I still have one in use today, of course it has a pump attached that brings the water into the house. The way mine is constructed is it is about 24 feet deep and about 6 foot diameter. It is lined with native rock. I am sure they dug it out just like they did when I had it cleaned 10 years ago one bucket at a time. When the water table falls in the summer, you can tell because you can see where the water comes into the well thru the rocks. These wells usually can not keep up with all the demands of the modern world, so then you have to have water hauled in by truck. Of course you can spend five thousand like I did at the new house (up the hill from the old well) and not be able to drink it because of the sulfur, but I have plenty of it. So now I get to haul water to drink. The bright side is that the sulfur water will heal diaper rash and athletes foot. Lisa Linndr@aol.com wrote: > Do any of you listers know how the old, hand dug open wells were constructed? > Our early ancestors lived near streams or springs for a water supply. As > population increased, alternative water sources included hand dug open wells > with a bucket on a rope. Historical documentation seems to be lacking on how > it was done. If you know of any good information sources, I would appreciate > the information. Thank you. > > Derald Linn > > ==== MOVERNON Mailing List ==== > List Administrator: Robert Steven LINDLEY > Email: robert@lindleyfamily.com > Website: http://www.lindleyfamily.com > > ============================== > Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 > Source for Family History Online. Go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/subscribe/subscribetrial1y.asp?sourcecode=F11HB