Buried treasures behind old walls

When I was about 11 years old, I was helping my dad, a remodeling contractor, renovate a 200-year-old Connecticut colonial that was suffering from a little neglect and a lot of water damage.

As we tore out a sodden plaster wall, he called me over with a wry smile on his face.

As I approached, he reached between the rough-sawn studs and pulled out a badly rusted auger bit, some hand-wrought nails and a few badly deteriorated paper sheets onto which someone had scribbled several dimensions.

Since that day, I've discovered all sorts of things hidden or lost behind walls, under floors, in attics, and every time I'm awestruck to find these relics from the past.

I've found coins, tools, toys, hinges, glass bottles, and once, a circa-1960 Playboy magazine.

(Wonder whatever happened to that?)

More often than not, I'd examine the pieces at great length, and then put them back where I found them. It seems almost sacrilegious to take them.

In any case, I've recently begun to return the favor. Nowadays, whenever I work on a home—old or new—I leave something behind for future generations.

For example, just last week I was building a wall-to-wall bookcase in our guest room.

Before I set the plywood case into position, I put into the raised base a copy of the local newspaper and several 2008 coins.

It's not much, and I plan on being in this house for quite some time, but I bet these few trinkets will be a big surprise to whoever stumbles across them many years from now.

Have you ever discovered a buried treasure during a demo or remodel?

Submit your find to our list. Or just email it to the editor.