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Strange Things People Found When They First Moved Into Their Homes

Strange Things People Found When They First Moved Into Their Homes June 1, 2020Leave a comment

When moving into a new home or renovating an old home, you can sometimes find relics from the past, odd and unique items, or if you’re lucky, entire hidden rooms full of treasure from days gone by. And sometimes the thing that you find may be worth a pretty penny.

The Murphy family had no idea what to expect when the San Fransisco house they inherited from their grandparents had a bookcase with hinges on it. And when they looked behind it, they got the shock of their lives…

A Monopoly Board Under the Carpet

Reddit / Nnewel

When a pair of new homeowners moved into their house, they decided to do some renovations and replacing the carpeting in their living room. But, below the old carpet they found a huge monopoly board replication in bright colors and perfect detail, inspiring many other internet users to pull up their old carpets, too. 

Norwegian WWII-Era Bunker

Reddit

A group of university students in Norway were surprised when they arrived at the home they rented and looked into the attic. After finding the small room they took a closer look and found items such as radios, maps, a printing press and copies of a resistance newsletter than was in circulation during the Nazi occupation in Norway. 

An Original 1934 World’s Fair Ticket

Reddit

Hidden in an old cigarette box along with some postal stamps and other small knick-knacks was a World’s Fair ticket from 1934. This item can actually be pretty valuable for resale, so it would be worth holding on to!

Mysterious Hidden Chain

Imgur

Found in a house built in the 1930s, these chains were found during a renovation long after the mystery object stopped being useful. People online have theorized that the chain could’ve been used to move an old dumbwaiter or other elevator-like contraption, but as of yet, the homeowners haven’t identified its exact purpose. 

A Working Dumbwaiter

Reddit

Many people won’t recognize the item in the photo above, which is known as a dumbwaiter. Typically used to bring objects from one floor to another, like a tiny elevator, this invention isn’t really seen in houses built in the 20th century or afterwards. So, imagine the homeowners surprise to find a completely working dumbwaiter in the middle of their hallway!

Trash Bags Full of Hundred Dollar Bills

Imgur

When a newly married couple moved into their new home, they didn’t expect to find thousands of dollars hidden throughout the house. After finding these bags during a basement renovation, they informed local police and tried to find the cash’s rightful owner.

A Safe Full of Treasures

Imgur

Tucked behind a loose panel in a bathroom mirror, this safe was found by a man who recently moved into his new home. Although it was extremely heavy, inside it contained relatively small (but still valuable) items, like rare coins and a wedding ring! 

A Man Living Beneath the House

Imgur

One New York family got the surprise of their life when, upon returning from a vacation, they found a vagrant living underneath their house! The man was able to fit into a small area between their foundation and the ground and snuck into the family’s basement. Thankfully they noticed his belongings outside before encountering the man himself. 

A Prohibition-Era Wine Cellar 

Reddit / The Collection

A family in New Jersey found this secret stash of liquor in their basement and immediately began researching the history of their home. They found out that the impressive collection had belonged to a man who kept his drinks hidden during prohibition, including one bottle of wine that dated back to 1769. 

One-of-a-Kind Art

Imgur

Sometimes people leave a piece of themselves behind for future generations to discover in the form of art, music or words and this artist was no exception. This floor painting with bright colors and bold patterns was obviously someone’s way to make their house feel more like a home and might be worth preserving for the new homeowners! 

Rusty Safe Full of Hidden Cash

YouTube / Inside Edition

After decades underground, this safe had some noticeable wear and tear and some water damage, which lead the homeowners to believe that the safe could have been hidden beneath the house by someone who didn’t belong there. Sure enough, they contacted the previous homeowners, who had no idea about any hidden safe!

A 100-Year-Old Advertisement in NYC

Imgur

Construction workers in the middle of Times Square found a unique piece of history when they unearthed an advertisement offering hotel rooms for just $1 a day. Considering that the writing had laid dormant for over a century, it was still in pretty impressive condition. 

Hidden Tunnels Beneath His Apartment— And His Neighbor's

YouTube / Inside Edition

After finding a trap door in his apartment’s kitchen, an American YouTuber took his camera with him to discover the area below his home. What he found was a series of underground tunnels that were not only under his apartment, but several of his neighbors’ apartments as well. The most mysterious part of all was the water pipes he found below with evidence suggesting that the caves had been used recently. 

A Hidden Room Behind a Bookcase

Ingur

The Murphy family inherited an old mansion in San Fransisco that was built over 100 years ago without knowing exactly what they would find. Surely enough, the pristine house with three floors and expensive furniture also had a hidden room on the top floor where the previous homeowner kept artwork, precious metals and literature.

$50,000 in Cash and Rare Bourbon

Imgur / sarmik

Along with $50,000 in cash, wrapped in twine, a couple renovating their kitchen found a rare bottle of bourbon with a book titled “A Guide for the Perplexed” and a Bingo card. Experts think that the cash may have been involved in a crime considering the way that it was found.

A Sandstone Boulder

Reddit

While touring homes in his future neighborhood, one many found a house built to accommodate one special guest: a giant sandstone boulder! Not only did the huge rock peak out into the living room, it also makes an appearance in the owners bedroom. But, the owner loves it and says that it gives his house a real “old Welsh cottage” vibe. 

An Underground Church

Reddit

A UK couple got the surprise of their life when they opened a metal grate in their home to reveal a Christian chapel in a cellar deep under their home! The space had pews, a large cross and a pulpit. Their home had been used as a secret meeting place for Catholics a few hundred years ago. 

An Uncovered Milk Door

Reddit / d416

In the old days, milk men used to be able to deliver milk directly into homes using these doors. There was a door on the outside of the house as well that could be opened by the milk men, who could place milk and other dairy products directly on your kitchen counters. But, most of them have been covered by recent renovations, so this is an incredible find!

Heart-Shaped Tub

Reddit

After moving into a home that was renovated during the ‘70s, a man found that the bathrooms really lived up to that fact! Complete with shag carpeting and a paneled mirror, the heart-shaped tub really brings the room together! Too bad that this style went way out of fashion many, many years ago. 

A Metal Lunch Tin Full of Money

Imgur

When a couple moved into their dream home, they decided to make a few renovations to their new property. Not having enough cash on hand to hire someone to help them, they decided to tackle the project themselves. Soon after tearing down a tile wall in their bathroom, they found a metal lunch tin from the 1960s hidden in the wall beams. Inside they found over $20,000 and a few similar tins! But, they returned the money to police after discovering that it could have been stolen from a bank in the late ‘60s. 

A Grand Piano

Facebook / Julian Auctions

How lucky would it be to find a beautiful piano in your home that is in working order? That is exactly what happened to one couple, who found an antique piano valued at $10,000 in their new home. But, the owners ultimately decided to keep the treasure in their home.

Original Electrical Switches from 1909

Reddit

When one apartment renter moved into her building, she was surprised to see these ancient electrical switches from the turn of the century still on the wall. Although the switches obviously are not still in operation, they are still kept and looked after to preserve a unique piece of history. 

Handwritten Letters From World War II

Reddit

Sometimes it’s more incredible to find sentimental items than expensive ones, as one family realized when they found the letters their grandparents had written each other during WWII. Inside they were able to read the sweet correspondence between their grandfather and grandmother that was truly heartwarming.

A Fully Stocked Servant's Quarters

Shutterstock

Just like something out of "Downton Abbey," two homeowners who inherited their family's estate found this room behind a pile of junk in the basement. The downstairs kitchen was fully stocked with cutlery, pots and pans, and all of the gadgets a chef would need to create culinary works of art.

An Underground City

YouTube / Inside Edition

A Russian real estate developer bought a marketplace to renovate into an apartment complex, but got the surprise of his life when he started construction. Beneath the market place was an entire town, complete with a restaurant, movie theatre, bar and even a casino. The city was built by migrant workers who were in the country illegally and after it was discovered, the developer decided to keep it completely in tact.