Detecting Advice?

To find items of any age you've obviously got to look at areas that man may have populated or passed through many years ago. If your town was established in the mid 19th Century then I guess that's as far back as your finds are likely to go. So...has your town got a historical society, library or museum where you can gain access to info on the town's early days? What about old town maps. Public rights of way ( footpaths ) that date way back. The land around a church, especially the church wall/fence/boundary ( make sure your detecting there does not offend anyone! ). The direct routes between two churches. Farm land that was once cultivated & hence had labourers working on it. Old meeting points. Areas that large amounts of folk may of gathered on such as old market sites, fair grounds, parade grounds or execution/hanging sites . Construction areas. River crossing sites whether it be by ford or old ferry. Old bridge sites. Try & picture your town 100 years ago...where would you expect folk to be & what would you expect them to be doing...no TV & stereos to keep them indoors.
Then you also have the option of detecting out of town. Maybe in another nearby town that has more age to it. Sometimes I travel a couple of hours to get to a good site if I think it's worth it. Try contacting a detector club as you may gain access to land via meeting someone there. Also you may find a detecting partner with more experience that you can learn from.
Obviously you may find that an upgrade in detector will improve your finds in which case you still may find older objects from sites you've previously searched.
Keep at it. Those good old finds will come!

rever_john,

I've searched that area when I was assigned to Beale AFB in the mid-80's. There's a lot of potential there if you do your homework. I would delay your ghost town search for now and try to develop a relationship with owners of some of the older houses in Marsyville. Learn to dig without leaving a mark and remove all trash that you find. Just about all the community areas have been hit hard ... parks, churches, etc. Private property holds the best potential. Good luck.