Owners of historic Kansas home uncover trove of secrets

When Thad and Robin Krasnesky bought a 140-year-old home in Leavenworth two years ago, they got more than they bargained for -- but in a good way.

[wavedog]

"He found the owner's heir, and passed it on."
What an absolute king.

[RevLeigh]

I once bought a house not that old — built in 1963 — and discovered a big cardboard box in a corner of basement behind the water heater. There were old family photos, an 1880s marriage certificate and items indicating the family name and that they were Jewish. They were not related to the people I bought the house from; so the previous owner had lived for years with that box in the basement undisturbed. The last name was unusual, and I was able to research online and find relatives on the east coast. I contacted them and mailed the big box to them. I was glad to give it back to people who it would mean something to.

[Ateliera]

This guy is Restoring an old property, donating to the historic society and donating to animal shelters. This guy is a renovation hero.

[julial]

He deserves that house. He's doing it justice

[tonyfourpaws]

good heavens that's a beautiful home. it's a shame how far architecture has fallen.

[badnavigatorproductions]

What a beautiful home! He found the heir to the cane and pocket watch and gave it to the family, that’s so thoughtful and kind! He really is a good steward of the home.

[SD-nhyr]

Thank you for not removing its history and replacing it with modern tacky design!

[dusty]

As a journeyman carpenter, back in the day it was traditional to leave the plans to the house inside the newel post of the staircase 🤔

[kieribama]

This house was definitely purchased by the right person. This house is so fortunate to have this man to bring it back to life.

[abbyhillman]

My daughter and her fiancé removed an old defunct chimney from an 1800s house to make room for a pantry in their kitchen and found a checkbook from the 1910s, an old sewing pattern, some sewing supplies, old wooden hangers, pieces of clothing, and playing cards from the late 1800s.

[dangeroreilly]

I found an old newspaper while remodeling, and in the sports section, the Red Sox coach was talking about a budding prospect. He had a rookie that seemed to show real potential as a slugger. That was Babe Ruth.

[LiKWiDjay]

That wood work is insane in that house. Its crazy to think back then without all the fancy power tools how they made all that wood work by hand

[fennec]

I live in a 1915 shingle style house, not a lot of treasure like coins or anything, but old windows and doors, woodwork and glass.
Old houses have a warmth and feeling that's worth a lot of treasure in my book.

[eveningstarnm]

He made his community a better place to live. Everyone is happier because of him, and he will have a happier life. This is what happens when people do good things.

[josephbingham]

After a friend's grandfather passed they found a room behind a bookcase. That room had a plastered over space containing a wall safe. With lawyers, family and a safe cracker present they opened it up. It contained the old large currency bills at face value of thousands. The lawyers placed it into a bank at face value. When the family got their share it was only based on the face value and not the collector's value of gold and silver certificate notes. The bank said those deposited bills were just placed at face value and were long gone. Shyster lawyers and bank.

[AmericanPocketWatch]

As a serious American Pocket Watch collector, I can relate to this story more than most. What impressed me the most was the fact that he does not consider himself the "owner" but instead the "caretaker" as am I the caretaker of all my watches in the collection. I have hopes that this house and my watches can be passed down to others in the future so that someone else can be the caretaker of them. Get story.

[jamesslick]

It does NOT need to be a mansion for cool old stuff to be found in an old house! Sometimes construction workers will leave things (like, BEER CANS) inside odd places, (informal time capsules?) I owned a house where I removed one of the mantel pieces so I could restore it. Inside a hollow part of the mantel piece was a 1906 calendar from a local farm supply and feed store (The area is FAR FROM "rural" today!). The house was completed in 1907. Not at all a "mansion", just an 800 Sq. Ft. 2-bedroom, wood frame little "worker's house"! That calendar was OBVIOSLY an "Easter Egg" left by whoever installed the mantel piece!

[jamesslick]

The coins from the attic are worn, So they were not placed there when they were new. Perhaps hidden in panic during The Depression?🤔

[eringemini]

Those 3 books were hidden because in 1907 they were considered highly controversial ( especially for Women to read).

[Prophet_be_her_name.]

The fact that he is hiding current day items for the next owners is a beautiful gesture. I wonder if he needs a roommate? I can be the quiet ghostly tenant in the attic.