by thom » Oct 16, 2018 10:24 pm
Allow me to share what I will about my situation. I am 61 years old and partially handicapped from an accident a little over a year ago. My slightly older sister owns the property, including our grandparents house, our parents house, several acres of land and the family cemetery where our parents and grandparents are buried. I have full access to the property.
About 35 years ago my late father told me about something that happened on the property about 65-70 years ago. The first house, grandparent's house was built sometime in the 1930s. Then mom and dad's house was built in 1946. Originally neither house had indoor plumbing. They carried water from a spring about 100 yards from both houses. About 1948-49 Grandpa, Dad, and a couple of our uncles decided to dig themselves a well to supply the two houses I mentioned and one other. It was, of course, to be dug by hand, as most wells were back then. It was a group/family effort. Now the part that you will take interest in. Dad said that after some digging, and unfortunately I can't remember how much he said, they broke into a very large open space. Dad said that the "cavity" was at least large enough to put the then two room hose inside of. They made no attempt to actually enter and explore the space. Knowing that it was probably not going to be a productive, water producing well they refilled the hole and dug the existing well about 150 yards away.
When he told me about it I did not ask for any more details or info, not even the exact location. I have since told my now 34 year old son about it. Fortunately one uncle that was in involved in the effort is still living at age 82 as still has a clear mind, if not a clear memory for details from 60+ years ago. I now know exactly where they dug first. With my sisters blessing, my son and I are planning, after watching some videos about DIY well drilling, to attempt to drill down to the required depth to access the "space". Plan A is to make a hole big enough to lower a camera down and explore it that way. If that fails, because we don't know what all they used to refill the hole, plan B will be to start afresh and hand dig a well like they did back then. I intend to find out more about this situation that I have wondered about for 35 years. Not being a geologist I wonder what we might find when we reach our goal. I have also wondered if there is access elsewhere to the "cavern". I have explored the adjoining property and can find no sign of an opening. Not knowing how deep we will have to go, what might we find? If there is no other opening, there should be no living creatures present, right? Does that even happen naturally , for a void to be deep underground, with no opening anywhere to ground level? There are no creeks or rivers anywhere near the site. Anyone ever explored a previously unopened void like this? Thanks for any response.