A couple of weeks ago on June 16, a group of treasure hunters were on the front lawn of the Independence Township Hall hoping to find lost treasure with the use of metal detectors.
As many know the Township hall is a place of history. The’first building there was the Union School built around 1840, and then the current brick building was built as a schoolhouse around 1910.
This event was sponsored by Clarkston Community Historical Society.
‘It was a great learning experience for everyone, no big treasure was found, but square nails and other period items did surface and the kids had a great time,? said Toni Smith
Kids and parents from the Historical Society and also the Independence Township Library Teen Group showed up to help dig whenever the detectors found something.
Richard Ellis had gotten the idea to do some treasure hunting there about a year or so ago and talked to a member of the historical society about doing some treasure hunting on the Township lawn, and said that whatever was found would be given to the Historical Society. Both the CCHS and the Township approved the idea.
‘My mother and her brothers and sisters went to high school there back in the 20’s I thought that it would be a good place maybe to find some old coins,? said Ellis.
Ellis has been treasure hunting from the 60’s to mid 80’s, but mostly in water he said, but thought that this would be a good opportunity to dig up a little history.
‘I thought it was a good experience overall. I think the children really enjoyed it. The kids said that they learned a lot about the process of treasure hunting and they learned about the history of the building of course,? noted Ellis. ‘Anytime kids are involved in that (treasure hunting) they are excited. There is an excitement about finding things.?
Ellis also enjoyed having his grandson Jared Aldrich along for the hunt.
The historical society and Ellis had the unexpected help from another man by the name of Jason Gilbreath, who also is an avid treasure hunter.
Gilbreath happened to be passing by at the right moment when he noticed the group standing on the front lawn of the township hall with a metal detector.
‘I was on my way to see a friend who owns a metal detector shop in goodrich, and I saw that they were using an old machine, so I stopped to ask how old the machine was and how long he (Ellis) had it,? said Gilbreath.
Gilbreath thought it was a neat thing that the CCHS was doing and told them he had two detectors in his truck and was asked if we wanted to join and help out.
‘To be asked to search on property that you normally could not legally do, that was awesome,? noted Gilbreath.
Gilbreath is very knowledgeable in treasure hunting and said that he had the best equipment that money could buy. He said really enjoyed the kids.
‘I like working with the kids. Its good education for the children, and gets them interested in history,? he said ‘Anything hands on demonstrations is what makes kids interested, it’s not just out of a book.?
Both Ellis and Gilbreath have offered their services for future hunts with the CCHS.
The Historical Society hopes to do this again this summer’in the yards of some of the homes on Main Street and anyone interested’in letting us survey should call the CCHS at 248-922-0270