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Couple Uncovers Century-Old Secret in Historic Home
20 Oct
Summary
- An unopened 1914 Swedish letter was found hidden within a wall.
- The letter was addressed to a neighboring house, not the current owners.
- The discoverers chose to frame and display the letter in its original spot.
A routine kitchen renovation in a historic Evanston, Illinois home led to an extraordinary discovery: a sealed envelope tucked away within a wall. The homeowners, Kate and Bill Pearce, found the dusty letter, which was postmarked 1914. After seeking help from social media, the letter was identified as Swedish and subsequently translated.
The century-old correspondence turned out to be from a mother to her daughter, Else, detailing everyday life and family health concerns in Sweden. A surprising revelation came when the Pearces noticed the letter's address was intended for a neighboring property, not their own Queen Anne-style house built in 1899.
Rather than removing the historical artifact, the Pearces opted to preserve its connection to the house. They chose to frame the letter and re-display it in the exact location where it had remained hidden for over 100 years, showing deep respect for the home's rich past.
