Can anyone identify this object?

[retired redneck]

This could haveben the place to keep the cooking fat or oils,it could keep it cool so it would not go rancid.I beleave the indians had something like this...

 

[maplemeister]

This could haveben the place to keep the cooking fat or oils,it could keep it cool so it would not go rancid.I beleave the indians had something like this...

Another possibility for sure. I only wish I could have seen some indication on the barrel itself that would have given me something definite but that would have ruined all the fun were having trying to figure this out right? I am becoming more convinced with each guess offered that the barrel held some type of liquid. When I go to my deer camp in a couple of weeks I am going to try and contact an old logger that I met a couple of years back. This fellow
is in his eighties at least and was logging with horses before chain saws came along. I am hoping he might be able to nail this mystery down for us if he is still alive and well. He lives in the local area but I only met him once by chance when I pulled over for a garage sale he was having at his home as I happened by. Wouldn't it be a hoot if this old boy actually worked at this camp I discovered so many years later. Long shot I know, but stranger things have happened. More to follow on that in about 6 weeks.

Maplemeister

 

[hickslawns]

maplemeister- First off, I don't think you did anything wrong with the kettle. Great way to continue history. Secondly, I wish you the best of luck hunting. Be safe, and have fun. Pictures are always nice. I am a simple person and pictures, shiny things, and a barrel of monkeys keep me entertained.:monkey: lol Thirdly, if it is indeed a water storage container, this post has gotten so long I forget what the prize for the winning guesser is?

 

[maplemeister]

maplemeister- First off, I don't think you did anything wrong with the kettle. Great way to continue history. Secondly, I wish you the best of luck hunting. Be safe, and have fun. Pictures are always nice. I am a simple person and pictures, shiny things, and a barrel of monkeys keep me entertained.:monkey: lol Thirdly, if it is indeed a water storage container, this post has gotten so long I forget what the prize for the winning guesser is?

Hickslawns: Thanks for hanging in there. Yes, it has been quite a lengthy thread. I really didn't envision it going this long when I started it up but was hoping to get some help in solving a riddle that I have been unable to solve on my own for some time now. I never actually offered any prize as I didn't see this thing as a contest. Quite frankly, I don't know if we will ever know the true answer when all is said and done, but I think we are getting pretty close with all the input from everyone so far. The only way we can know for sure is if I can find someone still alive who actually worked in this type of camp and might recognize the barrel setup for what it actually was. If not, we will probably be left with a best guess senario. If that turns out to be the case then at least we will have had a lot of fun trying to figure this thing out, and I will have a great memory of the day I found a piece of history in the Great North Woods. Stay tuned.

Maplemeister:

 

[hickslawns]

I am completely joking with you. I hope you are able to locate someone with the answer. No prize like finding out the actual purpose of it. Keep us informed.

 

[logbutcher]

The location is on the North East side of Fletcher Mountain. Being a Mainer, I know you will have a copy of the Maine Atlas and Gazatteer. Open that up to grid nr. 30 and you will see Fletcher Mountain. My camp is in Concord Twp. about 5 minutes out of Bingham, Maine. It takes around 30 minutes or so to drive out to Fletcher and then a 20 minute hike through the woods to get to the old campsite. I am going to be at my camp the last two weeks of the Maine firearm season. If you are serious about seeing this old lumber camp I would be glad to show you where it is. I notice that Hartford Maine is not all that far away from Bingham if you want to make the drive. Send me a PM if you like and we can go from there. Maplemeister

Got it, we're on our way in force. Maybe 2.5 hours from here.
From DeLorme: 45 02 W 70 73 N .
Stihl say it's the business end of an outhouse.:deadhorse: What's the prize ?

 

[maplemeister]

Got it, we're on our way in force. Maybe 2.5 hours from here.
From DeLorme: 45 02 W 70 73 N .
Stihl say it's the business end of an outhouse.:deadhorse: What's the prize ?

Ok, Just curious how you are going to locate me without directions to my camp. I can pretty much guarantee you won't find the campsite without some guiding. Maybe this new GPS technology has come a lot further than I realized. As far as the prize aspect of the deal, please see my previous post to Hickslawn. By the way, don't come during daylight hours because I'll be in the woods, and if it's a good day, I'll be dragging to well after dark, but we'll leave the light on fer ya.

Maplemeister :hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange:

 

[Kydan]

Smoke or Potluck

Maplemeister If you get that camp fire going good, you can send some smoke signals up we can find you. Now don't hold me at fault for messages that you may send that maybe offending to other's ? Lol ..For I'm duh. at reading smoke signals . Maybe better if a Big Potluck cooking on the fire we can scent or way there ? Lol

 

[maplemeister]

Maplemeister If you get that camp fire going good, you can send some smoke signals up we can find you. Now don't hold me at fault for messages that you may send that maybe offending to other's ? Lol ..For I'm duh. at reading smoke signals . Maybe better if a Big Potluck cooking on the fire we can scent or way there ? Lol

Greetings Kydan:

I think the scent trail approach would be the best if you Southern Boys are planning a trip to the Piney woods of Maine. Smoke signals can be so unreliable when the weather gets wet and snowy. It's pretty hard to miss the scent of Venison and onions on the grill when your downwind. If you boys head up this way towards the end of the month, I'll bet you'll catch a wiff of that stuff before y'all get across the Mason Dixon.

Maplemeister

 

[hickslawns]

Maplemeister- In knew it. Sounds like a prize to me. Venison and onions cooked up! Still just teasing.

 

[logbutcher]

Ok, Just curious how you are going to locate me without directions to my camp. I can pretty much guarantee you won't find the campsite without some guiding. Maybe this new GPS technology has come a lot further than I realized. As far as the prize aspect of the deal, please see my previous post to Hickslawn. By the way, don't come during daylight hours because I'll be in the woods, and if it's a good day, I'll be dragging to well after dark, but we'll leave the light on fer ya.
Maplemeister :hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange:

We just know where you are: combination of G2 and GPS. Besides, you're from way...way away....we're here. opcorn: How do you think Smart Bombs get home ? :monkey:

 

[maplemeister]

We just know where you are: combination of G2 and GPS. Besides, you're from way...way away....we're here. opcorn: How do you think Smart Bombs get home ? :monkey:

Well then Mr. Logbutcher, it's like I always say: NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO, THERE YOU ARE.

Maplemeister:

 

[logbutcher]

Well then Mr. Logbutcher, it's like I always say: NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO, THERE YOU ARE.
Maplemeister:

It's " Mr. Logbutcher...SIR !!"

PM me when you plan to go in to the camp....maybe we'll plan a trip up with our gear.

 

[maplemeister]

Pardone mois Mr Logbutcher "Sir". You gave me a chuckle on that one as that was a line my Dad used to use a lot on folks. Where are you located in Maine by the way? As things stand now I will be heading up to my camp for the last two weeks of the regular firearms season barring a nuclear strike on the Homeland. Will send you a PM if you like just before we leave Vermont.

Maplemeister

 

[logbutcher]

Pardone mois Mr Logbutcher "Sir". You gave me a chuckle on that one as that was a line my Dad used to use a lot on folks. Where are you located in Maine by the way? As things stand now I will be heading up to my camp for the last two weeks of the regular firearms season barring a nuclear strike on the Homeland. Will send you a PM if you like just before we leave Vermont. Maplemeister
AKA: Harland Gregory Shrewsbury, Vt.

We're some careful with personal info online: e.g. name, location, etc.....There are some ugly people on the internet; and I don't mean how they appear.:censored:

Never liked that Washington term "Homeland". Kind of Kafkaesque or Orwellian, certainly bureaucratic. The Maine D.O.T. put up signs on the Maine Turnpike when the exit numbering was changed last year : " Exit 133, FORMERLY Exit 33." Now, what the H is wrong with "WAS" ? Some bright light had to have taken a consultant's week in Augusta to figure that out, maybe from Roget's Theasaurus. Where is E.B. White to prick the balloon of these fools ?:monkey:

But: look on Map 16 for Castine and Little Deer Isle, we are thereabouts in between both. Terrible firewood species on the Maine coast, good for pulp however. Ask Zodiac Steve.

 

[maplemeister]

We're some careful with personal info online: e.g. name, location, etc.....There are some ugly people on the internet; and I don't mean how they appear.:censored:

Never liked that Washington term "Homeland". Kind of Kafkaesque or Orwellian, certainly bureaucratic. The Maine D.O.T. put up signs on the Maine Turnpike when the exit numbering was changed last year : " Exit 133, FORMERLY Exit 33." Now, what the H is wrong with "WAS" ? Some bright light had to have taken a consultant's week in Augusta to figure that out, maybe from Roget's Theasaurus. Where is E.B. White to prick the balloon of these fools ?:monkey:

But: look on Map 16 for Castine and Little Deer Isle, we are thereabouts in between both. Terrible firewood species on the Maine coast, good for pulp however. Ask Zodiac Steve.

Orwellian, Kafkaesque// Take it easy on me now, I'm just an old farm boy. As far as Mr. White is concerned, I believe he is resting in peace at the moment, if you are referring to the E.B White who said: "There is more genius in a cracked pot than in a whole one". You are correct about the internet. I will strive to be more cautious. We are blessed with plenty of
hardwood around my neck of the woods, sugar maple, soft maple, yellow birch, ash, cheery and beech. Unfortuantely, most of it is in the hands of tree huggers and hard to get ahold off. Log lenght stuff is selling for $100.00
a cord and up if you can get someone to bring it to you. I managed to get enough for myself but having a tough time finding wood to process for sale.
Take care for now.

Maplemeister:

 

[ropensaddle]

The location is on the North East side of Fletcher Mountain. Being a Mainer, I know you will have a copy of the Maine Atlas and Gazatteer. Open that up to grid nr. 30 and you will see Fletcher Mountain. My camp is in Concord Twp. about 5 minutes out of Bingham, Maine. It takes around 30 minutes or so to drive out to Fletcher and then a 20 minute hike through the woods to get to the old campsite. I am going to be at my camp the last two weeks of the Maine firearm season. If you are serious about seeing this old lumber camp I would be glad to show you where it is. I notice that Hartford Maine is not all that far away from Bingham if you want to make the drive. Send me a PM if you like and we can go from there.

In reference to the other responses, I used to trap in my younger days but don't anymore. I still find the packbasket a handy device for carrying all manner of stuff when I am messing around out in the woods. You just never know what you might find. I don't think this barrel was used for any type of
secretive application, payroll, or hooch storage, as it is located right on the edge of what I would guess to be an old twitch trail that runs alongside the old campsite. I would have been very obvious to anyone who stayed in the camp at the time. Also, definitely not a toilet MGA unless these old boys had some really unusual anatomical features. Keep those guesses coming anyway as sooner or later someone is going to come up with something that makes sense.

Maplemeister

Does the inner walls appear to have been burnt or are there any
carbon deposits? Earth kilns to make pots and such were used
many times by settlers and Indians or anyone living in the wilds.

 

[maplemeister]

Negative on the carbon deposits Ropendsaddle. I got down close to the ground and looked inside the barrel with a flashlight as well as reaching in as best I could to look for evidence of past use, but no clues were forthcoming.

Maplemeister:

 

[ropensaddle]

Negative on the carbon deposits Ropendsaddle. I got down close to the ground and looked inside the barrel with a flashlight as well as reaching in as best I could to look for evidence of past use, but no clues were forthcoming.

Maplemeister:

Hmmmm maybe ammunition storage or food to keep bears away
hard to tell exactly.

 

[greengiant]

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

I stumbled on your thread while searching for something else, and was intrigued by the pic and suggestions. I guess my initial thought was that it would be a spring fed water source because of a similar thing in the woods by where I grew up. I was surprised that there was only one other writer who thought a similar idea. This would really depend on whether a natural spring was there years ago, and possibly dried up in the past 50 years, or shifted its path. Otherwise, I like your idea of bring up water from the creek and putting it in there to drink, since it would prevent you from having to go to the creek each time you wanted a drink, and underground, the water would be a good temp. This I think explains the small opening best. The spring where I grew up was much more constructed, with very large stones on all sides, and cut into the side of a hill, and the water pretty much flowed out year round. Does the barrel ever fill with water during different times of year? Thanks for keeping us on our toes!