The junk of bygone days has turned to treasure for some people.

Bottles, crockery and even coins were items that ended up getting tossed into privies, which frequently doubled at garbage dumps.

But for more than 20 years, brothers Jim and Jeff Springer have been retrieving those items from the more than 1,500 privies, cisterns, wells and trash pits they have excavated.

Having previously dug sites in Ottawa, they will be back in town this week -- sponsored by the La Salle County Historical Society -- to explain their hobby and give a demonstration through two free programs.

A talk, "Privy to History," will be offered at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Ottawa Scouting Museum, 1100 Canal St. The presentation will include displays of artifacts the Springers have recovered and photos and videos of some of their excavations.

Then Saturday, June 7, they will excavate an old privy site in Fox River Park that will be open for public viewing between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The location will be at Ontario and St. George streets. A canopy over the excavation will make the spot easy to find.

The excavation will take place rain or shine, said Arnie Bandstra, Ottawa's assistant city engineer and a historical society official.

"People with an abandoned site who are willing to have it excavated can call me at 815-433-9964 for the particulars," he said.

There is an exhibit on privy excavations at the historical society's museum in Utica. For additional information on the privy programs, call the museum at 815-667-4861.