- June 2
- Robert Restall locates a vertical hole with 1-foot diameter under a small dome of beach stones, not previously discovered, believed to be the work of 256 years ago. Work on this hole continues for a month, trying to force concrete down to bottom to block water from the ocean. The attempts are unsuccessful, as the unset concrete blows out to sea. [1.115]
- (month unknown)
- Mel Chappell gives the Beamish family $1800 for one-third of Oak Island. [4.155]
- (and 1962) Frederick Nolan spends several thousand dollars on men and equipment laying out a grid over the entire island. He establishes 25 concrete surveying markers, cutting dozens of lines thousands of feet long. [4.154]
- October
- David Tobias contacts Robert Restall saying he is interested in financing recovery operations. [1.125]
1962
- January 11
- Fred Sparham agrees to drop his interest from 25 percent to 19. [1.125]
- January 22
- Robert Restall meets with Mel Chappell. Chappell says he will not extend the contract with Restall, and will switch to another hunter. But Restall pleads his case, and Chappell gives him another year, but only for the south end of the island, up to 100 feet north of the Money Pit. [1.126]
- February 8
- David Tobias and Robert Restall sign a contract for Tobias' investment. [1.126]
- (month unknown)
- Laverne Johnson of Vancouver, British Columbia, drills and excavates north of the Money Pit. [5.98]
- The book True Tales of Buried Treasure is published, written by Edward Rowe Snow. Referring to the engraved stone slab, it claims an Irish schoolmaster deciphered the code as "Forty feet below two million pounds are buried". According to rumors, a Dalhousie University professor translated the code as "Ten feet below two million pounds lie buried". [4.21]
- (or 1963?) Frederick Nolan discovers at the Registry of Deeds in Chester that Mel Chappell did not own Lots 5 and 9-14. He acquires the land from the heirs of Sophia Sellers for $2500. [4.155]
vvv advertisement vvv
^^^ advertisement ^^^
- July 10
- Karl Graeser signs an investment contract with Robert Restall. [1.135]
1963
- January 2
- Mel Chappel informs Robert Restall that as per their agreement a year ago, his contract expired at the end of 1962. [1.141]
- January 19
- Robert Restall is granted a new contract to the end of June. [1.143]
- April
- Frederick Nolan offers to trade his land on the island to Mel Chappell for an opportunity to excavate at the Money Pit. Chappell refuses. [4.155]
- (month unknown)
- (and 1964) Frederick Nolan excavates two 30-foot shafts on his land, only finding a 2-inch brass buckel at the bottom of one. [4.155]
1965
- January 20
- M.R. Chappell and Robert Restall sign new contract, agreeing to pay Restall 30 percent of net amount of treasure. [1.216]
- January 28
- The Hamilton, Ontario, Spectator publishes an article "The Riddle of Oak Island: Gold Bars Within My Grasp Says Bob Restall", written by Restall about his exploration of the Island. [5.206] (January 29 [7.177])
- July 15
- Geologist Robert Dunfield signs a contract with Robert Restall, investing $5000 with an option for another $5000. [1.222]
- July 16
- Robert Restall begins a second shaft between the Cave-in Pit and the Money Pit to intercept the water tunnel. [1.223]
- August 17
- Robert Restall falls in the new shaft while looking down from top at progress on the work below. Son Bobby Restall runs to his aid, but also falls in. Karl Graeser starts down the ladder, but loses consciousness and falls in. Cyril Hiltz also falls from the ladder. Andrew Demont also falls in. Leonard Kaizer falls in as well. Visiting New York firefighter Captain Edward White is able to get a rope around Kaizer, and others pull him up. White is also able to get Demont out. Either a foul odor from the water below, or carbon monoxide from the gas pump had overcome the four others, and they drowned in the water. The shaft is 10 x 30 feet, 27 feet deep, with 3-4 feet of water at bottom. [1.225] [4.131] [5.99] [7.177]
- (month unknown)
- Robert Dunfield is put in charge of continuing operations for the remainder of the Restall Contract to the end of the year. He proposes using a 70 ton digging crane with 90 foot boom and large excavating bucket, capable of digging a hole 100 feet in diameter down to 200 feet, and also using a 110,000 gallon per hour water pump. [1.230] [4.136]
- Two large bulldozers remove a layer of soil 12 feet deep from the area of the Money Pit, exposing old shafts and timbers. [4.136]
- Tons of clay are pushed over the beach of Smith's Cove to attempt to block the flood tunnel. [4.136]
- October 7
- Dunfield builds a causeway between the mainland and the west end of the island for heavy equipment to be driven over. [1.230] [4.137]
- October 16
- The causeway to the mainland is complete. 15,000 cubic yards of fill was used to construct the 600-foot long causeway. [4.137]
- October
- Robert Dunfield brings a 70-ton digging crane to the island, to be used to excavate the Money Pit. [4.139]
- October 18
- Along the south shore, Dunfield has a 200-foot long trench dug 20 feet deep, looking for a presumed second flood tunnel. He finds a re-filled 8-foot diameter shaft with no cribbing, assumed to be pre-1795 as there is no record of it being dug by any treasure hunters. This shaft is 25 feet of the stone triangle. The shaft is dug to 45 feet, but no flood tunnel to the Money Pit is found. The shaft is assumed to be original (pre-1795), but abandoned. [4.139] [5.100] [7.180]
- October
- The Atlantic Advocate publishes an article on Oak Island, suggesting the Money Pit is simply a sinkhole over a limestone formation, or a fault line that gradually filled in with fallen trees and debris. [4.150] [7.186]
- November 3
- Robert Dunfield starts work excavating the Money Pit. Digging gets to 140 feet deep, with a width of 100 feet. Heavy rain during excavation cause sides of pit to often cave-in. The screened soil turns up pieces of porcelain dishware possibly made in 1700s. [4.139] [5.101] [7.181]
- November 29
- Robert Dunfield issues a status report for investors. A contract extension was obtained to the end of August 1966, but funds to continue work are running low. Since taking over, $60,000 has been spent. Four major investors add $27,000 more. Operations soon end for Winter. [1.230]
- (month unknown)
- After digging down to 148 feet, the crane is needed elsewhere. A replacement crane develops a cracked engine block, the diesel generator suffers a blown gasket, and workers quit for the Christmas season. [7.181]
1966
- January 1
- The Chappell Shaft partially collapses. The 1804 and 1863 shafts collapse. The Money Pit hole now has a top diameter of 80 feet. [5.103]
- January 2
- Robert Dunfield orders the main pit to be refilled provide a solid platform for drilling after Winter. [4.139] [7.182]
- January
- Robert Dunfield drills four 6-inch diameter holes in the Money Pit area down to almost 190 feet. At 140 feet, a 2-foot layer of wood is struck. After that, the drill drops through a 40-foot void to bedrock. Material removed is sent to University of Southern California in Los Angeles for spectrographic examination and chemical analysis. On receipt of results, kept private, Dunfield announces intent to proceed re-digging on large scale. [4.139] [5.103] [7.183]
- February
- Robert Dunfield digs at the Cave-in pit, finds old timbers and 2-inch planking. Bucket of digger gets stuck at 68 feet; digging down to 100 feet finds no evidence of water. Heavy rain cause the sides to cave in, and work is halted. [4.140] [7.183]
- March 15
- The Chronicle-Herald publishes an article reporting that Robert Dunfield found a chamber 139-184 feet below ground, roofed with wood, floored with iron. [5.103]
- (month unknown)
- Frederick Nolan purchases land at Crandall's Point abutting the entrance to the causeway, then barricades it, in retaliation for Dunfield denying him use of the causeway. [4.156]
- April
- Robert Dunfield abandons the project, returning to California. [4.140] [5.103]
- May 3
- Robert Dunfield issues a status report and geological sketches. No more work is done. An estimated $131,000 was spent since August. [1.230] [4.140]
- August
- Robert Dunfield's lease with Mel Chappell terminates. Negotiations to buy the island fail. [4.140] [7.184]
1967
- January
- Daniel C. Blankenship leads a new syndicate including David Tobias, Robert Dunfield, and Fred Nolan. They acquire search rights on Oak Island. [7.184]
- March
- Drilling equipment is removed from the island for overhauling. [7.184]
- May
- Daniel Blankenship and David Tobias deepen the South Shore shaft exposed by Robert Dunfield. At 60 feet they uncover an ancient hand-wrought nail, and something resembling a metal nut or washer. 65-77 feet is layers of red sandy soil and blue clay, then 8 feet of black muck, then 5 feet of rounded granite boulders in black stagnant water. [7.185] (1966 [4.161] [5.103])
- (month unknown)
- Frederick Nolan builds a museum on Crandall's Point, where he displays artifacts he finds. [4.159]
- David Tobias and Daniel Blankenship drill about 60 holes in the area of the Money Pit over the year. They learn of caverns or tunnels in the bedrock, with ceilings of wood planks or logs. The bedrock starts 160-170 feet below the surface, with wood found about 40 feet below bedrock. Drill hole 21 brings up a brass fragment from 187ft (or higher), analysed to be from prior to 1850. Drill hole 24 encounters bedrock cavity from 203-210ft, containing wood/clay/wood sequence. Wood is carbon-dated to 1490-1660. Drill hole 25, next to the Money Pit, encounters a cavity at 202-209 feet, then 1/2-inch thick iron plate. Pieces of china, cement, and wood are recovered from the cavity. Drill hole 35 hits bedrock from 171 to 189 feet, wood to 191 feet, then a 12-foot void to 203 feet, recovering bits of wood, charcoal, and clinker. [4.161] [5.105]
- McGraw-Hill Ryerson publishes the book The Oak Island Mystery, second edition, written by Reginald Harris. Revised and updated version of 1958 book. [5.201]
- Daniel Blankenship digs up part of Smith's Cove beach, finding coconut fiber, and the remains of the old drainage system. [4.162]
1968
-
- David Tobias makes a six month agreement with Frederick Nolan, paying $1000 for right to cross Crandall's Point land. [4.156]
1969
-
- Frederick Nolan drains the swamp on his land, finding numerous markers and objects possibly from pre-1795: rocks with holes bored or chiseled, some with metal inserted into surface, piece of wood with iron hinges, beach stones, old wood, and metal. Most interesting is a piece of sandstone of square cross-section, cut by man, standing erect, may have been used as a surveryor's monument. [4.156]
- April
- David Tobias forms Triton Alliance Limited. President is Tobias, field operation director Daniel Blankenship. Shareholders include Charles Brown, George Jennison, Bill Sobey, Bill Parkins, Gordon Coles, Mel Chappell. [4.156] [5.109]
- (month unknown)
- The Warnock Hersey company drills for Triton to 250 feet. [5.109]
- November
- A new shaft, called Borehole 10-X, is drilled mid-way between the Money Pit and the Cave-in Pit, 180 feet northeast of the Money pit, using a 9-inch and then 6-inch diameter drill hole. At 140 feet, a 5 foot cavity is encountered. At 160 feet, another 5 foot cavity and a small quantity of metal is encountered. At 180 feet, bedrock is hit. At 230 feet, another cavity found. [4.166] [5.121]
1970
- May
- Golder borehole 201, 100-feet north-northeast of Borehole 10X, finds metal pieces embedded in sand from 84.5-86.5 feet depth. [5.121]
- May 25
- Dalhousie University issues a report on samples from Borehole 103 at the Money Pit from 193-198 feet. The report indicates the samples show a mix of recent pollen types in with glacial till, indicating man-made soil infilling. [5.109,204]
- June
- Golder boreholes 202 and 203 are drilled close to Borehole 10X. Wood and metal fragments are recovered from about 150 feet. [5.123]
- (month unknown)
- A 400-foot long cofferdam is built around the perimeter of Smith's Cove, 50 feet further out than earlier dams. After it is built, a large U-shaped wooden structure is uncovered below low tide. It is made of several 2-foot thick logs, 30-65 feet long, notched at 4-foot intervals, with Roman numerals carved beside each notch. The notches had been bored and some contain 2-inch thick wooden dowels. Experts conclude this was an ancient wharf or remains of workings in construction of original cofferdam. [4.162] [5.111]
- Excavation of Smith's Cove also exposes a heart-shaped stone, a pair of ancient wrought-iron scissors, a small wooden sled, a 12-inch long segment of an iron ruler, and iron nails, spikes, and tools. [5.117]
- November
- Borehole 201X is drilled four feet from Borehole 201 with 25.5-inch casing, down to 78 feet, then open sides to 88 feet. [5.123]
- November 19
- The Steel Company of Canada issues a report on metal found in Borehole 201, concluding it is friable fragments of wrought iron dating pre-1800. [5.123,204]
- December 6
- Martin Pickford is lowered into Borehole 201X, to examine the bare walls below 78 feet. They are determined to be virgin ground. [5.123]
- December 14
- The Steel Company of Canada issues a report on the iron ruler recovered from excavation of Smith's Cove, saying it is wrought iron, with hand-engraved markings, likely pre-1783. The nails, spikes, and tools are hand-forged wrought iron, dating pre-1790. [5.119,204]
- December 22
- The Smithsonian Institution issues a report on artifacts excavated from Smith's Cove. The fiber is confirmed authentic by botanists. The scissors are said to be of a 300-year old pattern. The metal set-square is dated to pre-1780. [4.162] [5.204]
1971
- January
- Borehole 10X is widened to 27-inch diameter casing, recovering pieces of chain, metal fragments, cement chunks, and pieces of wire at about 165 feet or higher. [4.166] [5.123]
- February
- (to July) Borehole 10X is extended at 27-inch diameter down to bedrock at 181 feet. The hole in bedrock is also enlarged to 27-inch diameter to the top of the cavity, and 27-inches to 7 feet below the floor of the cavity. Then, a 20-inch diameter hole is continued a further 19 feet. [4.166] [5.124]
- March 30
- The Steel Company of Canada issues a report on the metal pieces recovered from Borehole 10X, saying the chain is case-hardened steel, likely pre-1750. The metal fragments are folded wrought iron, likely pre-1750. [5.124,204]
- (month unknown)
- Frederick Nolan is granted a treaure trove license, and starts digging holes on his land. [4.156]
- August
- Attempting to empty water from Borehole 10X is not successful. The hole fills to sea level, bringing up bird bones, sea shells, and glass. [4.166] [5.124]
- A remote controlled TV camera is lowered into Borehole 10X. On the video monitor are claimed to be the outlines of three chests, a pick axe, three logs on the floor, a human hand severed at the wrist, and a human body sitting against a side wall. [4.166] [5.124]
- A second TV camera session in the Borehole 10X cavity also may show chests, timbers, tools, and two tunnels leading from the cavity. [5.126]
- (month unknown)
- (to 1972) More than ten dives are made into the cavern in bedrock via Borehole 10X, but without finding any evidence of treasure or manmade workings. [4.166] [5.126]
- November
- Frederick Nolan and Triton Alliance sign agreement to share treasure searching information, that Triton would receive 40 percent of any treasure recovered on Nolan's land, and allows both access across each other's land. [4.159]
1972
-
- A meeting is held of the Canadian Institute of Surveying and Mapping, held at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. George Bates is a guest speaker. He reviews the history of pirate activity on the Atlantic Canada coast. He suggests what was found on Oak Island in 1795 was the remains of a pirate shipyard. The artificial beach was possibly lowered to accomodate the draft of incoming ships. A hollow chamber below the island would have been used to drain Smith's Cove, then pumped out with windmill when a ship's repairs were completed. [4.142]
- Fontana publishes the book The Money Pit Mystery: The Costliest Treasure Hunt Ever written by Rupert Furneaux. Detailed account of explorations, suggests original works were constructed around 1780 based on the Roper survey. Concludes British military buried money from New York in an offset chamber. [5.201]
- P.J. Mallon of Northern Ireland finds another stone triangle on the South Shore. [5.127]
|