If walls could talk - have you ever watched that show on HGTV? Well let me tell you, when the walls came tumbling down this past week in my new studio space, one wall had a lot to say. I was soooo hoping to find something that would give us a glimpse into the lives of the previous owners and the room didn't disappoint!
I knew it was going to be a mess tearing this stuff down, so with protective gear on and hammers ready, we got started.
The first wall we worked on was the one that held all the 'treasures'! Neatly rolled & tied receipts, photos, letters and assorted items such as assorted jar lids, a rusted flashlight, socks (!) 6 different single ones ranging from large to small - I think each family member put one in the wall. I felt a twinge of sadness for this family as the socks were quite threadbare and crudely darned in spots. I believe they had some hard times too from looking through some of the bills and receipts.
There was also a single black shoe - a little girl's and I'm guessing she was about 7 or 8 yrs old by the size of it.
The red 'memorandum' notebook is full of calculations and figures jotted down, a budget perhaps?
The largest photo of the 3 is a wedding portrait and heavily damaged but I may be able to work with it...
Standard postage rate for letters in 1947
I feel so fortunate that we stumbled upon these bits & pieces of the past - my daughter thoroughly enjoyed the experience and marvelled at how unique and 'cool' it was to find things like this in our walls! We've decided that we're going to follow the McKay family's lead and tuck a few small items in before we put up the new drywall, for someone else to find. Please feel free to share ideas or a story if you and your family have done something like that during a renovation, maybe you placed a time capsule in your yard - I'd love to hear about it!
4 comments:
Wow!!--what an amazing experience--I can only imagine the way you felt when you first discovered these treasures that haven't been handled in years!--your heart must have leapt!!
What a special moment!--and how lucky that they have fallen into the right hands! Not a coincidence at all!
Susan
xox
That is really cool, Laura! I so love finding old stuff like that! It's great that you found photos, too, that is really special. I have found (in attics and under floors) letters and receipts, and books, but never photos. It would be great to do some kind of vintage art with the photos . . .
I have experienced this too, the finding of treasures that is! We had to tear down my great-great grandmother's log house (built it the 1860's)after it was struck by lightening and we found so many treasures! Photos, coins, glasses, marbles, jewelry, ornate mirrors, the list goes on and on. All these things stuffed between logs & under floors! Then when we renovated our bathroom in our current house we found a few things within the walls, mostly which seemed to be put there by a small child. Anyway-before we leave this house we've decided we will slide a few things into a jar and put them in the wall through our plumbing access! :) I look forward to seeing the rest of your reno play out!
what an amazing find. i love the old photos and the ledger sheets. truly wonderful....enjoy your blog~come visit!
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