Spikes and railroad hardware were discovered in Brandywine Creek by Greg White and his sons recently. The family donated the items to the Hancock County Historical Society.
Submitted photo
Editor’s note: The Daily Reporter will feature our “Neighbors” each month, whether it be someone with an interesting hobby or profession, or a nonprofit group making a difference in our community. Here, Greenfield resident Greg White tells us about his hobby of magnet fishing with his son Dax White, 8, and stepson Kane Bush, 13. If you know a person or a group that you’d like to see featured in Neighbors, email [email protected].
Daily Reporter: What is magnet fishing?
Greg White: Magnet Fishing is a combination of environmentalism and treasure hunting. It requires a strong Neodymium magnet, safety gloves, and a very strong rope. We tie the magnets to the rope and throw them into creeks, rivers, and other waterways in hopes of clearing out trash and maybe finding treasure or valuables.
DR: How did you get started with the hobby?
GW: We discovered the hobby on YouTube by watching videos of other magnet fishers. We decided to try it with the goal of getting exercise, helping the environment, and bonding over a shared hobby.
DR: Where do you go magnet fishing?
GW: We have tried magnet fishing all over Greenfield, but have spent most time at different spots along the Brandywine Creek.
DR: What interesting items have you found?
GW: We have found fishing poles, fishing lures, bikes, railroad spikes, bolts and other railroad hardware, as well as a lot of trash and scrap metal.
DR: Tell us about pieces you recently donated to the Hancock County Historical Society.
GW: The pieces that we donated to the Hancock County Historical Society were found in Brandywine Creek off of Pennsy Trail. The Pennsylvania Railroad used to run through Greenfield along what is now the Pennsy Trail, and where the trail meets the creek we discovered over 50 railroad spikes and over a dozen other pieces of railroad hardware. They were all in very rusted condition but after cleaning some of them up we decided to donate them to the Hancock County Historical Society so that they may be preserved for future generations. It’s difficult to date these items but my guess would be that some of them are over 50 years old.
DR: What do your boys think of the hobby?
GW: The boys love going magnet fishing. It’s an exciting adventure going out to the creek and discovering interesting items that have been lost to time. It’s a lot of work handling and cleaning rusted items, but the boys are always eager to help.
Greg White bonds with stepson Kane Bush, 13, and son Dax White, 8, through a shared hobby of magnet fishing in Greenfield’s waterways.
Submitted photo
