Best Treasure Find I'll Ever Have...But Very Bittersweet

[BLK HOLE]

That is such a cool find!

 

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[Kantuckkeean]

Awesome story and find. Definitely repurpose the chestnut frame. If it’s “wormy” chestnut, that is, chestnut with worm holes in it, then the timber was harvested after the blight had killed the trees. The blight likely went through WV in the ‘20s, ‘30s and ‘40s. A lot of standing, dead chestnuts were harvested by the CCC, because the wood was rot resistant and still useful. If it doesn’t have worm holes, it was most likely pre-blight and could be quite old.

Kindest regards,
Kantuck

 

[Kantuckkeean]

Awesome story and find. Definitely repurpose the chestnut frame. If it’s “wormy” chestnut, that is, chestnut with worm holes in it, then the timber was harvested after the blight had killed the trees. The blight likely went through WV in the ‘20s, ‘30s and ‘40s. A lot of standing, dead chestnuts were harvested by the CCC, because the wood was rot resistant and still useful. If it doesn’t have worm holes, it was most likely pre-blight and could be quite old.

Edit: not sure why it posted twice, but I’d be willing to bet that your grandfather ate quite a few chestnuts before they were gone.

Kindest regards,
Kantuck

 

[trdking]

Ive said it before and here again...Toss the house. There may be more. DO you know where the mirror came from? Did it move with them to the house or did it come from a sale? If the second wife was the hider then she may have stashed more money. If the mirror was acquired then someone else probably hid it and passed away leaving it to be found by you. Either way, I would most definitely keep this quiet from the family. Do not tell them anything. Not to be greedy but people get very weird about money. Nothing but problems from where you least expect it. Trust me. They get weird

 

[fistfulladirt]

Cool story! Personally, i’d just spend the cash.

 

[pulltabfelix]

great find. personal finds like that don't come often.

When my sister's father in law passed and they had to empty the house to sell. in his den he had tons of books. When moving the books to boxes a twenty dollar bill fell out. So the fanned all the books and recovered over $1,000 in bills all 20's and 50's.

I just think some older people of that generation did not completely trust banks. In some of the metal detecting/treasure hunting books I read, they point out different places in the home and yard where old timers hid money.

What I can remember is in the houses they would put silver and gold coins under the linoleum flooring, under loose steps between the step and riser. Outside a fence post hole was a good place to bury money. It often was a fence post that was visible from a window in a room that was frequently used. So when hunting an old home site with a home that is vacant that you can go to, swing the steps and the floor.

 

[trdking]

great find. personal finds like that don't come often.

When my sister's father in law passed and they had to empty the house to sell. in his den he had tons of books. When moving the books to boxes a twenty dollar bill fell out. So the fanned all the books and recovered over $1,000 in bills all 20's and 50's.

I just think some older people of that generation did not completely trust banks. In some of the metal detecting/treasure hunting books I read, they point out different places in the home and yard where old timers hid money.

What I can remember is in the houses they would put silver and gold coins under the linoleum flooring, under loose steps between the step and riser. Outside a fence post hole was a good place to bury money. It often was a fence post that was visible from a window in a room that was frequently used. So when hunting an old home site with a home that is vacant that you can go to, swing the steps and the floor.

The Sewer pipe to nowhere. 30 years or more ago, a friend who was a plumber was doing a home inspection for persons wishing to buy a home from an estate. In the basement he found an old piece of sewer main suspended in the floor joists above capped at both ends looking like abandoned old drain pipe. He said it looked very legit abandoned except that it was angled the wrong way to drain anything to the street. He uncapped it and found gold coins, old paper money wrapped in wax paper and jewelry. Not sure if he kept it or returned it or if it was just a story as I did not see the goods. He did seem far to excited for it to be made up. at any rate people get very creative when hiding their loot, My grandfather had a tip out base board in the hallway. I played next to it for years and when he passed I was tasked with emptying it. I was blown away it was there. You could not tell. Floor safes under carpet used to be all the rage. I found many (all empty )

 

[Digger Pop]

No wormholes so its a pre blight frame. Pretty sure frame and mirror was in the house when he bought the house in 1949. I believe he relocated the mirror from bottom of the stairs to the bathroom he added on the house in the 1960's. Painted the frame with the same paint as the walls and nailed it solid top and bottom to the wall behind the sink.

 

[Kantuckkeean]

No wormholes so its a pre blight frame. Pretty sure frame and mirror was in the house when he bought the house in 1949. I believe he relocated the mirror from bottom of the stairs to the bathroom he added on the house in the 1960's. Painted the frame with the same paint as the walls and nailed it solid top and bottom to the wall behind the sink.

Personally, I’d take the paint off, sand, and leave bare or put a layer of clear on it. Chestnut wood, especially without worm holes, is attractive and uncommon these days, and has its own story to tell.

Kindest regards,
Kantuck

 

[Digger Pop]

Thanks for all the input and comments. I will post a pic of the finished product when competed.

 

[against the wind]

Nothing like finding a Cache of Cash.
Congratulations

 

[Kace]

That is such a bittersweet story! WOW! I'm glad you found them and are going to display them.

That's the way it should be.

Kace

 

[Kace]

Why dont you get a frame made that's wide enough to have a painting of the property painted on it,use two pieces of glass to mount the bills between. In the frame.

Great Idea!

Kace