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Volume 2, Issue 1 www.tamdc.org
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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 75693
Meeting Time: 6:00 P.M. on the 4th Thursday of each month. TAMDC members welcomed
Email Contact: [email protected], [email protected]
Webmaster: [email protected]
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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
Association News
Texas Association of Metals Detecting Clubs
TAMDC-
TX Association of
Metal Detecting
Clubs
TAMDC Members at the Hearne-Gidden Home * Kosse, TX December 16, 2017 (some members not pictured)
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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 1873. 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 1953.
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 www.oldhousekosse.org).
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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 email 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, 2017.
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
$313.00 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
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
TAMDC President presenting Karen Partin, President of the Kosse Heritage Society, a plaque commemorating the event
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winning the 4-oz. Silver Bank Note (how did she do that?).
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 2018. 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.
ABOVE: TAMDC President presenting Mark Lawhon
(CTTHC), a Morgan Silver Dollar donated by HARC
for winning Most Unusual Artifact
Two Lead Printing Plates
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
ABOVE LEFT: TAMDC President presenting
Earl Hitt (EFTHA), a silver round for winning
Oldest Relic- 1850’s Stirrup
ABOVE RIGHT: TAMDC President presenting
Eric Gants, a silver round for winning Most
Historical Artifact- M & W and Co. key hole
cover
“Had a great time. Thanks for getting it together Michael”
- Jack Little (MCARC, HARC)
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Our 1st Quarter Satellite Hunt, in partnership with Houston
Archeology and Recovery Club’s 36th Annual Open Hunt on East Beach in
Galveston, TX, will be February 24th, 2018. 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
www.tamdc.org
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
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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
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(Dates and Times are Subject to Change)
For more information, log on to www.tamdc.org or see the TAMDC Events on Facebook
All Hunt Flyers listed below can be downloaded from www.tamdc.org
TAMDC Polley Mansion Project January 13, 2018, San Antonio, TX. See TAMDC
Facebook Events for more information (grid & recover
artifacts from an 1852 Home)
TAMDC Satellite Hunt February 24, 2018, Galveston, TX
in Partnership with HARC & GITHC (download hunt flyers www.tamdc.org)
Charles Garrett Memorial Hunt March 23-24, 2018, Jefferson, TX
in Partnership with TAMDC (download hunt forms www.garrett.com)
TAMDC Texas Treasure Show April 20-22, 2018, Temple, TX
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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
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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 2017. 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
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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.
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RESOURCES
Metal Detecting Magazines:
Metal Detecting Organizations:
Metal Detecting Websites & Forums:
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TAMDC Member Metal Detecting Dealers:
Keith Wills-www.brokendetector.com Bobby Sullivan-www.cs-sales.biz
Wayne Morin/Doug Powell-www.metaldetectingstuff.com
Bob Turner-Principally Coins & Metal Detectors
See their Facebook Page
Vickers Metals Detectors-www.vmdtx.com
American Detector-www.detectornet.com Ed Pavlasek-
www.texaspremium detectors.com
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Unifying Texas Metal Detecting Clubs and
Preserving History One Find at a Time!
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