When environmental service director, Mark Andre was exploring the Arcata Community Forest in California, he came across something remarkable that would stop him in his tracks. In preparation for the forest harvesting, Andre spent his career learning every inch of this forest but was shocked to discover something he had never seen in these woods before...
Preparing for the Harvest
While deep in the forest marking trees for harvest, Andre noticed a shadowy object enveloped in the trees. Stunned to discover something foreign in the woods, he moved closer to get a better look.
Skillfully Camoflaged
As he inched his way closer, Andre couldn’t believe he what he was standing in front of. He thought he knew the forest inside and out, but now he wasn’t so sure.
He Was Standing in the Most Remote Section of the Forest
Mark Andre hadn’t explored this section of the forest since 1985 as it was so deep in the wilderness. But on this day, he was staring at something that made the forest a lot more intriguing.
He Had Stumbled Upon a Wooden Cabin
Miles inside the depths of the woods lay a makeshift wooden cabin with a padlock suturing the entrance. Curious and suspicious, Andre wondered what could be inside, but had no idea.
An Illegal Construction
Although he was fascinated to find something so skillfully built in the middle of the woods, he was concerned that it was built on private property which would ultimately make it illegally built.
This Was an Elaborate Building
As a forest ranger, Andre was used to finding debris from makeshift huts made by people seeking shelter in the woods. However, this was no ordinary hut. This was a mini home that was built with great care and attention to detail.
The Cabin Had Lots of Homely Features
The quaint wooden cabin was impressively decorated with a peaked roof and a front porch accompanied by an awning. The inside walls were protected by plywood and tarps along with windows. The entire cabin was approximately 8 x 12 feet and stood at about 15-feet tall.
It Was in a Secluded Location
"I didn’t see it until I was 12 feet from it," Mark Andre explained in an interview. "It’s in the perfect out-of-the-way spot where it wouldn’t be detected." Andre’s comment makes it clear that the only way the builder could have constructed this without anybody knowing was because of its desolate location.
It Appeared to be Someone’s Home
Andre noticed that there were no signs of littering or environmental destructions, which are common when discovering huts or dens in the woods. Whoever lived here respected this land as their home. Andre also noticed zero signs of footpaths or trails surrounding the site, an indication that the owner never wanted it to be found.
A Call for Backup
Andre was very eager to take a look inside but he couldn’t be certain the cabin was empty. He decided to call forest technicians Javier Nogueira and Nick Manfrendonia for assistance along with park ranger Heidi Groszmann.
What Exactly Was Inside?
With the help of his colleagues, Andre and his team cut the padlock of the door and prepared themselves for what or who could possibly be inside.
They Entered Cautiously
With her gun drawn, park ranger Heidi Groszmann shouted "Arcata Police!" to prompt a response, but no one replied. The team then began to investigate inside the cabin to figure out who its owner was.
A Tidy Home
The group quickly noticed just how tidy and well kept the interior of this cute little lodge was. Jars of cooking ingredients neatly lined the kitchen shelves and it was clear that the team was standing in somebody’s hand-crafted home.
They Had Furnished the Entire Cabin
In the living room area, there was a kettle and next to it a wooden chair. The owner even had a pot-bellied stove for cooking and keeping the cabin warm. With all of these amenities, it seemed sure that someone was currently living in this hidden home...
The Group Learned a Lot About the Inhabitant of the Cabin
Continuing their exploration, the group discovered a bookshelf that gave them a clue as to how old the house's owner was. Books like "Catch Me If You Can" and "Medicinal Plants" suggested the resident of the cabin was an older person.
More Clues About the Occupant Surfaced
The person who seemingly lived so comfortably in this house also had a stack of old cassette tapes, but the team was still suspicious as to who exactly owned all of these items, and what their story was.
There Were Inspirational Quotes On the Walls
Along the walls inside the cabin, there were posters with inspirational messages and political opinions, giving the team more of an insight into who lived there. One poster titled "Different Everywhere" featured an image of a nude woman holding a knife that read, "Every community creates its own outlaws."
They Found a To-Do List
The team of forest technicians and park rangers even found a hand-written note with a list of "Things To Do and Get." The list included "Build bench," "Extend Brush Wall," "Get tongs," and even the date "4/17/14," with some of the chores not yet ticked off.
They Were Able to Estimate How Long the Owner Lived There
The team were beginning to establish a timeline for how long the cabin had been occupied. They found a copy of Humboldt State University’s "The Lumberjack" newspaper which was dated March 25th, 2015.
They Found Two Driver’s Licenses
While investigating the cabin, the group identified two driver’s licenses and thought they had discovered the creator of this eccentric little house. However, the licenses belonged to two different people and sadly, didn't lead the team to find the owner of the house. And little did they know, the team was quickly running out of time to gather evidence...
The Team Was Left With No Choice
While the team was aware that this home was somebody’s prize procession, they also had to follow the laws which stated that the cabin was built on the private property of a nature refuge and therefore the house was illegally constructed. Andre and his team left an eviction notice for the occupant and walked away from the cabin, giving the owner time to leave the property.
They Returned to a Complete Surprise
Shortly after, on a later date, the authorities returned to the cabin to check in on the occupant and to ensure they were leaving the premises. However, to their surprise, there was no cabin to be found.
Not a Single Trace Left Behind
The owner of the wooden cabin hastily dismantled and packed up all of their belongings before the authorities returned. According to one of the environmental service rangers, "That’s the cleanest camp cleanup I’ve ever seen… There wasn’t a nail, not even a gum wrapper left behind." The only thing that was left was a poignant message for authorities.
The Occupant Had Left a Squatters Symbol
The only thing the inhabitant of the secluded cabin left behind was a charcoal-drawn squatters symbol. The symbol, which originated in 1979, symbolizes the occupants of an abandoned or unoccupied building or area of land. Sadly, the person who left the symbol at the site of the cabin was making a clear message to the authorities that this had been their home.
The Simple Life
Although the authorities never figured out who lived there, the clues to who did certainly paint the picture of an impressively artistic person who enjoyed their solitude, a classical novel and being surrounded by nature.
A Mysterious Safe
While rummaging through her grandaunt’s house after inheriting it, one German woman stumbled upon a big, old rusty metal trunk. Although she had no idea what was inside, she knew the contents had to be valuable because of how the safe’s heavy bolts were locked tight.
Nervous to Uncover the Contents of the Safe
Sitting in the empty house and being face-to-face with her grandaunt’s secrets, the woman was certainly apprehensive about the contents of the heavy, metal box. As the safe was so securely shut, anyone would be spooked to open something that was obviously meant to stay closed.
How Would She Open It?
At a glance, the woman knew she would have a difficult task on her hands if she tried to open the safe, which led her to worry about what could lie inside this mysterious box. Fortunately, luck was on her side and she finally found the key.
Unlocking the Safe
Even though she had the key, the rust covering the safe made her doubtful to whether or not she would be able to open it. But as soon as she tried, presto! The safe was open, as if it was still the century that the safe had been crafted in.
Inside the Safe
When she open the safe, the woman noticed nothing surprising jumping out at her. In fact, all she saw was an empty tray, but knowing that something could be hidden beneath the tray intrigued her more. Why would her great-aunt have gone to such great lengths to hide her belongings?
She Continued Her Search
When she lifted the tray, the woman discovered some random objects inside that made her question why her grandaunt would hide them in such a secure location. Surely an old tin of Nivea moisturizer wasn't so valuable that it should be under lock and key.
A History of Personal Belongings
Inside the safe’s second compartment lay a bunch of old photographs, postcards and books. It was only when the woman examined these items more closely that she discovered something surprising about her grandaunt’s past.
What She Knew About Her Grandaunt
The woman knew that her aunt had fled Russia in the 1940s during the Second World War and settled in Hamburg. However, her life in Germany during this time may have been controversial if she felt the need to hide these belongings from her family for years.
A Closer Look Shocked Her
The woman did not recognize all of the faces in the photographs however, she did unsettlingly recognize the title of one of her aunt’s books, Adolf Hitler’s "Mein Kampf."
Disturbing Facts
Although publications of Hitler’s book are not limited and copies are easy to find, the fact that it was in her aunt’s possession during the time of Hitler’s reign concerned the woman. After doing some research, the woman could tell that the book was published in 1943, just before the end of WWII.
Is It Worth Selling?
A book like this could be auctioned for its historical context and could possibly sell for approximately $350. However, the book is still a manifesto for Hitler’s ethnic cleansing and represents the brutality and terror of Europe when he was in power, so the woman felt torn about profiting off of it.
She Found Classical Books
While rummaging through her aunt’s belongings, the woman also came across a much used, dog-eared copy of the classical novel, “Rob Roy” by Sir Walter Scott. The simple feel and smell of the book made the woman feel like she was back in time.
She Even Found Disney Classics
Among these books and photographs, the woman’s grandaunt even had a copy of the novella "Lady and the Tramp," before it was adapted into the screenplay we all know and love.
"Lady and the Tramp," The Book
The copy of “Lady and the Tramp” found in the secretive, metal safe was published in German in 1953, just two years before the release of the movie. It baffled the woman to think why a Disney classic would be hidden away with Nazi paraphernalia.
She Questioned Who Was in the Photos
Looking through the many photographs hidden away in the safe, the woman was not exactly certain who was staring back at her but she guessed that the young girl was her grandmother. Even so, she was emotionally moved just looking at the faces of her family from the past.
She Found Photos of Her Young Grandfather
The woman was emotional to find pictures of her grandfather in the 1950s while he was in his prime and riding a motorbike, bringing her face to face with her own family history.
She Found More Photographs From Hitler's Reign
While continuing her search through her aunt’s sentimental belongings, the woman found photos of young boys who seemed to be part of Hitler Youth— an organization for young boys within the Nazi Party.
She Didn't Recognize Their Faces
Already shocked to find photos of young boys who had been recruited by the Nazi Party, the woman was confused as to who the people in her great-aunt's photographs were. Trying to identify the faces, she assumed they had a close relationship with her great-aunt and may have been family members because of how safely the pictures were kept for decades.
A Stack of War Membrobilia
As well as finding books from Hitler’s reign of terror, her niece also found a plethora of war related documents. Among the memorabilia, she found political propaganda, media articles and plenty of war related postcards.
Postcards From the War
The woman’s grandaunt had a postcard from 1916 of a soldier kissing a woman before he left to fight in the war. The sad truth behind her aunt's personal belongings is that most of the contents were related to war, showing us the heartbreaking reality of living in Europe during that time.
Under the Watch of the Nazis
Hidden away in the safe, the woman’s grandaunt kept many postcards that clearly showed the Nazi government stamp on that back. In Germany during the time of Hitler’s reign, these stamps were necessary when sending mail which meant that the government always kept tabs on what you sent and who you were sending it to.
Postcards with Recruitment Tactics
Another postcard that the woman found dated back to the First World War and showed two models posing as a soldier and a nurse in order to motivate young men and women to enroll in these professions.
News of the War Printed on Postcards
As there was limited access to media outlets such as radios and newspapers, news of the war was printed on postcards to bring as much coverage as possible to people. This postcard shows an image of a house destroyed in the war and below it reads, "A House Destroyed by the Enemy."
She Even Kept Her Moisturizer Tins
Going through her grandaunt’s belongings brought the woman in touch with the reality of 1940s Germany, especially when she came across her great-aunt’s tins of Nivea cream. It was unknown to her niece why she kept these safe, but nonetheless, they were a time capsule into the past.
German Propaganda
This image, also found in the safe, shows the Kaiser's heir (German emperor) during World War I. Pictures similar to this one would have been commonly placed in German households to show respect for their ruler.