By Karen Keene
MCF benefited from a recent convening of metal detectorists who participated in the inaugural event, Dig it Dude, the Gathering. The three-day event took place from August 25 to 27, 2023 at the Spy Hill Nature Preserve in Middletown, private property owned by the Montecalvo family. Valerie Montecalvo is a member of MCF’s Board of Trustees, and she and her family are longstanding supporters of our work who were happy to host this special event.
Spy Hill is located along the British retreat route after the Revolutionary War Battle at Monmouth in 1778. British troops under General Henry Clinton retreated toward Sandy Hook, from where they were transported by ships to British-occupied New York City on July 5, 1778.
Limited to 110 attendees, the Gathering attracted participants of all ages from across the country and Canada for the exclusive opportunity to explore 21-acre Spy Hill with their metal detecting equipment. Proceeds from its registration and raffles totaling over $11,000 were donated to MCF to benefit our operations and land preservation efforts.
Dig it Dude, the Gathering is both the name of the event and of the nonprofit LLC recently established by New Jersey residents Shelli Williams and her wife, Dawn Williams, and Audra Thomas, all three of whom serve as its Co-Founders and Co-Presidents. The participating professional detectorists and metal-detecting enthusiasts follow a metal detecting code of ethics, and we learned, largely value land preservation, open space, and historical conservation.
"The team at Dig It, Dude, The Gathering is blessed to have worked alongside MCF for our inaugural event. Conservation is very much a part of what we do, so our alignment with them as benefactors was a match made in heaven! We are looking forward to future projects," said Shelli Williams.
Items found at the event include numerous coins such as a 1783 Spanish real, 1798 Draped Bust one-cent US coin, and 1886 Queen Victora era British penny, as well as artifacts like a miniature pewter tea cup, a horse bridle rosette, and suspender clip.
