Goodrich – Rick Branch digs the past.
For the past five years, Branch, the owner of R.J.’s TV Repair in the village has scoured miles of ground around the area with a metal detector, seeking whatever treasure the earth will relinquish.
‘Since I was young, I always had an interest in old coins. Over the last four years, I have found hundreds of very old coins. When I dig out a coin, wipe it off and see stars on it, I know it is very old. The oldest coin I have found is dated 1838. I found it in Ortonville on Oakwood Road at a residence,? he said.
Branch said he doesn’t have to go very far to find things that are dated as far back as the Civil War. He said there are plenty of things to find in Goodrich, Davisburg, Holly and Ortonville. ‘There is a lot of history in our community,? said Branch. ‘Relics from the past are right under our feet. When I find something, I can usually go on the internet or refer to some books that I have to identify what I have found.?
Branch has found tokens and buttons off of military uniforms that date back to the Civil War. Carl Osthaus, a professor/historian at Oakland University, said Civil War units were recruited from all over this community, which is why he said Branch is finding these kinds of things.
‘There was a tremendous enthusiasm to recruit in small towns back then,? said Osthaus. ‘These regiments reflected the local area. That’s why when soldiers died, who were typically 18-, 19- and 20-years-old, it would devastate a community. Wounded soldiers were seen on a daily basis walking back to their hometowns. It became such a common sight to local people that they eventually became desensitized by this.?
A button off a military uniform, Branch said, is one of the most exciting things to find. Whenever Branch finds very old artifacts, he said he thinks about the very last person who owned the item.
Civil War tokens are another artifact Branch likes to collect. ‘Coins were out of circulation during the Civil War,? he said. ‘Stores had to make their own money to give as change. Out of 4,500 stores throughout the eastern United States, seven million tokens were made during the Civil War. People would usually go back to the store they got it from to spend it. Tokens can be very valuable, just as valuable as a very rare coin.?
Branch said he has a token dated 1835. ‘It’s a Canadian trade token. The words ‘Ships, colonies and commerce, are written on it. Napoleon came up with the phrase for the token,? said Branch.
Going into towns that have experienced a major catastrophe is another way to find interesting artifacts. A tornado on May 25, 1895 that wiped out the village of Oakwood (near Oxford) scattered all kinds of things over that area. ‘There is potential on any farm field out there to find really neat stuff,? he said.
‘If I would have known how interested I would be in this kind of thing when I was younger, I would have studied so I could be a part of finding treasure on a sunken ship from a 1715 fleet. The 17th century is a fascinating period of time.?
Branch said he would like to travel to areas from Ohio down to the deep south to find more Civil War artifacts.
Although Branch would have liked to have discovered his love of metal detecting when he was younger, he said his hobby has really helped him to get out of some unhealthy habits.
‘Metal detecting is great exercise,? he said. ‘I love being outdoors, it’s like poor man’s golf. I will probably keep doing this until I can’t walk anymore. Whenever I have had a bad day at work or feel depressed or bored, I pull out my metal detector. There is so much to do outdoors that doesn’t have to cost you anything.?