Michigan Natives Seek Treasure On Canadian Island
IRON MOUNTAIN (AP) - Two Kingsford brothers' work to reveal the mysteries of a treasure island in Nova Scotia will be featured in a History Channel series that starts Sunday night.
"The Curse of Oak Island" premieres at 10 p.m. EST. It highlights the work of Rick and Marty Lagina and others, who spent the summer searching the so-called Money Pit on Canada's Oak Island.
The Lagina brothers are graduates of Kingsford High School - Rick in 1970 and Marty in 1973, according to The Daily News of Iron Mountain.
Marty Lagina said their interest in the island began when his brother read about it as a youngster.
"He was fascinated by it," Marty Lagina told the newspaper. "And he talked me into it, too, since I was the little brother."
The legend began in 1795 when curious teenage boys began digging at the site thinking they might find a pirate's buried treasure. They never did and eventually gave up but others followed in ensuing years into the 1900s.
About 10 years ago, the Laginas and several other investors from the Traverse City area bought part of the island. After some hassles, they obtained a license that allows them to keep 90 percent of anything they find, with the other 10 percent going to the Canadian government.
They finally began their exploration last year.
"We started in the summer, drilling holes, running pumps, and searching," Marty Lagina said. "We're bringing some new technology there that hasn't been used before."
No spoiler alert here. He would not say if they found anything, saving it for the show.
"Since 1795, people have been searching there," he said. "You don't know quite what you're looking for."
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