Some springtime exploring

Free with Four Horse Haven

So springtime is fun around here.

We've got 6 acres, and we don't use hardly any of it. In fact, for most of the year we've been here, most of the property is covered in waist deep weeds and vegetation. This year, we hope to graze some of it.

In spring, however, all the vegetation is pushed down by the snow. Once the mud clears up (like now), you can wander pretty much anywhere on the property, and get some good looks at things.

In the corner of our property, by the standing water, we thought we saw a dock of sorts. Wood, with T-bars around it, jutting out into the water.

Well, turns out that's not a dock.

I went down to it today. What it seems to be is a rectangular hole, maybe 6 by 10, by 5 feet deep (I'm bad at estimating like that, but around there). The hole has cast cement sides (I'm not sure if the bottom is cement as well -- it's got mud at the bottom).

Around the outside of the cement are T bars and other types of metal posts -- I don't know if it's to keep it from falling apart or what.

Over top is some sort of cage made of pipes. On top of the cage is sheet metal: really thick (like a quarter inch). There's also an old old dead shovel on top of it. It looks strong enough to stand on, although I didn't try.

Pictures in the four horse haven album.

What on earth is this thing? I have no idea. But whatever it is, we own it. :-)

Also while I was out, I saw a big turtle and a muskrat down in that pond (the turtle startled me, it was hiding, then pushed itself out into the water suddenly).

Lots more old dead wood and skids, as well. The previous owners liked to leave stuff everywhere. :-) But neat stuff!

Update: I've heard two theories about what this thing could be so far:

• a foundation for some old building - this one would be odd: this thing is underwater a lot of the time. Also, the metal framework over it seems to be profoundly part of it, rather than an add on after the fact.
• an old septic system for the original house - this is based on the fact that this "thing" is roughly in line with where we suspect the original house is. Hope this isn't the case: having a septic tank that's underwater much of the year seems really gross. :-) But it could be.