I just discovered this interesting website and forum today, while trying to do research on an old cast iron stove I found yesterday outdoors in the yard of a neighbor. I have always been fascinated with historical objects and my first encounters with cast iron items was digging up various broken bits of cast iron pots, stoves and many things I couldn't identify in old mining camps in the "gold country" of Northern California which searching for old bottles. I have always had a few cast iron pots and pans as I have done historical reenactment of many time periods all of my life, but didn't really collect it until I returned from many years stationed in Germany , and ended up at my last assignment at Fort Campbell, KY where I retired. I was able to buy what was once an old farm, complete with a hand-hewn, two story, "dog trot" log cabin built by a many who my street is named after (Tandy Lane), who came to Kentucky from Virginia in 1809 and fought in the KY Militia during the War of 1812 (so I fly a replica of that period flag!). I have always loved flea markets, and whenever I see an interesting cast iron object that is reasonably priced and I'd like to have decorating the cabin or barn, I pick it up. This seems like a great place to learn more about my finds, and I am thinking about possibly turning the farm into a kind of "Living History" museum so other people will also enjoy the objects I have collected.
