Uncovering the 1883
Locke and Montague Range
An Archaeological Investigation

What it looked like from 1925–2021

The range had been covered up since 1925.  The dish cabinet was placed on top. The circle on the floor was where the water tank was connected to the range and to the brass pipes on the wall to upstairs.

What we discovered in the basement

We found the cast-iron shelves under the house. The Gillilands who last lived in the house cut off the range doors to add the panels to disguise it. We have not found the doors yet.

Pipes to heat the water

Under the rectangular pipes you see the pipes that were connected to the water tank. The water was heated by coal. 

What's inside? 

Hot water goes to the upper floors. 

Newspapers

The fire box was full of newspapers that were used as fire starter, wadded up around matches. The dates on the papers we found were 1925–1926. 

Coal pieces

The house water and rooms were mainly heated with coal. The residue on the walls, furniture, flooring and elsewhere reflects that time period. Gas ranges were developed in the early 1900s.

In the fire box

As we dug deeper we found eggshells, onion skins, pieces of chicken bone, and hair pins. We think the hooked metal was used to hold fowl legs while cooking.

Inside the oven

Inside the oven, we found a metal bar in the back right and a piece of a broken iron on the left. They might have been used to spread out the heat. The round Ghirardelli's Chocolate tin showed upside down in the picture was filled with water to add moisture.

Under the house discovery

The cast-iron back shelf was found under the house in three pieces. It was reassembled and returned to its original position on the back of the stove.