Life In Colonial America"Searching for ghost towns in the east is an exciting adventure." Life in colonial America was not easy. Those first settlers had to endure very harsh conditions. In the eastern States, which was settled first, those hardy individuals had to deal with very cold winter months, and hot, humid summers. Add to those conditions wild animals, and disease, and you get an idea of how difficult that life style had been. To appreciate just how hard life in colonial America was, I have many times, searched for the old home sites of those first settlers. I am talking about the old settlements of our pioneers that once existed in the eastern states. I am also an avid treasure hunter, and a history lover, which helped me in my journeys to search for the old ghost towns in the east. Ghost towns in the east exist today as cellar holes. Searching for them is not difficult. This video also gives you an idea about how difficult life in colonial America was.
I am always amazed, and feel a sense of awe and appreciation when I’m standing on the site of these old towns in the east. And if you love history, like I do, you’ll feel the same way when you search for and locate one of these old settlements. It’s not hard to do. Just as exciting is finding a relic that has been lying on the ground in an old ghost town. If you are a beginner in the metal detecting hobby, or you are a veteran treasure hunter, locating the old home sites is an exciting adventure. Throughout this website, I will share with you the information that will allow you to search for the old ghost towns of the east, and how to search around them with your metal detector. If you have no plans to use a metal detector, and you would just like to search for the old sites as an adventure, then the information here is what you need to make your search more rewarding. It was the time after the French and Indian War and the War of 1812 when most of the settlers began to literally dig out an existence for themselves in what was a very demanding and brutal land. Creating a life in colonial America at that time was a new experience for most of our first pioneers. Not only did those hardy folks have to clear their lands by hand, build their homes, and make sure they had enough food, but they also had to create that life without electricity, or running water. If you live in the east, you’ll be amazed to learn that you drive right by eastern ghost towns and cellar holes many times. Everything they did was done by hand, including digging the cellars for the homes. After digging the cellar, the foundations had to be laid. This meant clearing the area of rocks and and then carrying them to the cellar where they would be laid on top of each other. While the homes were being built, the land had to be cleared for farming. Gardens had to be planted so that food was available, especially for the long hard winter months. And their only transportation was by wooden wagons pulled by horses, mules or oxen. Many of the old roads leading to the ghost towns in the east are difficult to navigate with a 4-wheel drive vehicle. Imagine how hard it was two hundred years ago for Americas first settlers in the east to get home in a wagon? Life in colonial America was tough on raising a family. Many young babies and children died from disease. Many times I see an old tombstone on those old home sites… and often the grave is the burial site of a young child. I have much respect for those pioneers. Most of the information that you will be reading about throughout this website is based on my popular TV series “Ghost Towns Of The East”.
View the "Synopsis Show Intro" first...Then come on back.
Of course, the term “ghost town” does not mean that ghosts reside in them. Although I must admit, that during my years searching for these once-upon-a-time towns there have been times when I’ve been spooked. Fortunately I have never seen a ghost, but there have been instances where I felt the presence of someone, or thing watching me. Life in Colonial America Meant Working Hard Everyday To Survive Ghost towns in the east are nothing more than a hole in the ground…these holes are cellar holes. The empty cellar holes are what’s left of the houses that once sat on top of them. These cellar holes, are where those first settlers carved out their life in colonial America. Searching for cellar holes, or ghost towns is an exciting adventure that can lead to some interesting experiences and treasures. Many times, in the areas surrounding the ghost towns, I find pieces of history lying on the ground untouched for hundreds of years. Old bottles and bits of pottery often lay scattered on the ground. The bottles, pottery and relics give you an idea of the everyday life in colonial America. Many times you can hike, or backpack into remote areas, or just drive the back country roads in search for these eastern ghost towns. Searching for and metal detecting ghost towns in the east can involve your entire family. IMPORTANT…If you are going to search for ghost towns on state lands you must pay attention to the laws that govern removing artifacts or relics from state owned property.
The information I have put into this website is the same information that I use in guiding our viewers with our TV series. For those of you who will never be able to travel out West to visit a ghost town, but would like to try searching for ghost towns in the east, this information will help you. And of course, using a metal detector to locate relics gives you a better understanding
of life in colonial America
Learn where the lost towns of the east are located, and how to find them.If you metal detect, learn the best way to search around the old cellar holes for best results. Those pioneers that forged a life in colonial America left behind many signs and relics of their existence. “Frank, I am amazed at what I learned in your report on how to locate eastern ghost towns. I had no idea they even exist. My entire family had a great time walking through the woods looking for the evidence of a cellar hole. It was great exercise and a wonderful way to spend outdoors. We even found some old bottles.Thanks, the Obrien family in New York” “Hey Frank - a while back I purchased your ghost town dvd, I loved it. You and John should be on the travel channel. lol So when I saw that you wrote a report about how to locate the eastern ghost towns I decided to buy it. WOW, great information. My friend and I found three old sites a few miles from where I live. Never had any idea they were there. And now, I’m buying a metal detector. Thanks again Frank, and let me know when your next TV series comes out. Your friend in PA, Marty S
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