Rod of Aaron

There used to be a guy working at BYU Grounds (full-time, not a student) who was a dowser. Queerest thing I've ever seen.

snoscythe wrote:
There used to be a guy working at BYU Grounds (full-time, not a student) who was a dowser. Queerest thing I've ever seen.

What? By a "dowser" you mean a BYU guy walked around using a divining rod? Looking for water? Really? That is wild. Please share what you saw. I've never seen one of these guys.

Ddawg wrote:

There used to be a guy working at BYU Grounds (full-time, not a student) who was a dowser. Queerest thing I've ever seen.

What? By a "dowser" you mean a BYU guy walked around using a divining rod? Looking for water? Really? That is wild. Please share what you saw. I've never seen one of these guys.

I don't think BYU had him on staff as a dowser--it was just a skill he happened to use. BYU has other properties all over the state (generally the result of someone dying and leaving it to BYU), and they were doing some development on some land in Grand County but needed a well, and this guy came out with us and used his dowser to tell the drillers where to locate the well. Walked in circles, the rod, would quiver and twitch, and then it suddenly shot straight down. He painted an X at that spot and his work was done.

Very interesting. But you left out a really important part of the story. Did they find water where he marked the spot?

Yes, we did. That said--you drill deep enough pretty much anywhere you're bound to hit the water table eventually.

I heard that my own dad could do it and found water for a well at my grandparent's. It wasn't deep either. I wasn't there to see it and dad is gone now. I don't know why I didn't ask him about it. I tried it once and we not only found water but a huge gusher of oil shot up and my family is now very wealthy! Well it turns out it was a spot of oil from the car and we all had to keep our day jobs. I did try it though. We were looking for a water main and I couldn't find it. I understand it is a Y shaped branch and there are people, dowsers, who are capable of pulling it off. They are hard to find.

snoscythe wrote:
Yes, we did. That said--you drill deep enough pretty much anywhere you're bound to hit the water table eventually.

Good point. Very interesting story. As I said, I have never seen it. It's got a touch of the mysterious and carnival all wrapped up in one. Intriguing. I'll bet it was entertaining to watch.