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THE owner of a creaky 140-year-old mansion has revealed all of the hidden treasure he uncovered during renovations.
Thad Krasnesky has pulled rare coins from floorboards, newspapers from newel posts, and antique books from hidden compartments since buying the home just 40 minutes northwest of Kansas City, Kansas
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“In my mind, if you have an old house, there should be skeletons and hidden treasure,” Krasnesky told CBS affiliate KCTV.
The Leavenworth mansion located in rural middle America is picturesque on the outside, with ornate gables and a spacious front porch.
But on the inside, it’s filled with secrets on par with a murder mystery novel.
Since purchasing the home over two years ago, Thad has been hard at work rooting raccoons out from under the walls and dealing with endless HVAC issues.
During one chore-filled day when he was cleaning up a 12-foot-tall bookshelf in the living room, he found a Civil War presentation cane and pocket watch.
He was able to track down relatives of the previous owners and return the belongings, but this shocking find was only the beginning of the home’s secrets.
“We find stuff everywhere. The stuff we’ve found is just crazy,” he said.
During another day of rehab, he had to take down a large painting to work on the transom above it, which allows light and air to flow between rooms.
After taking it down, he found there was a hidden nook with three antique books inside: The Scarlet Letter, Rebecca of Sunny Brook Farm, and Ben-Hur.
Taking a look at a squeaky floorboard also has led him to an exciting discovery.
“I pulled the carpet up, pulled the board up, and, back in the corner against the fireplace, I saw a little shiny thing in the back,” he said.
“I stuck my hand back in there and pulled it out, and there were two jars of silver coins.”
He’s found many more rare coins since that day, including a quarter from 1916 and a dime from the 1890s.
“I’m like a kid when I get these,” said Krasnesky.
“I just want to sit here and play with them because they sound different than clad coins.”
His latest hidden secret was found in the basement of his home, behind old shelving.
“When we pulled the shelving aside, we saw that there was this metal thing that was bolted into the store,” he said.
“And we’re like, ‘That’s really cool. We should pull that off and see what’s there.'”
It was behind the shelf that he uncovered an entire room that was once completely hidden from view.
The room was completely filled with dirt and debris, but this gave him an idea of how he could get others in on the fun.
Locals with metal detectors now regularly visit the hidden room to help him look for any other treasures that might be below the rocky ground.
Though nothing of great value has been uncovered, the homeowner said that he’s enjoying the ride.
He’s even been replacing some of the antiques with modern-day items to surprise whoever inherits the house.
“Since I do not plan on ever moving ever again, I will stop probably sometime around the time I die,” he said.
