreenName]

Yep I took the picture... In Sebago. My initial thought was support structure for fireplace/chimney, however there are no signs of any chimney left. Also - that would be an awful rugged support for a chimney.

I plan on asking the historicak society. There is also an uncovered dug well lined with stone 50' away. Not sure how deep the well is because it is filled with leaves.

It is amazing to look at the timber around and wonder what it looked like back in the 1800s.

Funny, I actually think it's kinda wimpy for a stone fireplace and stone chimney. :confused3:

Yup, that structure would have been surrounded by open land with few or no trees (just cultivated fields and/or pasture).

Also, I think that early 1800's would be the LATEST that it would've been built.

 

[Deerherd]

My guess is a steam sawmill. Right shape building and center support. Closely located well also a good indicator.

 

[MossRoad]

I think if it were a support for some type of machine, the room would be much bigger. There's not enough work area around it to be practical for that. It appears too skinny to be the support for a chimney.

 

[bcp]

I looks dry stacked, no mortar of cement, so probably not a machine base.

Bruce

 

[ultrarunner]

My guess is a steam sawmill. Right shape building and center support. Closely located well also a good indicator.

View attachment 488030

I would love to have an old working steam engine with flyball governor set up out back... plus a couple or Hit and Miss engines.

 

[fxdb96]

What do you suppose the structure is in the center of this old foundation?View attachment 487927

The historical society says it IS a "lintle" to support a fireplace/chimney!

 

[MossRoad]

The historical society says it IS a "lintle" to support a fireplace/chimney!

No foolin? Looks skinny.

 

[Wagtail]

The historical society says it IS a "lintle" to support a fireplace/chimney!

Good stuff... and it makes sense, although I would've associated a lintel with the top of a door frame or window. An under-floor weight bearing support/brace for something very heavy above. It would prevent the floor from sagging.

 

[oosik]

One year while out moose hunting in Alaska I came upon a fresh set of human foot prints in the snow. After careful comparison I had to acknowledge that they were my foot prints. I was going in a circle and was close to being lost. It was -25F, already getting dark - I nearly panicked. I reassessed my situation, figured out where I was going wrong and was able to walk out - albeit somewhat late.

Those footprints were the strangest thing I've ever found in the woods.

 

[polo1665]

Yep I took the picture... In Sebago. My initial thought was support structure for fireplace/chimney, however there are no signs of any chimney left. Also - that would be an awful rugged support for a chimney.

I plan on asking the historicak society. There is also an uncovered dug well lined with stone 50' away. Not sure how deep the well is because it is filled with leaves.

It is amazing to look at the timber around and wonder what it looked like back in the 1800s.

I'm guessing that there would be a lot of people that would love to metal detect the area around that foundation, and the well for that matter.