Texas Association of Metals Detecting Clubs. Association News. January-2018 CURRENT TAMDC OFFICERS

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1 Texas Association of Metals Detecting Clubs TAMDC- TX Association of Metal Detecting Clubs Association News January-2018 CURRENT TAMDC OFFICERS Michael Heim, President Byron Whitaker, Board Member Bobby Sullivan, Vice President Dana Logston, Board Member Margaret Logston, Treasurer/ Secretary Terry Smith, Board Member Monthly Meeting Place: White Oak Baptist Church, 117 S. White Oak Rd., White Oak, TX Meeting Time: 6:00 P.M. on the 4 th Thursday of each month. TAMDC members welcomed Contact: preacherdigger49@gmail.com, papa75662@aol.com Webmaster: tamdcw1@aol.com ***************************************************************************** The Presidents Report From Houston to Ft. Worth, from Dallas to Austin, and all towns in between, twenty metal detectorists from the Texas Association of Metal Detecting Clubs (T.A.M.D.C.) converged on Kosse, TX on December 16th in partnership with the Kosse Heritage Society for a T.A.M.D.C. GIVES BACK Community Service Project. The purpose of the event was to help raise awareness and funds for Kosse Heritage Society s, Hearne-Gidden Restoration Project, by recovering historical artifacts from the ground around the historical home. In case you didn t know, the T.A.M.D.C. is a statewide association of eighteen different metal detecting clubs located all over the State of Texas, with a membership of nearly 500 detectorists. Texas is the only state in the Union that has a statewide association of metal detecting clubs. The purpose of the T.A.M.D.C. is to start, unite, promote, and encourage metal detecting clubs in Texas, through education and instruction in the recovery and preservation of historical facts, relics, and artifacts. It is the intent and charter of this association to develop and maintain a positive TAMDC Members at the Hearne-Gidden Home * Kosse, TX December 16, 2017 (some members not pictured) 1

2 image for metal detectorists and their activities at local, state, and national levels through performance of selected community service projects, charity projects, annual statewide treasure show, and through adherence to the T.A.M.D.C. code of metal detecting ethics. Now, a little history about the Hearne-Gidden Home. Prior to 1873, Mr. R. Hearne, a successful local cotton farmer, purchased approximately 23 acres of land from the Ruben Flippins survey of Kosse, Texas. He initially built a two-story, four-room house in the salt-box style on the property in In 1893, Mr. Hearne hired Anderson Johnson, a well-known builder from Waco and Victorianized the home in the styles of Queen Anne & Gothic Revival, completing it in 1894, more than doubling the original size of the home. In 1905, Mr. Ike Gidden and his wife Carrie purchased the home and land from Mr. Hearne for the sum of $4,000. Like Mr. Hearne, Mr. Gidden was an extremely successful cotton farmer leasing area land from 1,000 acres and up to 5,000 acres in some years. He soon added a carriage shed in the hipped roof style of a barn that later would house his 1916 Oldsmobile touring car. In 1917, an electrical generator was brought to Kosse, powered by the auxiliary steam engine at the local cotton gin. Streetlights were installed along Narcissus street, and east along what is now Hwy. 7 to the Hearne-Gidden House, making it the first house south of the county seat, Groesbeck, to have electric lights. Ike Gidden died in 1937, and his widow Carrie lived in the home maintaining her renowned gardens and herb gardens until her death in In the 1960's, the home was purchased by Mr. & Mrs. Dwight Hunter from heirs, with plans to restore it. However, Mr. Hunter was killed in an oilfield accident and Mrs. Hunter did not have the resources for the project. It was rented for several years in the 1960's by Mrs. Hunter, but ultimately became vacant. In 1989, Mr. Marc Tuton purchased the property from Mrs. Hunter who hoped to realize her dream for the house through his efforts. Mr. Tuton begin working on the restoration in 1989, doing the vast majority of the work himself over several years. Mr. Tuton stated at the time, This wonderful home and piece of Texas history should be preserved for future generations of Texans to enjoy. However, due to a number of unforeseen circumstances, work on the house ceased and it again languished. In May of 2014 Mr. Tuton made the difficult decision to sell his historic dream home to the Kosse Heritage Society, wanting to see it restored to its earlier grandeur as the last Victorian farmhouse in the area (taken from 2

3 I contacted Karen Partin, President of the Kosse Heritage Society (KHS), after seeing the Hearne-Gidden home on a website that showed old, abandoned Texas homes. I then sent Karen an and asked if the KHS would be interested in a partnership project, and from there it was just a matter of time and logistics to get the event on its way at the Hearne-Gidden Home. The T.A.M.D.C. began the eventful day at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 16, With its members, they began to grid off the area, recover artifacts, relics, coins and jewelry, document and photo each find, and save for history over 100 different items dating back to the mid 1800 s to early 1900 s. Some artifacts they found of interest were house items dating to the time of the construction of the Hearne-Gidden home, silver coins, watch fobs, jewelry, and many other of the 100 documented items. There is still more to be found but perhaps on another day in the future. At the end of the day, the T.A.M.D.C. graciously presented the members of the Kosse Heritage Society with a plaque commemorating the event, along with $ they raised from their raffle tickets, all to go towards the Hearne-Gidden Restoration Project. I want to thank everyone who came out and supported this event. I would also like to TAMDC President presenting Karen Partin, President of the Kosse Heritage Society, a plaque commemorating the event thank the HARC for their Silver Morgan Dollar donation for a prize, and especially Ed Pavlasek and his 4 Oz silver Bank Note he donated for our raffle. A shout out goes out to Keith Wills for helping me document all the finds. Congratulations to Byron Whitiker winner of the Oldest Coin-1919 Wheat Cent (no pic-was blurry), Mark Lawhon winner of the Most Unusual Artifact- 2 lead printing plates, Earl Hitt winner of the Oldest Relic- mid 1800s stirrup, and Eric Gants winner of the Most Historical Artifact- M & W and Co. key hole cover. Karen Partin, President of KHS, was asked to pull a ticket for the raffle and she ended up pulling her own and 3

4 winning the 4-oz. Silver Bank Note (how did she do that?). ABOVE: TAMDC President presenting Mark Lawhon (CTTHC), a Morgan Silver Dollar donated by HARC for winning Most Unusual Artifact Two Lead Printing Plates ABOVE LEFT: TAMDC President presenting Earl Hitt (EFTHA), a silver round for winning Oldest Relic s Stirrup ABOVE RIGHT: TAMDC President presenting Eric Gants, a silver round for winning Most Historical Artifact- M & W and Co. key hole cover ABOVE: TAMDC President presenting raffle winner, Karen Partin, President of the Kosse Heritage Society, with a 4-oz. Silver Bank Note donated by Ed Pavlasek of Texas Premium Detectors and member of CTTHC Had a great time. Thanks for getting it together Michael - Jack Little (MCARC, HARC) A special thank you to Karen and the members of the Kosse Heritage Society, who allowed this event to be possible. Overall, the bad weather held off, the food was delicious, the fellowship of club members was great, and the day was a blast. Looking forward to doing it again January 13, 2018, in Sutherland Springs, TX at the Polley Mansion Project. Speaking of the Polley Mansion Project. This will be 1 of 2 projects, and our first Give Back Project of We are currently working on an 1875 Plantation Home slated for Fall November/December. I'm needing about 50 detectorists for this event to adequately cover the area. I want to ask TAMDC Member Clubs- SAAMDC (45 min. drive), CMDC (60 min. drive) and the AMDC (90 min. drive) to help promote this event in your local clubs and see if you couldn't make this your club event and bring as many detectorists as you can since you are much closer to Polley Mansion. There will be 3 or more prizes awarded (1 oz. silver rounds and/or coins). This is just for fun and categories will be announced at the start and anyone or any club that wants to donate can do so for more prizes to give away. There will be a raffle and all funds raised will be donated to the Polley Mansion Association. Anyone willing to donate a raffle prize? For more information click on the Polley Mansion link on our website Home Page or go to our Facebook page and look under the Events link. 4

5 Our 1 st Quarter Satellite Hunt, in partnership with Houston Archeology and Recovery Club s 36 th Annual Open Hunt on East Beach in Galveston, TX, will be February 24 th, Once again, we want to thank HARC for this second invitation to partner with them. This past February we partnered together and saw nearly 100 people attend the hunts. Check the TAMDC Facebook Events link and TAMDC.org for all the latest information, events, and downloadable hunt flyers. Sign-up today! Don't forget to Like us on Facebook, this is where we daily and weekly post TAMDC stuff. You can also check us out and get the latest information on our website at We do want to ask our Member Clubs to link our website/logo to your club website and Facebook Page. Thanks. Happy Hunting, Michael, President, TAMDC ****************************************************************************************** DON T FORGET TO RENEW YOUR CLUB 2018 MEMBERSHIP Yearly Club Members Due: $5 per person Yearly Individual Member Due: $10 per person Dues are to be paid in January and based on your club s total membership 5

6 (Dates and Times are Subject to Change) For more information, log on to or see the TAMDC Events on Facebook All Hunt Flyers listed below can be downloaded from TAMDC Polley Mansion Project TAMDC Satellite Hunt in Partnership with HARC & GITHC Charles Garrett Memorial Hunt in Partnership with TAMDC January 13, 2018, San Antonio, TX. See TAMDC Facebook Events for more information (grid & recover artifacts from an 1852 Home) February 24, 2018, Galveston, TX (download hunt flyers ) March 23-24, 2018, Jefferson, TX (download hunt forms TAMDC Texas Treasure Show April 20-22, 2018, Temple, TX ***************************************************************************** METAL DETECTOR S CODE OF ETHICS 1. Respect the rights and property of others 2. Do not detect without the land owner's permission 3. Observe all laws, whether National, State, or Local 4. Aid Law Enforcement Officials whenever possible 5. Never destroy historical or archeological structures 6. Never destroy, damage or deface public or private property, or what is left of ghost towns or deserted structures 7. Leave land and vegetation as it was 8. Remove and properly dispose of all trash and litter when you leave 9. Leave gates and enclosures as found 10. Do not tamper with land owner signs, structural facilities, or equipment 11. Take precautions when digging towards a target where underground conditions are unknown. 12. You may be judged by the example you set so always be courteous with consideration for others. 13. ALWAYS COVER YOUR HOLE 6

7 Featured Club BRAZOS VALLEY METAL DETECTING CLUB Bryan/College Station, TX Since the Brazos Valley Metal Detecting Club was started in 2013 we have provided our time, experience and equipment to recover well over 75 items and 25 or so of those have been since November of I (Matthew Carpenter) have personally been able to return over 36 of those items, the ones I can remember anyway. The large majority of these items are Aggie Rings but also include things such as wedding rings, car keys, and other items of sentimental value. Every time no matter the item every individual is very thankful that we were able to return their item to them. Extremely thankful to these guys for finding my ring after the snow storm. I was giving up hope, but Matt was extremely kind and patient. I ll for sure never throw a snow ball with a ring on again lol. Matt and the rest of the members of the Brazos Valley Metal Detecting Club deserve a standing ovation. The club embodies Texas A&M's core value of selfless service unto others. There are countless examples of the members going out of their way to help a person in need. No charge to us, on their own time, in their busy life. I am extremely grateful for their help this past week. I wish I could do more in return. Thank you so much for finding my Aggie Ring Matt!! and thank you to the Brazos Valley Metal Detecting Club! Thank ya'll for everything you do for the Bryan/College Station area. Matt came out in the middle of the night, in freezing conditions, to help me find me ring in the snow! Forever grateful. Thank you! These guys are AMAZING!!! Thanks for finding my ring. I will forever be thankful to y all 7

8 My faith in humanity has been restored. 15 years ago-2002, Labor Day weekend, I was swimming and hanging out with friends at Lake Bryan. Later that evening I realized that my High-school Class ring that I had worn to the lake was gone...forever, so I thought. Fast forward to July 2017, in the world of Social Media. I received a private Facebook message from a very kind man from Aggieland asking If I was formerly "Heidi Byrd a graduate of Brownwood High School in 2001". I responded, and he asked if I'd ever lost my class ring. I immediately got excited and described it to him!! He then informed me that he was metal detecting in waist deep water and located MY RING!! I offered to have a family member in the Brazos Valley come pick it up from him, but he insisted on returning it in person. I'm in Hilltop Lakes this weekend and we set up to meet in Normangee, 45 miles from his home for him to return my ring. I am so very thankful and grateful for his kind soul. This is the first item he has located and been able to return to the owner. Mr. Lavigne, you Sir are a top notch man, and I will never forget your kindness. WE ARE PROUD BVMDC YOU ARE PART OF THE T.A.M.D.C. 8

9 RESOURCES Metal Detecting Magazines: Metal Detecting Organizations: Metal Detecting Websites & Forums: 9

10 TAMDC Member Metal Detecting Dealers: Keith Wills- Bobby Sullivan- Wayne Morin/Doug Powell- Bob Turner-Principally Coins & Metal Detectors See their Facebook Page Vickers Metals Detectors- American Detector- Ed Pavlasekwww.texaspremium detectors.com 10

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16 Unifying Texas Metal Detecting Clubs and Preserving History One Find at a Time! 16

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