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Show 63 Lakeside Review North, Wednesday, January 2, 1985 Helps Others Find Lost Items Treasure Hunter Has Heart of Gold knows learned a lot more than hes ever expected to know about Utah and its history. Joe Rawson is a treasure hunt- er. Immediately, one imagines a patch-eye- d sailor ;who searches endlessly across the open seas for his greedy treasure of diamonds and gold. Rawson does not fit this description. He not only finds treasures for himself, but others as well. He's a treasure hunter with a heart of gold. Rawson began his metal detecting hobby on Thanksgiving Day in 1980. After seeing a friends collection of assets gathered by a metal detector, Rawson decided that he and his family were miss'wooden-legge- d, - ing something. Purchasing one of the best metal detectors available, Rawson began his walking search for his own collection of paraphernalia. his wife, The Rawsons-Jo- e, and son, Dan--hav- e always been hobby-oriente- d people, but when the metal detector came along all their other hobbies took a back scat. It's just like a dis-- ; case it really gets to you, Raw-- ; son said. La-Pre- le ! of them. He has also DEBBIE DANGERFILED Review Correspondent Wanting to become more in- -' volved in sharing his hobby with ; others, Rawson became a dealer in the spring of 1981 for White - and Teknetics. He owns Raw-soCustom Shop of Bountiful where he sells the machines and offers a metal locating service. He chose these two companies to sell for because he found their metal detectors to be the best on the market. Prices of the metal detectors vary from $99 for a machine that finds all metals without discrimination to $680 for a machine that ; gives the probable identity of the ; object on a visual discrimination indicator. Other machines between these prices ranges are also good. How-- ; ever, Rawson doesnt recommend the cheap metal detectors because they dont go down deep enough for the more valuable finds. He said with a cheaper model a person can spend a whole day digging junk. Whatever brand and quality, Rawson said that knowing how to ; use the machine is more important than the machine itself. Some of the other basic tools for treasure hunting include a probe, a knife, a stainless steel digging trow and a sand scoop for underwater finds. Being ictired, Rawson uses his metal detector about four or five days a week. He takes his machine with him everywhere he goes, but, whenever possible, he gets permission from the authorities first. Rawson believes that treasure hunters should leave a place as good as they found it, without damaging property. He can usually zero in on a treasure by a half inch and has never been farther than three inches off target. He marks the spot with his probe (a pointed screwdriver) and gently pulls the find out of the ground by cutting a little slit in the grass. If the find requires digging, he uses a cloth to place the dirt on so he can replant the hole. After he leaves a site, there are not visi-- ! ble signs that he's been there. Some places wont allow metal ' detectors any more because inex- perienced hunters have damaged so much property, Rawson said. People like that ruin it for everyone else. There wont be a hobby if it continues. Weve seen ghost towns without any foundation left because of treasure hunters," LaPrele Rawson added. We love the old stuff and we like to see it prens Rawsons favorite research ar- eas are old pioneer playgrounds dating from the early 1900s and before. "These are where hes found his most valuable finds, including a token good for one pint of milk at The Dairy," and an 1834 half dollar which he believes came across the plains with the pioneers. Although Rawson wont disof his secret addresses of successful sites, he does a lot of his hunting at parks, schools, camp grounds, fair grounds, beaches and private yards. Outside of covering Utah, hes been to New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Mississippi, Texas, and Oklahoma. I take my machine with me everywhere I go, Rawson said. Im never without close any it." Before his new metal detecting machine came along, Rawson thought he had every coin that was possible to reach. Now with his Whites Super Series 3 600Di metal detector, he can follow treasure hunters using cheaper models and find all the good stuff" that their machines passed over. Ghost towns arent very successful because most of them have been gone through for more than theyve ever been worth, Rawson said. Obvious places like Pioneer Park have been d too; thought to be however, Dan and I have searched the park, against the advice of doubting friends, and fpund 2,200 coins in one winter. Coin-mast- over-hunte- er OLD coins, diamond rings and bizarre tokens are just some of the items Rawson finds with his metal detector. At an old Catholic school where every one except the Eagle) a mununs used to be trained, Rawson sic box, an old brass fire hose found an abundance of religious nozzle, a set of sterling silver fruit jewelry, crosses, and rosary beads spoons, and a Walt Disney stop all in one day. watch inscribed: May The Big On a trip to Colorado, Rawson Bad Wolf Never Come To Your found an old leather purse conDoor. Coins are Rawsons biggest find, taining eight silver dollars dating in the late 1700s and early 1800s especially pennies. He had sevenalong with a gold saloon token ty pounds of copper pennies and eight and a half pounds of wheat good for 10 Golden Gals to Assist You at The Golden Nugget pennies. He plans to hold on to in Cripple Creek, Colorado. all of these because he feels that Finding a gold ring thrills me copper is going to increase in valmore than anything, Rawson ue. said. They are usually just as Among his currently valuable as were the lost." Rawson has found an 1818 coins, they day pretty Also included in Rawsons collarge 1 cent piece, a 1787 New lection are school rings, diamond Jersey coin, foreign coins from bracevarious rings, gem rings, nearly everywhere in the world, barber coins, war coins, rare lets, lockets, sales tax tokens. Civil War trade tokens, other trade coins, and silver coins by the tokens (often more valuable than hundreds. silver coins) stop watches, whisRawson keeps all his finds ex tles, keys, match box cars, pocket cept clad coins. These he rolls up knives, scout badges (has found each year and uses for his vaca- - uses some of the most sophisticated metal detecting equipment. But he says knowing how to use the JOE RAWSON BEDROOM LIVING ROOM Large Queen Anne WING BACK CHAIRS 325 Reg. $545 ) Print Beautiful SOFAS Many Colors, Reg. $ 655 092.... 2 Piece SECTIONAL Beautiful Beige, Reg. $2046 1224 Designer SOFAS hand tied, many fabrics, 795 Reg. $1329 i, Piece MODULAR S Light Beige Linen, 1299 i Reg. $2 75 2 Dark Brown leather SOFAS 1479 Reg. $2967 ; leather WING BACK CHAIR Ox Blood, Reg. $848....m 424 3 Piece Contemporary GRAY SECTIONAL 1839 Reg. $3066.. 5 Piece Pine Good Selection BEDROOM SUITE ROCKER-RECLINE- 288 Reg. $48 Reg. $903...... 541 - DINING ROOM Solid Cherry TABLE HUNT BOARD Reg. $1187 Solid Mahogany CHINA Reg. $3637 Solid Mahogany TABLE tm Reg. $4272.. Light Mahogany, Reg. $3030 Several Oak DINETTE SETS 7 Piece J against self-burie- d er. attending the monthly meetings, a beginner can learn a lot and receive help from other members, Rawson is currently the treasurer of the group and has taught several seminars about the proper way to dig finds and research spots that arent overBy turned. of Utah Historical is able to use Rawson Society, their library to research and locate many of the old places that arent hunted because no one As a member 1635 DINING SET French White & Gold, Reg. $3994 ft .VT- MISCELLANEOUS ALL WALL UNITS ALL ENTERTAINMENT CENTERS ..589 1818 2135 Extra Large French CHINA Blue, Reg) $2912 8 Piece Contemporary DINING SUITE where they bought it from. Rawson is one of 60 members who belong to Intermountain Treasure Hunters Association in Kaysville. The group sponsors various hunts, from trips to ghost searches to towns to test their skills against one anoth- CHAIRS Solid Mahogany people learn to use their machines properly, and he stresses that anyone who owns a White or Teknetics should contact him if theyre having problems. He doesnt discriminate w6 Reg. $3270 served. W hen ever Rawson sees a careless treasure hunter, he corrects their mistakes by showing them his techniques. He is glad to help . i equipment is more important than the equipment itself. tions. Even though he considers ey because of his fascination with them to be junk coins, he has the old stuff. However, he has yet at least $100 worth of them per to conquer his dream. I dream year.) of finding at least one gold coia Rawson would rather have just two or three old coins than a because Ive never found one whole pocket full of current mon- - yet, Rawson said. ALL WOOD ROCKERS ALL RECLINERS ALL CEDAR CHESTS ALL DESKS ALL 1449 1818 ...40oFf 1995 SOFA-SLEEPE- |