Oak Island – Underground Again

The Curse of Oak Island season 11 is off to a good start as work gets underway to reopen different areas of investigation. This week they started by going back down in the Garden Shaft.

Curse of Oak Island, mystery, curse, oak island, Google Maps, Island locationsThe causeway to the island has been busy as more and more workers return to the island and large equipment is arriving.

Curse of Oak Island, mystery, curse, oak island, Google Maps, Island locations Tonight they went down into the Garden Shaft and it showed that water was leaking into the shaft in the new area. There is a plan to slow the water down and there are many questions as to why the water is there.

Curse of Oak Island, mystery, curse, oak island, Google Maps, Island locationsThe results of additional water testing were discussed, including the finding of organic material deeper that where it should be found in Aladdin’s Cave.

The metal pieces found by the archaeology team working around the circular stone structure were looked at by Carmen Legge and dated to before the Money Pit. One item was a flat headed nail and the other possible a handle for a ladle. They most likely have connection to maritime use as the metal has some chlorine content from salt spray.

Curse of Oak Island, mystery, curse, oak island, Google Maps, Island locationsThey decided to drill another bore hole into Aladdin’s cave so they could again drop a camera and sonar scanner down to get a view from a different perspective.

The camera was dropped down first and they saw what looked like a bolt in the wall of the cave. They were not able to get a real clear look, but it was evident that there was a large void. They also notice that the water has a current which may point to openings in the cave.

Curse of Oak Island, mystery, curse, oak island, Google Maps, Island locationsAt the circular stone structure the archaeology team found some more metal objects including some more fasteners. This may point to occupation there prior to the Money Pit.

Oak island, map, curse of oak island, pier, new work

Near the end of the show they showed some storm damage in the area after a large storm hit. From following the news, we know that this may be a recurring theme this year.

The Garden Shaft started to fill with water again. More than thirty feet of water was in the bottom of the shaft, and this would have not all come from heavy rain draining into the top of the shaft, but through underground hydraulics. Did they hit another booby trap or flood tunnel?

They also showed that the circular stone structure area was flooded from the rains.

They made it through another episode this week without a single mention of the Templars. Instead there were multiple mentions of William Phips. Is there a shift in focus happening?

In the preview for next week they showed some more excitement as they again dropped a camera down a bore hole into Aladdin’s Cave. They also showed some excitement in the Garden Shaft with mention of an offset chamber.  Did they run into a void?

Some interesting developments this week as they continue to hunt for the slippery treasure.

Steven


WwRI – Written with Real Intelligence

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Great Grandpa Braman Draft Card Thoughts

Tonight I am thinking about my Great Grandpa Harvey Irvie Braman. The last of his children passed away earlier this month and a memorial service was held for Aunt Gertie on Saturday.

Some of the things I am thinking about were found on his draft registration cards for WWI and WWII.

Draft cards, WWi, RegistrationThe first card is from WWI when Harvey was only 25 years old. He lived near Northboro, Iowa. It also shows that he was a Farm Hand and who employed him.

He was married with a wife and three children. (This was his first wife Sarah)

It is also nice to see his signature.

WWI draft card, registration, WWIThe Registrar also filled out some questions on the back of the card.

This is interesting as it shows that Harvey is Tall and is of Medium build.

Of interest to me is the color of his eyes. He has Gray eyes. I am not sure why, but his hair color is not reported.

Great Grandpa Braman - Wedding Picture 1911 - Ford Motor Company - Old Wedding PicturesI think the description is pretty good when compared to a picture taken when he married Sarah not too many years before.

It is not often that you find physical descriptions of an ancestor.

Draft Registration Card, WWII, DraftHarvey also had to register for the draft again 25 years later. This time for WWII.

At this time Harvey was living in Omaha, Nebraska at 1626 Maple Street. He was married to Ruth II.

Note: I call her Ruth II as his second wife (the mother of Gertie) was also named Ruth.

Harvey worked for a Concrete Products and Material Company. I looked up the location of the concrete company on Google Maps sometime back and there is now a Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen there. I used to do a lot of work near there.

Maple Street Omaha, Great GrandfatherI also looked up 1626 Maple Street when I first found the draft card and there was no longer a house there. I just looked again and there is now a 4-plex at the location. It is interesting to see where he lived at that time.

You can also see that it is only a few blocks away from Iowa. How can that be?

Nebraska, Iowa, Carter Lake, Oxbow, Epply AirfieldThere is a little bit of Iowa on the Nebraska side of the Missouri River. At one time the river made a big loop and then later changed course leaving an oxbow lake. That area is now Carter Lake, Iowa.

See: Missouri River Border Anomalies

Lots of other thoughts of things I have found out about my Great Grandpa Harvey are wandering through my mind.

Steven

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