I, too, was thinking that it might be part of a smoker pit, but there really is too little info.
Can anyone identify this object?
- Thread starter maplemeister
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I, too, was thinking that it might be part of a smoker pit, but there really is too little info.
KsWoodsMan
Addicted to ArboristSite
I'd go with the cold storage guys on this one. The opening is just right for an egg carton. The rocks on top and in front would discourage any animal, large or small, from digging it up. They would also help to hold the temps constant.
It might not hold enough food to feed the whole camp but it probably worked for starters till the root cellar was dug. For just 6-8 guys it probably held a weeks worth of perishables.
It might not hold enough food to feed the whole camp but it probably worked for starters till the root cellar was dug. For just 6-8 guys it probably held a weeks worth of perishables.
MJR
ArboristSite Guru
I still think it was made by a trapper. When I ran A LOT of steel I would make cubbies and tunnels in areas that produced the best. I can see a 220, snare, or a out dead fall in front of it. Cold storage? Well maybe for a squirrel....
woodbooga
cords of mystic memory
Perhaps a bake oven? From the American Boy's Handy Book by DC Beard
maplemeister
ArboristSite Operative
There is no evidence of a chimney opening on this device, or any signs of use for burning, so based on that, I would have to rule out the oven , charcol, or smoker theory. I use to trap in my younger days and and can see where this could have been used for that application but the work involved in setting this thing up is much more than I would have engaged in for a trap line situation. I have to emphasize that I am as clueless as everyone here as to what the true use of this was and am just hoping that someone out there will recognize it or know someone that might have worked in one of these old camps and is still around to tell us about it.
Based on the theories offered so far, I am inclined to side with the cold storage crowd to some extent, however, I am still hoping for a logical explanation of why the opening is so small. My own reach is about 24" if I go from the tips of my fingers to my armpit. If I was wearing a heavy shirt or jacket I would only be able to get my arm in this thing about half that length at best. That is the issue that has me questioning the cold storage idea but like the rest of you, I am only conjecturing at this point.
Maplemeister
Based on the theories offered so far, I am inclined to side with the cold storage crowd to some extent, however, I am still hoping for a logical explanation of why the opening is so small. My own reach is about 24" if I go from the tips of my fingers to my armpit. If I was wearing a heavy shirt or jacket I would only be able to get my arm in this thing about half that length at best. That is the issue that has me questioning the cold storage idea but like the rest of you, I am only conjecturing at this point.
Maplemeister
woodbooga
cords of mystic memory
There is no evidence of a chimney opening on this device, or any signs of use for burning, so based on that, I would have to rule out the oven , charcol, or smoker theory. I use to trap in my younger days and and can see where this could have been used for that application but the work involved in setting this thing up is much more than I would have engaged in for a trap line situation. I have to emphasize that I am as clueless as everyone here as to what the true use of this was and am just hoping that someone out there will recognize it or know someone that might have worked in one of these old camps and is still around to tell us about it.
Based on the theories offered so far, I am inclined to side with the cold storage crowd to some extent, however, I am still hoping for a logical explanation of why the opening is so small. My own reach is about 24" if I go from the tips of my fingers to my armpit. If I was wearing a heavy shirt or jacket I would only be able to get my arm in this thing about half that length at best. That is the issue that has me questioning the cold storage idea but like the rest of you, I am only conjecturing at this point.
Maplemeister
That occurred to me too - no evidence of a vent/chimney. However, 56 years worth of leaf litter and other debris, plus the effects of the elements can effect quite a bit of change to anything manmade.
Anyuhow, I figured I'd toss out a plausible alternative possibility.
The problem I have with the cold storage theory is that it's a mighty small opening and retreiving stored items would be difficult. And given the small area inside (not even deep enough to go beyond an adult man's elbow) still leaves us with the quandry over why so much effort was made for such a small area.
With any luck, a historical archaelogist will stumble upon this thread and give us a definitive answer.
Thanks for posting a real brain scratcher!
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KsWoodsMan
Addicted to ArboristSite
I took it that it was "in camp" or on the edge of camp. The small opening would limit access also to larger foragers with no opposible thumb.
I dont know what would have sealed it from critters able to crawl completely inside and reap the rewards of such a find. Another barrel top and large stone or log, perhaps.
My interest has been peaked about this, to an extent.
If it points into camp the chances of it being cool storage for explosives goes out the door.
I dont know what would have sealed it from critters able to crawl completely inside and reap the rewards of such a find. Another barrel top and large stone or log, perhaps.
My interest has been peaked about this, to an extent.
If it points into camp the chances of it being cool storage for explosives goes out the door.
maplemeister
ArboristSite Operative
That occurred to me too - no evidence of a vent/chimney. However, 56 years worth of leaf litter and other debris, plus the effects of the elements can effect quite a bit of change to anything manmade.
Anyuhow, I figured I'd toss out a plausible alternative possibility.
The problem I have with the cold storage theory is that it's a mighty small opening and retreiving stored items would be difficult. And given the small area inside (not even deep enough to go beyond an adult man's elbow) still leaves us with the quandry over why so much effort was made for such a small area.
With any luck, a historical archaelogist will stumble upon this thread and give us a definitive answer.
Thanks for posting a real brain scratcher!
Yes indeed Mr. Woodbooga. I have been wrestling with this for a long time now and hate to quit. Sooner or later I think the answer will come.
Maplemeister
maplemeister
ArboristSite Operative
Agreed. I thought about the explosive angle myself some time ago but the barrel is located about 30' from one of the structures that I took to be a sleeping quarters so i discarded that option. Good thought though. Keep em coming if you got any more.
Maplemeister
logbutcher
Addicted to ArboristSite
Outhouse base....look for signs of the structure and seat that had to be there. Maybe even a 1/4 moon somewhere. 
PS With those coordinates, you'll get some of these A-Site freaks lurking.
PS With those coordinates, you'll get some of these A-Site freaks lurking.
buildmyown
ArboristSite Operative
Im thinking sometype of culvert or drainage pipe. How does the grade of the land correspond to the opening? Can you see the other end or are you assuming that it is a barrel and not a pipe.
maplemeister
ArboristSite Operative
Outhouse base....look for signs of the structure and seat that had to be there. Maybe even a 1/4 moon somewhere.
PS With those coordinates, you'll get some of these A-Site freaks lurking.
Logbutcher: Definitely not the remains of an outhouse. I have built and used several in my life and I am well aquainted with what a 1/2 moon is also. The only opening on this barrel is the small rectangular one you can see in the picture. I have inspected the barrel from the inside with a flashlite and there are no other openings to the outside. I am afraid I don't get your reference to the A site freaks lurking. This spot would be very difficult to find even with a map. Thanks for the input anyway.
Maplemeister
maplemeister
ArboristSite Operative
KsWoodsMan
Addicted to ArboristSite
A site freaks lurking around LOL
You are telling us on Arboristsite about an old logging camp. I pesonally could spend a couple hours wandering around getting a feel for what went on during its operation.
Finding anything left over only adds to the intrigue of the place. It would have to stay of course. The next person would miss seeing it if it left the property.
You are telling us on Arboristsite about an old logging camp. I pesonally could spend a couple hours wandering around getting a feel for what went on during its operation.
Finding anything left over only adds to the intrigue of the place. It would have to stay of course. The next person would miss seeing it if it left the property.
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hickslawns
ArboristSite Member
Interesting. Read this a few weeks ago, and came back to read some more. Possible it could have been used to collect rain water? Can't remember the exact location, and how you said it was set up. Collecting tank for some sort of liquid?
maplemeister
ArboristSite Operative
I admire your perspective on leaving the site as you found it, but must admit to having carried off a reminder of my discovery. It is a really large, black, cast iron tea kettle with a unique ridge about 1" deep all the way around the base. I found it laying on an old stump about 36" in diameter. I was fascinated by this kettle for some reason and upon close examination I discovered that it was made that way so you could remove a lid off the top of the stove and place the kettle in there directly exposed to the flame. I can only surmise that this was a design feature that allowed one to heat up the kettle a little quicker. I also removed the plate off the top of the stove that this kettle fit into and over the following winter I constructed a base that contained the plate and set the kettle in the plate just like it would have appeared on the stove. The base is constructed of hardwood and finished in the Adirondack style on the exterior with birch bark and red osher dogwood. I have a history of the kettle and where and when it was discovered typed up inside the kettle so people that come to camp can read about it. My wife and I spent years trying to figure out a name that we liked for our camp without much success. After this discovery we decided to call it the "BLACK KETTLE CAMP" as a way of keeping the old logging camp history alive. Don't know if that makes much sense to any of you but it did to us. I had hunted this area where the camp is for 15 years or so before I stumbled on it. It is not easy to find for sure and is rapidly being taken over by the new growth. The old stoves will be around for a long time yet but the building outlines are almost rotted completely away now. I feel like I have preserved if only in a small way, the historical memory of this logging camp and the men who worked there. Rather or not I took the right approach to do so, I will leave for others to judge.
Maplemeister
maplemeister
ArboristSite Operative
Wow, I believe you may have triggered a EUREKA MOMENT by bringing up the subject of liquid containment. I never gave it a thought earlier but this barrel may well have been used as a fresh water container. The opening in the barrel would have been large enough for a person to reach in there with a long handled scoop with a dipper on the end and extract water for cooking, dishes, cleaning etc. Burying the barrel and lining it with stone would have kept it cool in the summer and possiby kept it from freezing in the winter as well. I recall seeing only one water source near this camp and that was a small stream about 150 yards away from the buildings. Perhaps they carried the water from the stream and filled the barrel periodically to make things more convenient rather than running to the stream constantly. Don't know for sure if this is the correct answer or not but it's the most convincing one I
believe we have to date and it's the first one that seems to work with the rather small opening in the barrel. What do the rest of you think about this
theory?
Maplemeister
KsWoodsMan
Addicted to ArboristSite
Great find, have you thought about investing in a metal detector to scour the area for more treasures ?
The land and kettle are yours. Leaving the kettle to rust would be a loss. As is you refurbished a part of the history of the camp. It gives you a connection to the land, the area and the history.
Sounds like the black kettle has turned into quite a conversation piece.
The land and kettle are yours. Leaving the kettle to rust would be a loss. As is you refurbished a part of the history of the camp. It gives you a connection to the land, the area and the history.
Sounds like the black kettle has turned into quite a conversation piece.
maplemeister
ArboristSite Operative
It is quite an interesting piece and the only one I have ever seen that had the extended rim at the base to fit in the stove top. Perhaps others have seen this design before but I had not. The metal detector is an intriguing idea but one I probably won't pursue as I am usually not in this area outside of Huntng season and by then the ground is quite hard and not easy to dig in. When I go to camp this November I will try to remember to take pictures of the kettle and base I made for it if anyone is interested in seeing them. If the Hunting Gods are smiling I might even have a picture of a nice buck to go along with it but no guarantees on that one.
Maplemeister
Adkpk
Addicted to ArboristSite
It is quite an interesting piece and the only one I have ever seen that had the extended rim at the base to fit in the stove top. Perhaps others have seen this design before but I had not. The metal detector is an intriguing idea but one I probably won't pursue as I am usually not in this area outside of Huntng season and by then the ground is quite hard and not easy to dig in. When I go to camp this November I will try to remember to take pictures of the kettle and base I made for it if anyone is interested in seeing them. If the Hunting Gods are smiling I might even have a picture of a nice buck to go along with it but no guarantees on that one.
Maplemeister
Oh, yes Sir Maplemeister we are always interested in pics, especially when they bring so much intrigue.
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