Saturday's dig at a few former outhouse sites in downtown Lansford turned up only a handful of items.

Volunteer diggers came up with a Lansford Mulhearn and Dorrian bottle from the 1890-1900 period, an unmarked whiskey flask, an old shoe heel, a trademark Vaseline Chesebrough, N.Y. Manufacturing Co. jar, two old small red clay liner plates for beneath flower pots, a few pieces of broken china dishes, and a piece of iron with white enamel finish on it possibly from an old bathroom fixture.There was hope the privies would contain a large cache of rare bottles. The general area, near the former Lansford High School building, was once the location of the 1800s Star Hotel along with many private residences."The Star Hotel likely fronted on Bertsch Street because Patterson was a dirt path until the 1920s," said volunteer Bob Perrin, Coaldale, who also noted that his research revealed that "Lansford installed water lines in 1925."Guest diggers came from as far away as Allentown to help search the site. Among them were Rick Weiner and Dave Kern, who joined Coaldale diggers Aaron Kralik, Perrin and others. They were successful in pinpointing a few former outhouse locations using early Lansford maps.Additional help was secured from Peter J. Radocha & Sons, which furnished heavy equipment to break through the concrete and macadam surface.The rewards weren't great in terms of artifacts. But those on hand said they were happy to meet new friends and lend their support to what they said was a fun project, along with enjoying a hotdog cookout."I'm a student at Wilkes University and I came home to be part of the big dig," said Jeanne Cannon, Coaldale.Cannon helped visitors sign liability waivers in order to exonerate the borough and fire company in case of a mishap. The event went off without a glitch.For some local residents, the dig was just too interesting to pass up because, for them, many memories originate in the neighborhood."I remember this as basketball courts," said well-known community leader Bob Silver, standing on the lot adjacent to the school.Silver's homestead was located just across the street. He grew up on the block and attended Lansford High School. He later operated a business on the block as well.The outhouse sites searched on Saturday didn't turn up the valuables that had been hoped for, but those on hand said they couldn't think of a better way to spend a sunny day in late summer.