#old Orchard Beach Maine metal detecting expert Tag | The Ring Finders

Vintage 1960’s Cub Scouts Slide Lost In Saco Maine, Found Visually, Without A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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« Three generations of scouting history, lost in an instant—and the ultimate ‘Good Deed’ that brought a grandfather’s 1960s slide back home! 🪵🇺🇸

« On Sunday June 14th, Flag Day, I received a call, from Doug, about a lost Cub Scout Neckerchief Slide. A ceremony was held at Ferry Beach State Park , in Saco, Maine, for a local Cub Scouts Pack #350. This Cub Scout Pack services the Saco, Maine , Biddeford, Maine and Old Orchard Beach, Maine communities. The ceremony was a “Rank Up” ceremony in which the cub scouts would be “Ranking Up”, achieving the next “slide”, as they advance in age and grade (More on this later.) As the ceremony ended, all the scouts, parents and leaders were leaving, walking down a wooded trail, towards the parking lot. Doug’s son Wyatt noticed his slide was missing. Now, this was no ordinary slide. This slide was actually the slide that Wyatt’s late grandfather had received, 65+ years earlier. YIKES!!! Doug told me that the scouting troop or about 20 people had been searching for the silde for 20-30 minutes but were unable to find it. The group had ended the search and were now on their way home. Doug thinks the most likely scenerio was that the slide fell off Wyatt’s neckerchief and was then kicked into the leaves and brush along the trail. I told Doug I could be there in 15-20 mnutes but just needed to know which trail to search. Doug then told me he would turn around and meet there, showing me exactly where the trail was. Perfect!!! Always a greater chance of success, when we know the exact area, to search.

Once I arrived at Ferry Beach State Park, I saw Doug and Waytt, next to the Ranger’s booth. After a quick introduction, we retreived my equiptment out of my vehicle and Wyatt was completly enthralled with the metal detector and pinpointer. I told Waytt he was my official pinpointer person, on this search and a huge smile came across his face. As we walked to the trail, we talked about what this vintage heirloom slide meant to the family and how important it was to find it. Once we arrived on the trail, I was asking lots of questions about could it be on the beach, etc.. My last question was “When was the last time you saw the slide” We walked maybe 10 more feet and Doug says “ It was in ths area”. As Doug was motioning with his hand, drawing a circle of the area he says “I can’t believe it. There it is. How did we not see it?” Just off the trail, sitting under a small plant was Wyatt’s slide, once belonging to his grandfather. WOW!! I couldn’t have been happier for them as a hugh relief swept across us. I hadn’t even turned my metal detector on yet and it was found. Wyatt did have the pinpointer on and placed it noxt to the slide and got a thrill, when the pinpointer went “beep, beep”. We then turned on my metal detector and Wyatt had a chance to use it, sweeping of the slide and getting more “beeps”, from the brass alloy slide. Wyatt was very happy to have his slide back but I think he was happy and excited to use the metal detectors. Amazing how the mood shifts, when a succsessful search is made. The walk out of the park was much more joyful, than the walk into the park.

We have seen this more than a few times. When someone loses a cherished item, their mind may go into a tailspin of panic, stress, or anxiety. Their emotions are now total overwhelm, brain may lock up, creating a literal mental block that makes it impossible to see what is right in front of you. You can stare directly at the grass or sand for hours, but the fear of losing that memory forever blurs your vision and clouds your judgment. You are too gripped by dread to even think about food or taking a breath.
However, when the we step onto the scene, the emotions start to ease. Just having someone there who knows exactly what to do allows you to finally exhale, lowering the panic and letting you catch your breath. As your nerves settle, your head clears, and you can finally step back and think straight again. With the frantic energy gone and calm restored, the chaotic search transforms into a clear, focused effort, and that is exactly when the missing item is finally spotted. I am not saying this happed today but we have seen this situation over and over again. Just having someone there helps with the frayed nerves.

Helping a young Cub Scout recover a treasured, vintage 1960s neckerchief slide, brought me back to my own Cub and Boy Scout Days. Tracking down this irreplaceable piece of history became the ultimate « good deed for the day, » transforming a family’s deep worry into a triumphant, successful recovery. Seeing the Scout’s face light up with pure relief when the classic brass slide was safely returned made it a deeply rewarding win, perfectly honoring the spirit of both scouting and community helping hands.

So, another Cub Scout Siide back on the hankerchief. Remember, “If it matters to you, it matters to us.” I have the best job in the world. I love my job.

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Gold and Diamond Wedding Ring Lost In The Bridgton, Maine Grass, While Ring Bearer Was Walking Down The Aisle, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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🚨 WEDDING DAY RESCUE! 💍 A missing ring, a panicked wedding party, and a five-year-old ring bearer who thought he ruined the big day… but the story didn’t end there!

On Saturday evening, I received a phone call from Monica . She was at a wedding reception at the Tarry-A-While Resort in Bridgton, Maine . Her son, Mikel had just gotten married earlier that afternoon, and the celebration was in full swing on the property.
Monica told me that during the actual wedding ceremony, the five-year-old ring bearer had shown up at the altar with only one ring. He still had the groom’s wedding band, but the bride’s wedding ring was completely missing, from the ring pillow. YIKES!!!
After quite a bit of panic (and I’m told that is a massive understatement), a wedding guest kindly offered up her own wedding ring to the bride so the ceremony could proceed. 💍
Once the ceremony finished, the wedding party headed off to take photos on the property overlooking Highland Lake . While they were away, the guests jumped into action. Everyone searched the grass along the path taken by the young ring bearer. After a lengthy search, the ring was nowhere to be found, and everyone eventually headed to the reception.
Thankfully, Monica follows The Ring Finders of Maine and knew exactly who to call. Most of the wedding party was staying at the resort and would be checking out after a morning farewell breakfast. I promised Monica that I would be there bright and early at 7:00 AM to search the path, taken by the wedding party. I was praying I would find it before everyone left, after the breakfast.
Cheryl and I left Saco, Maine at approximately 5:00am and arrived at the resort just before 7:00 AM. Monica and Mikel quickly met us and took us to the ceremony site. The groom asked me not to use the name of the ring bearer, to protect his privacy.
The poor young ring bearer felt like he had ruined everyone’s day and was incredibly upset. Even though everyone consoled him and told him it was just an accident, he still felt terrible this morning. Of course, I will always abide by a family’s wishes. Accidents happen, and there is no need to make anyone feel worse!
Mikel showed me the muster area where the wedding party started their procession. It wasn’t a long walk to the altar, but it was a beautiful, thick, grassy lawn—the perfect place for a wedding ring to hide.
I was told the ring bearer had tripped and stumbled a few times on his way down the aisle. He never fell, but they knew the area between the guest chairs was of particular interest because that is where he got tripped up.
I decided to start the search at the muster area and walk the exact route of the procession, paying close attention to the aisle. I started slowly and worked my way toward the altar. I was getting quite a few signals, as expected at an old resort, but nothing to get excited about yet. I checked anything that resembled the signature of a woman’s gold ring using my pinpointer.
As the search continued, a few more members of the wedding party showed up to help with a visual search. As I headed straight down the aisle, Monica, Mikel, and a few others moved chairs out of the way for me.
Approaching the middle of the aisle, I received a very loud, repeatable low tone. I couldn’t see anything in the thick grass, so I used my pinpointer to pinpoint the target. As I parted the blades of grass, there it was: a white gold and diamond wedding ring! 💎
The moment I picked it up and everyone saw it, cheers and screams filled the air. The relief was immediate and genuine.
The wedding ring was found dead center in the grassy aisle, right where the young ring bearer had stumbled. It is truly amazing how easily a ring can stay completely hidden from the human eye in the grass like that.
After the usual high-fives, hugs, and handshakes, Mikel went to get his wife to present her with the ring. Their plan was to head back down to the altar before leaving and place the ring on her finger with everyone who was still there. First, though, they had to get to that breakfast. I bet the mood was much lighter this morning now that the ring was found! I truly hope the ring bearer feels much better now, too.
Cheryl and I never did meet the bride, but I know her day just got tenfold better.
Thankfully, Monica knew exactly who to call, and she was incredibly grateful for the quick response. As I always like to say: “If it matters to you, it matters to us.”
I have the best job in the world, and I love what I do!

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Gold Wedding Ring Lost In Sanford, Maine Garden Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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Saturday afternoon, May 23rd, I received the following text

“Hi Dennis, I found your ring finder service on Facebook. This afternoon I was doing some gardening,in my yard, in Sanford, Maine and lost my ring in the brush next to my house and am unable to find it. I was wondering if you have any availability to come help locate it for me?
My name is Andrew by the way“

I called Andrew back, once I saw the text. Andrew told me that earlier that afternoon he had been pulling dead vegetation from two different above ground “box gardens.” He was then taking the pulled vegetation and throwing it into an overgrown area of thorn bushes, leaves, branches and other dead vegetation, just 20-30 feet from the gardens. At one point, while pulling the vegetation up, Andrew felt his gold wedding ring coming off his finger. Andrew slid the ring back onto his finger and got back to work. Not five minutes later, Andrew noticed his wedding ring was now missing from his finger. Since he had only been between the garden and pile of dead vegetation, just a few feet away, Andrew thought the ring would be in the pile of vegetation he had been throwing. After a visual search of that area, he couldn’t find his ring. Andrew the visually searched the path across his lawn, he had been walking, to and from the gardens and vegetation pile. Still no ring. He then looked around the box gardens but still couldn’t find his wedding ring. This is when he texted me and he also decided not to search any longer, in the fear he may actually move the ring, further into the vegetation or move it out of the area all together. Andrew then asked me if I could search the area, the next morning, Sunday. I agreed to meet him at his home in Sanford, Maine at 7:00am.

I arrived prompty at 7:00am and Andrew shoed me the very small area that the ring could be in. Andrew really thought his wedding ring would be up in the vegetation, leaves and thorn bushes. Since we were ext to the box gardens I ran my coils over them first. I received some targets but nothing in the gold range. Lots of beeps and chirps turned out to be mostly ferrous items and one non ferrour target, a modern penny. We then walked towards the vegetation pile and I searched the grass path along the way, but still no ring. I then started searching the leaves, vegetation, thorn bushes and still no ring. Andrew put on a parof heavy duty glove and started pulling the thorny vines out and I was moving dead vegetation and branches, out of the way. We did this for 15-20 minutes and still no success. I then expanded the search to his lawn, searching a much larger area than he had been in. The wedding ring was still missing. I knew it had to be here, but where? Andrew had only been in a 20-30 foot area. I went back to the box gardens and started searching them again but just some small chirping and no non ferrous targets at all. We then researched the leaves and expanded the area up towards the road. Could his ring have flown off his finger, that far? Andrew didn’t thing so bue we searched anyways, just to be safe. Again, no success. Where could that ring be. Even though I had searched the box gardens twice, my mind kept telling me that was the only logical place it could be. The garden box was maybe 12-14 inches deep and the ring gould be missed if it was that deep. Andrew said he wasn’t digging in the garden, just pulling the vegetation and then filling in the holes. So, I took my men’s gold test ring, dug a hole to the bottom of the box and placed the ring on the bottom. Once I covered the hole in I swung my coil over the area. The ring was not being found, by my detector. At a depth of up to 14 inches, it wasn’t being picked up but it was picking up other items, all ferrous.. I told Andrew we would need to remove the soil and scan it. Andrew retreived a large garbage bag and ripped it, so he could put the soil on it, Box Garden #1 was the one he was working on when he noticed his ring missing and he had been working on one specific corner. So, That is where he started shoveling. His first shovel full of soil, produced no targets, as did the second and third shovel full of soil. The forth shovel full was now at the bottom of the box and I received a very loud, repeatable low tone, reading 26-27, on my TID (Target ID). I couldn’t see the target but told Andrew that this just had to be his wedding ring, it just sounded so good. As I started brushing the soil away, I saw a very small color of silver, white gold? Yes, it was Andrews wedding ring. WOW!!! Andrew yelled out in excitment and I will admit, so did I. Over an hour and fifteen minutes in a very small area. The box garden was the only place that made sense to me, when I couldn’t find it in the brush or lawn. As I saw where the ring came from, I realized that the ring was not only in the box garden but it was up against the side wall. When I was swinging the coil, the coil would be stopped by the side wall and with the depth the ring was at, my coil couldn’t get completely over the ring. Possibly it was one of the chirps I had heard but I will never know. I don’t like giving up and removing the soil was the only way to be certain the ring was or was’t in the box garden.
Andrew couldn’t believe his ring was that deep. I suspect that when he pulled some of the vegetation, his ring fell down into the hole and he just filled the hole in, along the wall. Andrew immediately put his wedding ring back on and shook my hand, thanking me for finding his ring, where he didn’t think it would be. Andrew also told me that he would not be taking anymore chances and would be getting his wedding ring re-sized. A great idea. Another ring back on the finger and another smile on their face. We have the best job in the world and I love my job. Remember, “If it matters to you, it matters to us.”😀❤️🙏

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Another Gold Wedding Ring Found And Returned in Old Orchard Beach Maine

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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Now that Joanne had her wedding ring back, her friend just told me that he also had lost his wedding ring in the sand. He told me his name was Gene and that just like Joanne, he had also placed his wedding ring on his beach towel and went swimming in the ocean. Just like Joanne, Gene had forgotten he had taken his ring off and placed it on his towel. Gene was drying off, using his towel when he remembered his ring. It was to late as the wedding ring had been swallowed up by the beach sand. Gene proceeds to show me the area his beach towel was, when the ring was lost. It was only 5-6 feet away from his friend, Joanne’s lost ring. I passed the coil over the area that Gene had pointed out and within 3 swings of my coil, I had found Gene’s wedding band. I still couldn’t believe that I had just recovered 2 gold wedding bands with in 5-6 feet of each other and that they knew each other.
As I walked away and resumed detecting down new the low tide mark, I decided to call my wife to come pick me up, as I was now 3 hours into my hunt and that is about my limit. When my wife arrived, I started putting my detector and gear in to the car, when my phone rang. Story to continue in my next blog.

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