Found an old well

[hunts_with_stick]

So I found an old well on my property. Looks like the cinderblock protecting it collapsed and the tin roof came off. No idea how old it is. There is a round hole about 1.5 feet and I can see water and a pipe that has water coming out as well as a black tube. Anyway, what can I do with this? Can I make it functional so I don't have to haul water every time I plant something? Also at some point I'd like to build a cabin and if I don't have to drill a well that would be great! The farmer neighbor thought he remembered a well being on the property. Right now there is no electricity to the property.

 

[PatinPA]

Sounds like it's a spring house. I have one at the camp I bought. It's also falling down. I'm thinking about turning it into a water hole. I have a cheap electric trash pump that I got off of Amazon. It works pretty well but you'd need an inverter on a vehicle to use it in your case.

 

[buckdeer1]

Dop a string down it and test how much water there is,if there is water several feet deep then how big is opening?I have a 6 inch cased well on both my farms and one I have a windmill and tank on and the other I have a low level pump on a generator and then irrigate food plots with 200 ft of 1 inch black water pipe to garden hoses for sprinkers.

 

[hunts_with_stick]

well I know its over 4 feet deep, the opening is at least 12" there is no casing that I can see. There is a pipe that is perpendicular to the opening with water coming out.

 

[Bill]

the fact that water is running out of that pipe is nice. its either a spring or some sort of gravity fed deal from higher ground. or you've had lots of rain lately.

Find someone with a gas powered pump and run it for a while and see if the level drops. I wouldn't drink it without a test but for watering stuff, why not.

 

[hunts_with_stick]

Perfect! Thanks for that advice. I made friends with the farmer neighbor. He might have a pump. He is the one who told me he thought there used to be well in the area. So what do you think then, clean up the foundation, add a cover and maybe a manual pump? I would like to get the water tested. If potable that makes it even better.

 

[Tap]

One of the coolest things I ever saw was on a delivery when I worked for a mover.
We delivered to an early 1800s house that had a new addition put on. During the excavation, they uncovered a hand dug well, probably 15 feet deep and lined with sand stone. They decided to design the new addition so the well would be right inside the front door. They covered the well with plate glass and had lights inside the well. The floor around the well was a reclaimed wide plank floor with the N-S-E-W compass points inlaid into the wood floor circling the well opening. It was absolutely stunning. You could see the water ripples from water running in.
The rest of the house was just as impressive...large fireplace made with huge cut stone. And outside was a small log cabin that the relocated onto the property...beautiful hand-hewn square logs. The entire place was a work of art.

I've always thought how cool it would be to incorporate a well, spring, bolders of some other natural feature inside a house.
These people nailed it!!

 

[hunts_with_stick]

Wow, sounds amazing

 

[Tree Spud]

We have an old well on our property. Approximately 2' diameter, stone lined, about 15' deep. Our house and barn were built in the late 1800's and the well served the livestock and house. There is also an artesian stone lined water tank below our house on one end that was designed to catch rain run-off. There is a windmill above the well, probably 30' tall, rotor and gear system was removed. There are 12" metal rod steps welded to one leg, not sure I would want to be the guy climbing up there.

 

[hunts_with_stick]

Are you going to try and make it functional?

 

[Tree Spud]

N

Are you going to try and make it functional?

Nope, we have indoor plumbing

 

[hillrunner]

This thread really needs some pictures!

 

[WeedyJ]

As requested!

 

[Teeder]

I'd like to find an old well on my property. The local rumor is that the previous owners burried a bunch of silver coins in it.

 

[Mortenson]

Do you think that girl uses tubes or cages?

 

[Tap]

As requested!

That tractor gotta be 60 years old. I wonder if she will look that good in 2080?

 

[Teeder]

Most of us won't be around to know!

 

[Mozark]

Do you think that girl uses tubes or cages?

I would convert, either way!

 

[WeedyJ]

While the pic makes me think of drilling, I can assure you there won't be a 12" pipe involved!

 

[buckdeer1]

Every post should be required to submit a picture