The Ring Finders of Maine

12/08/2024

The Ring Finders of Maine, with Recovery and Return #85

I had just returned home from a successful Heirloom Ring recovery and return, in Acton, Maine, when I received the following text

“Hi I'm hoping to get in contact with Dennis of Ring Finders of Maine. My name is Tim and I live in Limington Maine (about 45 minutes from S**o, Maine). I've been missing my keys since yesterday morning, and my wife and I have torn our house apart looking for them. We believe they may be under a couple inches of snow along the edges of our driveway, I wanted to know if you were able to offer your metal detector services to help find them”

I immediately texted Tim back and told him that I could certainly help him, to try and find his keys. I sent the following text message back to Tim

“A few questions
1) what makes you think they may be in the driveway area?
2) Are these actual keys, a key fob or both?
3) How big and long, is the driveway? I could bring an extra detector, if you or your wife would like to help search.”

Tim replied

“The driveway is about 5-6 car lengths long and 2 cars wide.
There is a fob, but there's also 4 or 5 metal keys, and it's on a carbon fiber key organizer.
We think they're in the driveway because I usually keep keys in one coat pocket and my wallet in the other, and I last had them Wednesday when I went out and came back. I was staking our driveway for our plow guy since we had some snow coming Wednesday night into Thursday and when I went to use my car yesterday my wallet was still in my coat pocket but my keys were not, and between staking the driveway and taking a couple patio chairs off the deck the only explanation for not finding them in the house anywhere is if they fell out of my pocket while outside.
I'm happy to help search if you can teach me what I need to do”

I replied
“Ok, are you available now? I can come up now, if this is ok.
What is your full name and address, I would need to go to? I will bring the spare detector”

Tim said he was home and I told him I would be there shortly. After being home less than an hour, after returning from Acton, Maine, I was out the door, to Limington, Maine. I arrived at Tim’s home, approximately 45 minutes later and was promptly met by Tim. I asked Tim to show me the areas, he thinks the keys may be in. Tim said the keys could be on either side of the driveway, where he had placed some stakes and cleaned back a little snow. They could be out back, where he had moved some patio furniture. The could also be along the walkway, to the front door, coming from the driveway.
I then retrieved both of my detectors, set them up and tested them, with my set of keys and key fob. After placing my set of keys, under the bank of snow, along the driveway, I showed Tim, what he would need to do and listen for, as he helped me search. The detectors were picking up the test keys with no problems, at approximately 10-12 inches, under the snow bank. After watching Tim swing the detector, over the test keys, I asked him which side of the driveway would he like to search. He chose the right side, as you faced the house and I would start on the left side, of the house. As we were searching, we were receiving plenty of targets but definitely not in the key range. As we were finishing up the sides of the driveway, I heard Tim say, “Got em” and I looked up and Tim had found them, at the intersection of the driveway and walkway, to the front door. Tim was very excited and happy, with a smile from ear to ear.He surmised that they fell out of his pocket, while placing a stake, in the area and disappeared, under the surface of the snow and then more snow arrived, covering them even more.
Tim said he had been extremely stressed about his keys and key fob being lost. The key fob was extremely wet, from the snow and Tim was going to place it in a bag of rice, hoping to dry the fob out. Hopefully, it works.
So it’s not always jewelry that The Ring Finders of Maine help recover. Sometimes it’s Keys, Key Fob, Property Markers, Water Shutoff Valves, Cell Phones, etc.. Whatever the item is, I love being able to help people like Tim out, in their time of need. It’s such a great feeling when I am able to return a lost item and add another face to my “Book of Smiles”

12/07/2024

The Ring Finders of Mainewith Recovery and Return #84

On Thursday afternoon, I was driving home, from Norway Maine, after recovering a lost ring. I stopped to fill the car up with gas and that there was a Facebook PM. The PM stated, the following

“I lost a very special white gold and multi diamond ring on a trail behind my house this morning. I have walked the trail 3-4 times and borrowed a friends metal detector with no luck. At this point, I think I should wait till the 2" of snow melts first before trying again. the only thing that goes on this trail besides me are turkeys and wildlife. would you recommend a different approach?”

I replied to Gail and asked where she was located and if I would be able to call in approximately a 1/2 hour, when I arrived home. Gail replied that she lived in Acton, Maine and I could definitely call her, once I arrived home.
Once arriving at home, I called Gail and she told me the previous evening, she had taken off a very sentimental ring, going back 4 generations. She then placed the ring in a small pocket, on the backside of her phone and intended to put the ring back on, the next morning. The ring was a little tight, on her finger and she didn’t want to wear it to bed, that night.

The ring was White Gold and contained the diamonds of not just her Engagement Ring, but the diamonds and rings, of her Mother’s, Grandmother’s and Great Grandmothers. WOW!!! What a ring. Gail also sent me a photo of the ring and also told me the gold from all 4 generational rings were melted down and that gold was used to make the current ring and setting, that the diamonds were placed in. I could hear the anguish, in Gail’s voice and told her that I could search for the lost Diamond Ring, the next morning, after rescheduling a search, due to the snow banks, along a road, I am to search. I told Gail that I would be at her home, in Acton, at approximately 8:00am. I also told Gail that I would be bringing a friend and fellow Metal Detectorist, with me, to search such a large area, Gary Hill. Gail had told me the search area would consist, of an area, of her driveway, yard and also a trail, through the woods, for approximately a 1/2 mile. Gail had stopped numerous times, in the yard and the trail, to retrieve her phone, to answer calls and text messages, along with taking photos, of the freshly fallen snow. Gail was certain that the ring would be in her gravel driveway where she was talking, on the phone, or one of the multiple places she stopped at, on the wooded trail and had taken the phone, out of her pocket .
Gary and I arrived at her home at approximately 8:15am. We would have made it on time but my GPS took me past her home and down an extremely long and steep mountainous road. Once at the bottom of this mountain road, all packed snow and ice, I could not get back up the mountainous road. My tires were spinning so much, we could smell the burning rubber. Gary’s face was going ashen, with concern. I backed down the hill, since I couldn’t go up and called Gail. She said, “ You didn’t go down that hill, did you?” Yup, too late, that’s where I am. She told me to get a good start and gun it up that hill. I did just that and after 15 minutes, I was about 1/2 way up the hill. I told Gary to walk, to the top of the hill and see if Gail had any sand, we could throw on the road. After Gary left the vehicle, I continued to burn rubber, going up the hill, inch by inch. I was approaching the 3/4 mark, up the hill, when Gary and Gail came to the rescue. Once they threw some sand down, I made it to the top of the mountainous road. Just another adventure story, in our Ring Finding. Now, we need to get down to business and find a lost ring.

With temperatures in the mid to high teens, winds at 15 to 18mph and gusting up to 25-30mph, the feels like temperature was near ZERO, BRRRRRRR🥶🥶🥶. Gail showed us the area, in her yard, she thinks the ring may have been lost in. I took out my White Gold setup and test ring, so Gary and I could properly calibrate our detectors. Once we were both good to go, it was decided that I would search the property near the house and Gary would follow Gail, into the woods and search the trail, behind her home. This is truly going to be a “Needle in a haystack” search.

I saw Gary and Gail, enter the woods and out of sight and I continued to search the snowy driveway area. I was getting lots of low conductors targets but once I removed the snow, the targets were all below the frozen ground. After approximately 35 minutes, I was almost done, in the driveway area, when I could hear some loud screaming, coming from deep in the woods. I kept my eyes, on the area where Gary and Gail entered the woods but couldn’t see them. I could still hear the loud excited voices and only one of two things were happening. 1) Gary found the ring, 2) Gary fell on the snowy trail and broke his hip😉. A few minutes later I see Gail and Gary walk out of the woods, so I knew Gary hadn’t broken his hip. Gary was carrying his metal detector and not searching, when I see Gail raise her hand and yell down to me, that Gary had found the ring. AWESOME JOB GARY!!! When they arrived at the driveway, they told me that the ring was found at the last spot Gail had been at, before turning around, on the trail and returning home. She had taken her phone out, at that spot and had taken a photo of the wooded wintery scene. The ring was out of sight, buried in the snow and as they were brushing back the latest snow fall, the ring appeared, standing straight up, with the beautiful diamonds pointing towards the sky.
Gail was very emotional and I could see her keep wiping tears away. It’s such a great feeling for Gary and I to have been able to reunite Gail with this amazing sentimental heirloom ring. Gail kept thanking us and was just so pleased with the outcome and so were we.
There is no better feeling that to be able to help people like Gail, in their time of need. Thinking her extremely sentimental heirloom ring was lost forever and then to see her tears of happiness and smile, makes this such a rewarding experience. A true blessing, for Gary and I to help. Tonight, Gail will be sleeping well, knowing her ring is back on her finger, where it belongs.
I would also like to give Gary a BIG SHOUT OUT, for helping me search such a large area and for finding Gail’s ring, deep in the snowy woods. Thank you so much Gary❤️🙏

12/06/2024

Recovery and Return #84, for The Ring Finders of Maine and Gary Hill. Full story tomorrow and you won’t want to miss it.

12/06/2024

The Ring Finders of Maine with Recovery and Return # 83.

On Thursday, December 5th, I was returning home from Portland, Maine, when I heard my phone ring. Once home, I had the following message on my Facebook Messenger and a voicemail, on my phone,
“Hello! I just left you a voicemail, my name is Sarah, I’m working at Club Rowe in South Paris. I was outside at the Guy E. Rowe School by the pavilion when my ring fell off my hand into the snow. The kids here and I have been working hard to find it, but no luck. If you can get back to me to talk further it would be deeply appreciated! Thank you so much”.

I immediately called Sarah back and told her I could absolutely come up and help search for her ring. Sarah told me that it was a Sterling Silver Ring, with a Pink Sapphire stone. Sarah also told me she knew the area, she had lost their ring in. She was standing just outside a gazebo, when the snow started sliding off of the roof. Sarah jumped from just outside the gazebo, over the bank of fallen snow and landed, under the roof, of the gazebo. As she was jumping, over the snow bank, she felt the ring come off. Unfortunately, she wasn’t sure which way the ring had gone. I told her no problem, I could search the areas, in front of where she jumped, in the back of her and to the sides. I couldn’t imagine the search area would be any larger than a 25’ X 25’ area. I told Sarah I would leave shortly, as soon as I could get all my gear loaded. It was now approximately 12:00 noon.
Once I got on the road, I called Sarah and told her my ETA was approximately 1:25pm, depending on traffic and weather issues. Sarah told me it had started to snow again, in Norway and they had already received approximately 3-4 inches of snow, so far. As I was driving, I was only encountering light rain and drizzle, until I was in the Town of Poland, Maine and Oxford Maine area, when I started encountering snow. Wasn’t snowing hard and should cause no issues in my search.
Once I arrived, Sarah immediately came out of the schools daycare and after a few pleasantries, she walked me over the area she had lost her Sterling Silver Ring in. As I surveyed the area, I thought to myself that this should be fairly quick. Sarah gave me another Sterling Silver Ring, to setup and test the detector with. No issues and Sarah was able to see how the detector would sound, when my coil went over the ring. I told Sarah she didn’t need to stay outside with me, while I searched, since she was working with the children, in the Snow Day daycare. Once Sarah went in, I decided to search the area to her left and to the front, of where she was standing, when she jumped. This would be the same direction her body was going, when she felt the ring come off. After 5-6 minutes of searching and a few targets investigated, I hadn’t found the ring. I then decided to search the area, behind and to the right, of where she was standing, prior to jumping, over the snowbank. Approximately 2-3 minutes of searching this area, my metal detector started screaming at me. I just knew this had to be the Sterling Ring. The VDI number on my Minelab Manticore’s screen was reading 78 and this was definitely, in the Sterling Silver range. I got my pinpointer out and plunged it into the snow. Once I located the target, I started pushing the snow away, with my pinpointer. I then saw the ring and pink stone. I had found Sarah’s ring.
A few minutes later, Sarah came outside with the children and I called her over. Pretending to not know exactly where she had been standing, when the ring came off, I started to ask her a question, about where she was standing. As she got closer, I asked her if she recognized the ring, on my detector. Sarah was extremely surprised and happy to see up her ring, sitting on my metal detector. I asked Sarah if the ring had any special meaning or had been a gift from someone. Sarah told me that she just loves rings and actually has a ring collection. The ring she lost today was the first ring that she had ever bought for herself, in her collection of rings. I am so happy that I was able to get this special ring, back in her finger, where it belongs.
If you would like to see the video, of her being surprised, you may find it on my page.
Nothing better than to be able to help people, like Sarah out, in their time of need.

12/06/2024

The Ring Finders of Maine with Recovery and Return #83, in a snowy, Norway, Maine. Full story will be posted sometime tomorrow. ❤️🙏

12/05/2024

12/02/2024

With winter fast approaching, The Ring Finders of Maine searching for lost jewelry, is coming to a near halt. I thought you may like to hear about some of the lost jewelry, I didn’t find, but was later found, by the owner, in a totally different location, than they had thought. Yes, this happens quite frequently. That is why I tell people to never give up hope of finding your lost item. I have searched for items, for multiple days, only to have the owner call me and tell me they have found it. Here is one such story.

I received the following text, from Don, on March 3rd,2024

“Hi Dennis, I’m Don and I lost a gold bracelet, in the woods, near my house. I’d like to talk about what you’d charge, to look for it, for me.”

I then texted Don and asked him, if I may call him. He replied that he was at work and I could call him after, 6:30pm. I did call Don and he explained that approximately 3 months earlier, back in December, he had been riding his side by side, out on the ATV trails, approximately 3 miles, out in the woods. Later that night, he was taking a shower and noticed he didn’t have his gold bracelet on. The next day or so, the snow started to fall and he wasn’t able to find his go,d bracelet.
Don explained that he could take me out, into the woods, on his side by side, and I could detect the trail, whilst sitting, on the side by side and he could drive. I told him that that method of detecting really would not work and I was also concerned, for my safety. I also told Don, I do not charge for my time or service but would require a Transportation Fee, to cover my Gas, Tolls, wear and tear, etc., to Wells Maine, from my home, in S**o, Maine. Don agreed and we decided to go search the next day.
I arrived at Don’s the next morning, with an extra detector, so he could also search. We had 3 miles of trails and the search would go much faster with two of us searching. So, we headed out 3 miles, into the woods and reached the area, in the woods, where Don had turned around and started back home, 3 months earlier, when he lost his gold bracelet. I came up with the plan that I would search the main trail and Don would search some of the offshoot trails, he had taken that day. After 3 hours of searching, the only things found was a few coins and the usual trash, along the heavily used trail. We had searched 1 1/2 miles of the 3 miles and I told Don we would come back and search the last 1 1/2 miles another day. Unfortunately, the next few days called for rain, so we decided to wait a few days and see just how wet and muddy the trail would become before deciding on the next search date. It rained much more than we were expecting and it was so bad, the trail was shut down, until further notice, so the trail could dry out.
Six weeks later , in mid April, while we we wait for the trail, to reopen, I received a text from Don, with a photo of his Gold Bracelet

“Found my gold bracelet in the bottom of a toolbox in my living room lol sorry ! and thank you so very much it was really nice to have met you”

I replied, “WOW, that's awesome. Congratulations. No need to apologize. People often just aren't sure where they lost an item. So happy for you. Thank you again for the very generous tip. I truly appreciate it”.

Don replied, “You're very welcome I enjoyed the conversation and learning about metal detecting I wish you luck in your future hunting, thank you,
Don”.

So there you go, A lost gold bracelet , 3 miles in the woods, turned out to have never left his home and was never in the woods. This happens quite often. When someone notices their jewelry is missing, they immediately think of where they most likely lost it. Made perfect sense that Don would think he lost it in the woods. Don doesn’t remember being in the toolbox, that morning, he went out into the woods but thinks he must have and the bracelet came off and fell, into the toolbox, without him noticing it.

So not a recovery, for The Ring Finders of Maine but this is exactly why I tell my clients to check everywhere, in their home and vehicle, because you just never know where the lost item will show up.

11/28/2024

Biscayne Trade Axe, found by The Ring Finders of Maine, is taking shape. The axe 250+- years old is very pitted, but looking much better than the rusty piece of metal, it started out as. Joe Cowan, of chandlerbrooktoolco, in North Yarmouth, Maine, is thinking electrolysis may now be complete and will be contacting an expert and The Baroque Museum, in France, to get a better idea of exactly what and how old this trade axe is. Joe will also be asking what the original handle would have looked like and then make a replica, for hanging/displaying.
Thank you Joe❤️🙏

11/25/2024

Update on the restoration of one of the Biscayne Trade Axes, The Ring Finders of Maine found just 5 days ago. Joe Cowan of Chandler Brook Tool Company tells me that,

“ Good news on the first one. It is sound and no cracks or serious damage. More electrolysis would not ruin it. But at this point it’s mostly dirt that needs to be cleaned out of the pores. This one is solid”

Amazing to think these are most likely between 200 to 250 years old, possibly older. Can’t wait to see more progress.

Please check Joe’s company out, chandlerbrooktoolco and give him a like and follow. He not only restores old vintage axes, but also restores old vintage tools, even making the handles , for your tools. Joe also makes wooden flower and garden boxes, should you need any. Check him out. ❤️🙏

11/24/2024

Electrolysis has begun, on one of the Biscayne Trade Axe Heads. Chandler Brook Tool Company, of North Yarmouth, Maine is handling all the restoration of both axe heads and will also make replica handles, so The Ring Finders of Maine may display the axe’s.
Please give chandlerbrooktoolco a like and a follow. His work is outstanding and if you need any old tools restored for use or display, Joe is your man.
The Ring Finders

11/21/2024

A rescheduled recreational Metal Detecting day yesterday and we were rewarded with some rusty gold and a 1767 Danish West Indies 12 Skilling Silver Coin. Another axe head, very large horseshoe, unidentified old copper coin, another musket ball and the usual trash. Gary and I will definitely be going back to that permission, deep in the woods of Maine.

11/20/2024

If you remember, approximately 2 weeks ago, I found an extremely old trade axe head, deep in the woods, of a permission we have. My friend Gary and I returned to the woods today and I was able to find the following. Enjoy the video and let me know what you think.

11/19/2024

The Ring Finders of Maine, with Recovery and Return #82

On Monday night, November 18th, I started receiving Facebook notifications, for both my personal Facebook account, Dennis L Boothby and for The Ring Finders of Maine. People were tagging me about a lost wedding ring that had posted to the Biddeford+S**o Community Group, page. I read the post about the lost ring, in S**o, but no location was given, by the poster, Karla Ann. This is exactly what someone should do, when posting about a lost piece of jewelry. You never want to give the location of a lost piece of jewelry, that was lost in a public place. Even though 99% of people are honest, there is always that 1% that is out for themselves. Only reveal the location to someone you can trust, to search, for your lost item. If you post about a piece of lost jewelry, you may mention the town and say that you lost your ring and describe the ring and ask if found, to contact you. Hopefully someone honest will find it and turn it in. If you so choose, you may contact me, The Ring Finders of Maine, to search for your lost item.

So, after reading the post by Karla Ann, I sent her a PM and made a comment, on her post, mentioning all the comments mentioning me. My comment said

“Thank you everyone, for thinking of me and the referrals. I truly appreciate your support ❤️🙏

Karla Ann, If there is anything I can do, please message me on my page, The Ring Finders of Maine or call me at 207-423-3027.
Thank you and prayers for you getting your wedding ring back 🙏🙏🙏”

I did hear back from Karla Ann and she replied

“Hi Dennis,

Thank you for your reply.
We think the ring was dropped in a parking lot. Not buried at the beach or anything.
We went back to look for it.
It was the lot at the S**o Heath Preserve, my husband changed a flat tire. Thinks it was lost at that time”.

After some more messaging back and forth with Karla Ann I told her I would absolutely search for her husband, Naz’s, wedding ring, first thing in the morning, as soon as I dropped my 7 year old granddaughter, off at school. Once I walked her to school, I came home and immediately drove to the S**o Heath Preserve. I parked opposite of where they had parked, to change the tire. I started up my metal detector and decided to search all the leaves, along the edge of the dirt parking lot. Nothing found but the usual trash of pull tabs and foil. When I reached the corner of the parking lot, I turned around and took a 1/2 step, to my left. I would now be searching the actual gravel parking lot. As I started across the parking lot, I received the low tone I love to hear and I was between a 1/4 to 1/2 way across the lot. The signal was coming from underneath a fallen leaf. I moved the leaf and there was a bright yellow gold ring, staring back at me. I had found Naz’s ring in less than 10 minutes. I immediately made a video and sent it to Karla Ann and showed her the ring. We made plans to meet back at the S**o Heath Preserve at 10:30am and Naz would be getting his ring back.
Once Cheryl and I arrived, we saw Naz and Karla Ann already there. After introducing ourselves, I handed a very happy Naz, his ring back. Karla Ann was fighting back tears and I could see her eyes were watering up. Always a great feeling to to able to help people out with such a sentimental piece of jewelry.
I asked how the ring became lost and Naz told us that he and Karla Ann had come down to S**o, to have their snow tires mounted, for the upcoming winter. Once they left the Rt 1 S**o, Maine dealership, they were heading home to Waterboro Maine, when they got a flat tire. They pulled into the parking lot on the S**o Heath Preseve and Naz changed the flat tire. Once back in the vehicle and on the road, Naz noticed his wedding ring was missing. They went back to where they had changed the tire, but didn’t see the wedding ring in the area, around the car. Not knowing if he lost the ring, prior to the flat tire, they drove back to the dealership and searched there. Still no ring was found at the dealership. That’s when Karla Ann made the Facebook Post.
As we were exchanging the ring, Naz showed us where he had parked his vehicle, to change the tire and asked where I found the ring. Where I found the ring was approximately 15-20 feet from where the tire was changed. Naz and Karla Ann hadn’t searched that far out because they thought the ring would be right next to the vehicle. It appears that the ring either rolled away, when he lost it or it flung off his finger. When the ring was found, it did not appear to have been run over or hit by a car.
After saying goodbye to Naz and Karla Ann, they decided to walk the trail of the S**o Heath Preserve. A beautiful easy trail everyone should try. Me, I am told by my better half that I need to mulch leaves. I’d rather be putting smiles on peoples faces, like Karla and Naz, than do yard work but that is where we are at. Congratulations Karla & Naz and thank you for placing your trust in me, The Ring Finders of Maine😀

11/19/2024

The Ring Finders of Maine with Recovery and Return #82. The client has been notified and the story is forthcoming, once the ring is passed over, to the rightful owner.