At an internship, I was once on a job site in an older part of Philadelphia where an existing parcel was being excavated. The contractor uncovered an old basement that had been previously buried. I recall them digging up some old glassware. I was surprised, but I recall the contractor not being phased at all.
In my current role, I occasionally review plans of the same city that date back as far as 1800. Usually I am searching for something in the old sewer specifications, and occasionally, the draftsman back then listed nearby landmarks to assist with location and orientation. To this day I remain curious as to what the "candy storage room" called out on an old drawing actually looked like.
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Christopher Seigel P.E., M.ASCE
Civil Engineer
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