what is this thing?

[Dixie]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

Is there the possibility it is an old satellite dish pole that needed to be positioned at a certain point in the yard to get a signal?

I had something very similar at my house. I finally cut it down.

I'm voting this most plausible. It's also most pertinent. It doesn't matter what it was for. Rip it out.

[drkshdw]

Originally Posted by Tobra

That is, or was, a common way Germans would go about building a house.

My grandfather built his house, and houses for at least 3 of his kids that way. My brother's best friend in HS had a cabin at Tahoe, his dad built it the same way

This would make sense since he was a German immigrant. Came here as a kid pre-war.

Originally Posted by Dixie

I'm voting this most plausible. It's also most pertinent. It doesn't matter what it was for. Rip it out.

Can't. See post below.

[drkshdw]

Thanks for everyone's suggestions. An update...it is indeed an old abandoned well. Called the township and they verified it was abandoned in 98 when the new well was drilled.

As for why it is so tall, code (or township rules) dictates it has to be capped 24" above grade within 100' of the well. Because this sits in a low spot, it had to be up in the air to get above that code.

So I can't remove it. Probably good I didn't just take a jackhammer to it. But now this is going to be a hassle to work around when all these crap trees get taken down.

[Baz]

Push come to shove you could always cut it off a few inches above grade....do the tree work....and then re-attach using some kind of coupling.

[Scott Douglas]

Use the trees to build a small log cabin around it. You're going to cut them down so might as well not have to haul them away that far.

[HobieMarty]

Was it a well for water? Around these parts, old wells usually get filled in.

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[Norm K]

Maybe this young lady can confirm whether or not it's an abandoned well ...

[LEAKYSEALS951]

I think it's TABS' secret bunker.
Pull the top off, yell down the pipe, and see if he answers.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by drkshdw

Thanks for everyone's suggestions. An update...it is indeed an old abandoned well. Called the township and they verified it was abandoned in 98 when the new well was drilled.

As for why it is so tall, code (or township rules) dictates it has to be capped 24" above grade within 100' of the well. Because this sits in a low spot, it had to be up in the air to get above that code.

So I can't remove it. Probably good I didn't just take a jackhammer to it. But now this is going to be a hassle to work around when all these crap trees get taken down.

An approved (and preferred) method for decomissioning a well around here is to fill it with concrete.

[drkshdw]

Originally Posted by HobieMarty

Was it a well for water? Around these parts, old wells usually get filled in.

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Originally Posted by dad911

An approved (and preferred) method for decomissioning a well around here is to fill it with concrete.

I'm assuming they intended to reuse it at some point. Or maybe capping it was fine 30 years ago. Or maybe they used it for irrigation like someone else said because this was an old peach orchard and asparagus farm. Anyhow, it doesn't sound like it needs to be filled.

From michigan.gov: "If a well is going to be used in the future, but is temporarily taken out of service at the time a replacement well is installed, it must be securely sealed and must comply with all current isolation and construction requirements."

[Baz]

Most wells do not "go bad" so doesn't make any sense to destroy it. At some point someone may want to try using it again. It certainly doesn't pose any threat to the planet, as long as it remains capped.

I had forgotten about the height codes, so that explains that part of it. IIRC the code here is 24" above grade and must have a back flow prevention valve installed.

I also forgot that wells are usually marked on surveys....so there's another potential resource for identification purposes.

[unclebilly]

Actually the correct way to abandon a well is to set a packer (bridge plug) then put 30’ of cement (not concrete) on top, then pressure test after 24 hours, then fill with inhibited water (anti corrosion), then cut and cap 6’ below surface, then back fill.