Driftless Digger

05/11/2026

On Oct. 18 I headed to a new permission in Sharon, Wis., an old farmstead where spoils of a street tear out had been formed into a berm/horse track.

The oldest item I found was the big base to a lantern. The wick wheel states it is a Dietz oil and kerosene lantern.

The lanterns have been manufactured by the R. E. Dietz Company since 1840, renowned for their durable, weather-resistant cold-blast and hot-blast tubular designs used for emergency lighting, outdoor utility, and decor.

Other finds included 1964 and 1969 nickels and six golf balls from a neighbor who likes to hit them toward the track.

Much more to cover at this property and I look forward to getting back.

04/11/2026

On Oct. 17 I traveled back to southwest Wisconsin, where I lived for a couple years and metal detected for a few years.

The main purpose of my trip was to conduct a paranormal investigation for a friend of a friend and his friends for his birthday, but while in the area, I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to do some metal detecting.

I headed to a new permission in Mineral Point, a house built in 1907. It was a gorgeous day and I was eager to save some history. The yard provided some great finds.

The coolest item was a vintage Majestic radio dial escutcheon. The Grigsby-Grunow Company of Chicago, Ill., made the Majestic radio, and this late 1920s/early 1930s item likely came off their Majestic 130 or related tombstone or console radio chassis.

Majestic radios stopped being made in 1934, when Grigsby-Grunow went bankrupt.

The relics kept coming, including a decorative compact lid, furniture escutcheon, keyhole cover, flower pin, buckle, Ertl toy trailer and Showbiz Pizza Place token.

Coin keepers were 1953 D and 1956 D wheat cents.

I look forward to going back to this property when I’m back in the area and have more time to take my time and cover the yard.

02/11/2026

01/11/2026

On Oct. 14 I traveled to a new permission just east of Sharon, Wis., to metal detect. It’s a farmhouse built in the early 1900s with a big yard.

The most interesting, and perhaps out-of-place find was a braided hair large cent. It’s too worn to read the date. So far, it’s the only old coin I’ve found on the property.

Coolest relics were a bell, Oxford silver-plated spoon, two accordion reeds and a Webelos kerchief slide.

Other finds included a KES alloy bar solder, bullet casing and a fragrant cloud rose tag.

31/10/2026

I hope all of you have a safe and happy Halloween filled with treats. Thanks for your continued interest and support.

28/10/2026

On Oct. 13 I returned to the 1870 house in Beloit, Wis., that served as Beloit College’s Sigma Chi fraternity house from 1894 through 1931.

The coolest find was a never go broke token from Ferguson Bros. of Hoboken, N.J. The token would have housed a wheat cent. I found the two halves of the token in two holes about a foot apart.

Ferguson Brothers was established in New York City in 1878 and relocated to Hoboken around 1900. At its peak, the factory employed up to 600 workers.

The company specialized in affordable, mass-produced and wholesale furniture novelties during the early to mid-20th century. Items made included folding screens, two-tier tray tables, cedar chests, smoker stands, cellarettes, humidors, tilt-top card tables, magazine racks, plant stands and folding chairs.

Perhaps one of the fraternity brothers brought the token to Beloit from Hoboken.

The company operated in Hoboken until 1953, when it was acquired and operations moved to West Virginia.

Old coins were a 1929 D Mercury dime, 1957 D silver Washington quarter, no date buffalo nickel, 1898 Indian head cent and 1941 and 1957 D wheat cents.

The coolest relic was a pin with stones in it mimicking diamonds. It’s in three pieces but still displays well.
Other relics included two shot shell head stamps (the Wi******er New Rival was made 1897-1927), key, pencil top and Talon 42 zipper pull from the 1950s.

27/10/2026

This afternoon I had the honor of traveling to Baraboo, Wis., to train members of the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office how to use metal detectors at crime scenes to gather evidence.

Classroom time covered basic detecting terms and principles, how to properly swing a detector, different coverage/search techniques and patterns, pre- and post-use routines and checklists and more in-depth information on the Minelab Equinox 800, which the office recently purchased.

We then went outside to put the knowledge to practice finding spent bullet casings. Everyone did a great job putting what they learned into practice.

This is the third law enforcement agency I’ve trained. Between those sessions and presenting twice at the Wisconsin Association for Identification Conference this summer, I’m grateful to give back and help agencies get up to speed on proper detecting at crime scenes.

26/10/2026

Not all metal detecting adventures end with me coming home with a finds bag full of treasure.

On Oct. 12 I headed north of Beloit, Wis., to metal detect at an old farmstead site in the middle of a county park. The site was overgrown so I couldn’t get super close to the foundations.

The coolest find was a Copenhagen to***co tin made by the United States To***co Co.

I hope to get back to the site once the vegetation has died off.

22/10/2026

On Oct. 8 I had the honor of metal detecting at a new permission in Beloit, Wis., the former Beloit College Sigma Chi house on Milwaukee Road.

Being a Beloit College alumnus I was especially excited to see what history I could find there. Records indicate that Sig Chi was at the house from 1894 through 1931, when they moved into the house on campus. The house is now an apartment building.

After one visit I think it’s a virgin ground permission, which means no one has detected it.

Old coins were everywhere, highlighted by the 1907 D Barber half dollar. Other coin keepers were a 1963 silver Roosevelt dime, 1899, 1902 and 1905 Indian head cents and 1919 D, 1919, 1920, 1924, three 1940, 1945 D , 1945 and 1955 D wheat cents and a 1964 nickel.

Relics included a flat button, Goldilocks rose tag and red earring. I’ve been back a couple more times and the yard gave up more treasures.