I never expected a routine yard chore to turn into a history lesson. While trying to fix a patchy section of grass, my shovel hit something hard. Brushing away the dirt, I uncovered a weathered stone post standing upright. At first, I wasn’t sure what it was—until I noticed the hole drilled through it.
Then it all made sense. Our house, built in 1799, was once a tavern and doctor’s office. This wasn’t just a random stone—it was a hitching post from the late 1700s. Travelers would have tied their horses here before entering.
Fascinated, I kept digging and found a circular arrangement of stones around the post. It was a watering trough, designed to keep horses hydrated while their owners were inside. The more I uncovered, the more real the past felt. Rusted metal pieces, likely from the original hitching ring, lay nearby, along with a sturdy brick foundation.
Most backyard digs turn up old cans or broken tools, but this was different. This was history—real, tangible, and untouched for centuries. I knew I had to preserve it. Maybe add a pathway, a small plaque, something to honor its story.
It’s incredible to think this relic sat beneath our feet all this time, waiting to be found. That hitching post isn’t going anywhere. It’s a piece of the past that deserves to be remembered.
