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.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

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

Thanks for asking and reporting back fxdb. :thumbsup: I get a kick out of things like that.

 

[fxdb96]

Thanks for asking and reporting back fxdb. :thumbsup: I get a kick out of things like that.

No problem. Sounds like the woman from the historical society would be interested in taking a ride out there to see it. There is a big water hole on that road and she doesnt have a truck so I'll bring her. I am active in the local snowmobile club and told her I would be interested in sharing some pictures we have from the 70s of club rallies etc..

 

[fxdb96]

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.

I mentioned this to a friend from work and he wants to know more about it! He is big into metal detecting.

 

[Soldier415]

subbed

 

[Pilot]

Oosik and others who might get lost in the woods: Before you go out print a high quality pic of the area using GoogleEarth. Not as good as an aerial photo that foresters & other outdoor workers use, but you can identify openings, changes in timber types (big trees vs. small trees, hardwoods vs. conifers, streams, water bodies, etc.). good supplement for a map. Better yet of course is a small GPS, but we didn't have those when I worked in the woods until just before I retired. Used one one day and the next day it died
Yeah, this is off topic, but maybe I can tie it in by saying someone might find your body in the woods some day.

 

[dodge man]

That stone thing is an old TV stand. If you look close you can see a slot where the X-box went.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Ye olde entertainment center?

 

[oosik]

Pilot - if I go out where the area is unknown - I always have my Garmin, now. The one time I had trouble was decades prior to Google Earth or GPS. As I remember it was the late hunt in 1961. If I would have simply kept my wits about me and made mental notes of the various terrain, I would have not been in that situation.

But in those days I was young & indestructible ....... you know how that story goes. And it was in Alaska where a person can get lost. Around here in Ea WA a person is far more likely to get hurt(twisted ankle, etc) than ever getting lost.

But you are correct - a good map and/or a GPS unit and knowing how to use them can be a life saver.

 

[Redneck in training]

I work often for an Oil and Gas industry. Some plants are way out there in remote areas accessible only by FWD truck via dirt roads. I follow rules I developed after few close calls while attempting to find a place using imprecise directions.
1.) When you see a gas station top he fuel tank even when there is still enough fuel. There are areas where fuel station are several hundred miles apart.
2.) Get GPS coordinates of my destination and draw the route in Google maps with dimensions of every leg after a turn or crossing some significant marker.
3.) Always use GPS that drops bread crumbs and have spare batteries.
4.) Never attempt to find the destination too late in afternoon. You don't want to be caught lost or stuck on dirt road in the middle of forest and out of mobile phone signal after dark. Especially in he winter.
5.) If in doubt call the destination and tell them to get you while still close to civilization.

 

[Ford850]

That stone thing is an old TV stand. If you look close you can see a slot where the X-box went.

We call the fireplace a TV too. "Change the channel" means "throw another log on the fire".