Digging at Huckleberry

[L Verge]

Over the years, I have spent a lot of time talking with, explaining to, and denying permission for "experiments" to be done at Surratt House by amateur metal detectors and paranormal investigators. Most have been understanding of our desire to remain a professional institution where our unique history is not overshadowed by "fringe history." However, I have had some get confrontational with me.

One of the producers of Diggers even tried to do an end-run around me by contacting The Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission, which owns and operates the Surratt House Museum. That didn't work either.

The artifact hunters fail to realize that, in the case of Surratt House, professional archaeologists did extensive examination of the grounds back in the 1970s before restoration began, again in the early-80s when our kitchen wing was added, again in the late-80s when we acquired the property that our visitors' center is on, and again in the mid-90s when we acquired the land that our research center is on. We have found everything from handcut nails, 19th-century china and glass, loads of pieces of clay pipes, to modern beer cans. And oyster shells to beat the band!