Ntryt2

Correct....was also known as the Dixon Colony in 1907 prior to that as far as i can find Tombstones are as old as 1840's

Thank you SO much!!! I knew it was old and had history to it. I'll have to think up something xxxxxxx to celebrate its 100th birthday coming up.

Anyone have a clue on it's age? The mentally ill that were housed there were referred to as Friday's Children. I'm told there's even a documentary from way back about there.

Not sure what this 6/9 on the bottom side represents? And it's terrifying to think of everything this anvil was used for. There are stories of experimental surgeries on the feeble minded to cure retardation. Horrible stories about how the committed reproduced and the "DOCTORS" there would experiment on the resulting children because there was no records of them ever existing. The graveyard there is soooo sad!!! I can only picture some gruesome hunch back man in an apron forging away in a dimly lit basement!!! How many hammer blows has this anvil endured!?!?!? Yet not a single pit or spot of rust ANYWHERE...just random gouges and mysterious markings.

This came out of the basement of an old mental health asylum. Place had been around since the early 1900's. At one time the "colony" as it was referred to was home to some 3,000 plus mentally ill and otherwise "unfit" in society. They raised their own cattle for slaughter and their own crops as well all with labor from the ill. Makes me wonder what it would tell if it could tell its story!?!?!?

I have an old Black Prince 169 pounder serial # 193510. Anyone able to give me an opinion of age and condition? I'm new to the world of anvils and got this one with a great story.