A Michigan family set out to fix a water heater and ended up finding a treasure trove of century-old relics in their bathroom.
The items include wooden dominoes, a business card for a music store dating back to 1907, a publication printout from 1913, a cutout of Jesus and a playing card from the Milton Bradley game “Game of Luck.”
Also found was a metal piece that makes different noises, said Jesse Leitch. He lives in the Grand Rapids home where the items were found with his partner and her two daughters and thinks the metal piece is part of a music box.
Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.
“They thought it was pretty interesting too, especially the little music box thing,” he told USA TODAY Wednesday afternoon. “They like playing with that and making songs with it.”
A metal piece found in a Michigan home in 2024. A member of the family who found it, Jesse Leitch, suspects it is part of a music box.
Plumbers made the discovery last month. Leitch found out there was a water issue at his home in mid March and his water heater failed, so they had plumbers come out to gut the home’s plumbing system and make adjustments to a bathroom upstairs.
“They were cutting into the ceiling in my bathroom,” Leitch told USA TODAY. “As they were cutting into the ceiling, they saw these items kind of sitting … on top of the ceiling boards.”
He suspects the oldest item the plumbers found is a business card for a music store. It dates back to at least the early 1900s because the music shop moved away from the address on the card in 1907.
A business card for a Michigan music store. The card is from the early 1900s.
‘I’ve been living under this stuff and had no idea’
When the plumbers told Leitch about the items they found in the ceiling, he “was fascinated,” he said.
“I knew this house was old,” he said. “It was built in 1910, I believe. I’ve been here for 15 years. I’ve been living under this stuff and had no idea.”
A card from “Game of Luck,” a Milton Bradley game. A Michigan family found the card, along with other items dating back to the early 1900s, in their home in 2024.
His favorite among the items tucked away in the home’s ceiling is a handwritten note from someone named Gertrude, he said.
“Hello, Ruth,” he said, reading the note. “This is just the way Ethel looks now with her hair up on electric curlers. You remember Helen Stuart? Well, she says ‘hello’ to you, so does Anna. If any of the professors see Ethel, they’ll put her in the museum.”
At the top of the note is a drawing of Ethel with curlers in her hair.
A handwritten note found in a time capsule in a Michigan home in 2024.
Leitch likes the note because of its personal connection. He also said Helen Stuart matches a name on a local grave.
“It seems like she could’ve been alive around that time,” he said.
The plumbers also found toys such as wooden dominoes and a mini cast iron skillet.
The family had fun plans for the mini cast iron.
“We’re going to clean that up and try to cook some tiny food over a tea light,” Leitch told USA TODAY, adding that they’ll likely make stir fried veggies.
He plans to contact the Grand Rapids Public Museum to see if the organization is interested in the items the plumbers found. He’s also considering putting some items back in the wall with a note saying where the items came from.
He thinks there may be more items stowed away in the home since they only cut into a small area.
A publication printed in November 1913. A Michigan family found the printout, along with other items, in their home in 2024.
A publication printed in November 1913. A Michigan family found the printout, along with other items, in their home in 2024.
The find is pretty neat and somewhat relates to what he does for work, the data processor said. He works for a land survey company and has to read deeds and historical records.
“I’ve lived in this town my whole life and my dad lived in this town his whole life so we just kind of feel connected to this place anyway,” he said.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or email her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Plumbing repairs lead to startling discovery of century-old treasure hidden inside Michigan home
News Related
-
Anyone who’s purchased gift baskets to hand out to loved ones this holiday season might need to find a backup present after the latest food recall that involves festive cookies. Gift basket company Wine Country Gift Baskets just announced that it is voluntarily recalling all gift baskets that feature Acorn Baking ...
See Details:
Recall Just Announced For Popular Cookies Featured In Holiday Gift Baskets
-
LOS ANGELES: Quarterback Jalen Hurts ran in an overtime touchdown to give the Philadelphia Eagles a 37-34 NFL win over the Buffalo Bills Sunday (Monday in Manila) and move them to 10-1 on the season. The Eagles, who lost the Super Bowl to Kansas City last season, trailed at half-time ...
See Details:
Eagles rally past Bills in overtime as Chiefs win
-
Yen Makabenta First word WHILE UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and other promoters of the climate emergency are preparing to convene the 28th conference of the parties (COP28) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in the United Arab Emirates, starting on November 30 and stretching to December 12, ...
See Details:
Reality bites the green energy agenda
-
Sandigan orders Marcos Sr. pal to pay workers The Sandiganbayan has ordered the enforcement of a July 2023 ruling ordering a Marcos Sr. associate to pay a lumber company’s workers P2.1 million in damages as well as return 60 percent of their company’s shares and pay all unpaid benefits. The ...
See Details:
Sandigan orders Marcos Sr. pal to pay workers
-
DSWD: Shear line, LPA affect 1.2 million people; over 18,000 families evacuated MANILA, Philippines – More than 18,000 families have fled to evacuation centers across flood-affected regions in the country due to the impact of the shear line and low pressure area. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) gave ...
See Details:
DSWD: Shear line, LPA affect 1.2 million people; over 18,000 families evacuated
-
-
MANILA, Philippines: The entire Luzon, including Metro Manila, is expected to experience isolated rain showers and thunderstorms as the northeast monsoon (“amihan”) and easterlies will be affecting the country over the next 24 hours, the state-run weather agency said on Tuesday. Weather specialist Patrick del Mundo of the Philippine Atmospheric ...
See Details:
Rain showers, thunderstorms over Luzon, including Metro Manila — Pagasa
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
'Naruto' live-action film adaptation is in the works
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
NASA Highlights Stingray Nebula
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
Manila's Lagusnilad underpass opens
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
China probes debt-ridden financial giant
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
China's VUCA situation
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
Unraveling the mystery that is diabetes
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
Bangladesh's nuke plant is not going to steal PH investments
OTHER NEWS
ALIW Awards Foundation Inc. President Alice H. Reyes has released the names of finalists for the 2023 Aliw Awards to be presented on Dec. 11, 2023, at the Manila Hotel ...
Read more »
WhatsApp Web gains the feature of single-view photos and videos (Photo: Unsplash) The WhatsApp Web, the desktop version of the popular messaging app from Meta, has received an update allowing ...
Read more »
Young athletes’ time to shine in Siklab Awards MANILA, Philippines — The future heroes of Philippine sports will be honored during the third Siklab Youth Sports Awards on Dec. 4 ...
Read more »
Graphics by Jannielyn Ann Bigtas A local government official said Monday that five to 10 barangays in Northern Samar are still isolated following the massive flooding in the area last ...
Read more »
DyipPay app lets you pay jeepney fare, book tricycles “Barya lang po sa umaga.” Everyone who rides jeepneys knows this rule: it may not be an actual law, but it’s ...
Read more »
Updated In-Season Tournament Bracket ahead of pool play finale Tuesday will mark the last day of pool play for the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament. From there, six first-place teams and ...
Read more »
PCG forms teams for maritime emergency response MANILA, Philippines — Recent incidents of fishermen lost in the waters off Southern Tagalog have prompted the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to form ...
Read more »