Fun in the Woods, Part 3

 So, We get the frame and cowl out of the woods and Mike and Harry and I go back to Mr. Ward's because he has the original stones that were used to crush the gold ore from the Bechtler mining operation.  

Behind Mike is the Dam and race that fed the water wheel that spun the stones used to crush the raw ore to extract the gold.  After all, we were in Golden Valley, NC.  There were two large stones embedded in the bedrock of the creek across from where we got the frame.  On top of them were two smaller stones spinning and crushing the ore to be mixed with mercury "quicksilver" as Mr. Ward put it. Them Bechtlers didn't know much about quicksilver as it killed them both early!   

Last is a pic of a Bechtler gold piece.  In 1830 there was a lot of mining going on in NC but there was no Mint in the South, so the Bechtler family newly arrived from Germany quickly bought up property in Rutherford County's Golden Valley and started mining gold in 1831 and then built all their own equipment to start minting gold for other miners.  The U.S. Government did not stop them because their coins actually contained more gold than those minted by the U.S. Mint!  

Google Augustus and Christopher Bechtler or stop by the Bechtler Mint Muesum and home in Rutherfordton NC.  So, you get a car adventure and a history lesson all in one day!  Thanks everyone involved for a great adventure, hope the poison ivy rash doesn't show up!

Fun in the Woods, Part 2

 After separating the two main parts we set about more clearing of a path through the woods to carry them out.  Mostly small trees, vines and POISON IVY.  Me and Harry took the big end and Mike took the front frame horns and off through the woods we went.  Twice we had to stop and turn the frame sideways to get it between trees but we cleared the woods, the hillside, the swamp and got it to the truck.  Now go back for the cowl and tools.  Can you ID this beautiful green plant?

Fun in the Woods, Part 1

 Yesterday Walt and I took some wheels to the sandblaster.  While we were there we went to visit a friend of Walt's nearby to see his car collection.  He took us back in the woods where he had left an A model frame and cowl years earlier and said we could have it if we could get it out.   I was planning on going back with Walt and Mike and Miles to get it at some time. BUT, this morning Harry called and wanted to know if I needed any car help.... so I said yes, I'll pick you up in a few minutes.  Then I called Mike and he agreed to meet us at the spot.  Just so happens this was across the street from the Bechtler gold mining operation from 1831 to 1849, but more on that later.  We arrived at the overgrown hill and cut a road in so we could get the car out.  With a little hacksawing and vine clipping we had it separated into two pieces that we thought we could carry out.  The first four pictures show the frame as we found it and the last two show us getting the cowl separated from the frame.  Part 2 next.