Search For Hidden Historical Treasure In Chimney

Search For Hidden Historical Treasure In Chimney (Added: December 19, 2009)

Move over Indiana Jones, as work goes on restoring the last remaining piece of the Confederate Powder Works, there is a search for what would be a great historical find reportedly hidden on the i ... (more)

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Search For Hidden Historical Treasure In Chimney

By George Eskola
Published: December 19, 2009

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Augusta, GA -- The weather put the restoration work on hold but this piece of city history is getting a much needed makeover.

It’s the chimney of the Confederate Powder Works.

“It’s a major skyline feature of Augusta particularly if you come in from the west on Riverwatch Parkway. The first thing you see is the chimney,” said Canal Authority Executive Director Dayton Sherrouse.

Restorers first saw the chimney about a month ago; it is the last remaining piece of the giant ammo factory. And, while they're making much needed repairs they're also searching for a piece of Augusta’s past.

You see according to the history books, when George Washington Raines built the Powder Works, in 1860. He wanted something to document its place and time in history.

“He instructed the architect to place the usual documents in a box in the top of the chimney. This was at the point it was finished much like a time capsule, I would guess,” said Sherrouse.

The city of Augusta agreed to pay about a quarter of the $200,000 cost of the restoration, even before city leaders knew about the possibility of a hidden historical treasure in the chimney.

“I hadn't heard anything about that at all obviously when you're talking about historical things that's the neat part of it you never know what you are going to find when you start delving into that,” said City Administrator Fred Russell.

Those restoring the chimney are on the lookout for the possible storage place for the time capsule.

Though there is documentation of its existence, it's been 150 years, and so far no luck, but maybe the stories and legends will be right.

“This would be too good to be true, this would be truly unique if we were to find it or some other artifacts related to the construction that was placed in the chimney it would be a great Christmas present,” said Sherrouse.