By Charla Wurm-Adams
cwurm@wbcowqel.com
The Crawford Park District returned with a unique crew to the site of historic Seccaium Park on Saturday for another look-see.
Amateur archeologists under the leadership of Park District Naturalist Chris Rothhaar chose a rather unusual place to look for treasures – the women’s outhouse. One of those excited about getting her hands dirty was Skip James who explained why. “Interest in archeology is Indian blood on both sides of my family,” James said. “I’ve always wanted to dig privies and look for old coins, bottles and things like that. So far today my best find is nails.”
Rothhaar said what they find can indicate how those who came to the park might have enjoyed themselves.
“We are still excavating the women’s outhouse and we have found a whiskey flask with a cork still in it,” Rothhaar said. “That leads me to believe that the women drank whiskey back then, would it not?”
The site is on property owned by Ed and Dee Speece. During a past dig at the site a coin purse was found.
Those with strong backs and a willing spirit manned a couple of different stations with shovels, troughs and screens to sift through the buckets of dirt. Bottles, a coin, pieces of pottery and glassware were among some of the other items discovered.