Yarmouth, MA Lost Gold Necklace Returned by Richard Browne

August 9, 2025 After an early morning search for a lost ring that I did not find, I received a call for help in finding a lost necklace with a fireman’s cross hanging on it. I had been a Captain in a Deep Creek, VA volunteer fire department back in the early 1970s. How could I refuse except it was only two hours before low tide and I thinking I may not be able to get out to where the necklace was lost. What the heck, I went.

I met Matt on the now crowded beach. He pointed out the area, the area he thought was the most likely to be where he lost his necklace. As the tide was coming in rapidly, I started at the deepest section and work into the shallower area. After retrieving a few iffy signals that were pull tabs and a fishing sinker. Then I heard a signal I was waiting for, I took one careful scoop, not wanting to harm the necklace, raised it to the surface and saw gold hanging onto the open edge of the scoop. It was about high tide and time to give up until the tide went out. Matt thought I was giving up for the day. He did not know I had the chain and fireman’s cross in the scoop.

Matt came to the water’s edge, not looking very happy until I let him look into the scoop and retrieve his necklace. Great thanks and praises arose from those watching what was going on. By the time I found the necklace most nearby bathers knew of Matt’s loss and why the guy in the water was just walking back and forth. Needless to say that Matt was most thankful for the return of his necklace and charm that had been given to him by his wife 10 years ago.

The real mystery is: how did the necklace come off of Matt’s neck? The clasp was still hooked, It had to have been pulled off, over his head. Perhaps by his son while riding on Matt’s shoulder. It really does not matter. What does, is the happy ending that made for smiles all around.