Most days, a home is just a home. Walls, bricks, doors, windows, and whatever we’ve filled it with. But sometimes, there’s more to it than meets the eye.
In the Facebook group A House With History, curious people share strange things they’ve come across in their own homes or while exploring old, forgotten places. Think secret rooms, hidden tunnels, odd objects left behind—anything that makes you stop and wonder what really happened there.
Here are some of the most surprising finds.
#1 Interesting Newel Post. Seems To Have A Candy Dish On Top. Thoughts??
Was for the “calling cards” I.em the cards everybody carried around to give to the butler to announce their visit.
#2 We All Know What This Is, Right?
Boot scraper
#3 Found In The Attic Of A Condo That Was Once A Very Old High School
Window openers, sometimes they were used to open the transom above the old doors
#4 This Is Interesting. It Appears To Be Attached To The Wall
You can sit down and take your shoes and boots off, after hanging up your coat and hat
Those were the days
#5 These Little Doors Are Located In The Rooms Of An Early 1900s House. Any Idea What These Are For?
People put them in for their cats to be able to get to the cat box and other areas of the house without the heat, leaving the room. They want the door closed and the heat in
#6 Any Idea What The Holes Are In This Old Rustic Door?
those would be musket balls. You can see the powder burn in some top ones
#7 Imagine Having A Manhole Cover Under Your Floor In The Hallway
It used to be an old cistern with water in it. Lotta old houses have them.
#8 Anyone Know What This Is??
Yes we had one for our cellar, to tell us the light were on downstairs.
#9 Typical Radiator But Does Anyone Know What This Feature Is For?
It warms things. That’s pretty much it.
#10 This Walkway Is To A House From The 1930s. Why Do You Think It’s Like This?
It’s a driveway with steps between the tire treads. Used to see that quite a bit.
#11 Old House Mystery. This Is Located At The Corner Of The Baseboards In An Old House. Looks Like It’s Been Painted Over A Lot. Any Ideas What This Is?
It’s a damper for an old gravity furnace. I’d remove it, clean it up, polish it and reinstall it. It would be a lovely talking point! I’ll bet it’s a beautiful brass piece.
#12 What Is This Mechanism In The Floor. Seems To Have Rollers And A Chain
for a chandelier so you can lower it for repair and cleaning
#13 Do You Know What Kind Of Stairs These Are?
These are Witches Stairs. Supposedly Witches couldn’t climb these types of stairs.
#14 Found Inside The Wall. Guess Which Room
These double edge razor blades were found in the bathroom wall. Way back when, the medicine cabinets had a slot in back. It was purposely put there to dispose the old blades which just fell into the wall.
#15 What Are These Slots In The Side Of An Old Stone House Next To A Window?
For shooting rifles through
#16 Hanging Up Over The Doorway Of An Older House. What Is It??
An old glass fire extinguisher filled with Carbon Tetrachloride. Very dangerous.
#17 Mounted In The Bedroom Of An Old House.wh Knows What This Is?
Old tie holder.
#18 Coat Rack?? What Do You Think?
In the 1970s they were called valets—men hung their suit jackets on them when they came home from work and put their pocket contents in the little tray.
#19 Who Knows What This Is? Located In The UK
Digby Lock-Up, also known as the Pepperpot, located in Digby, Lincolnshire. It is a Grade II listed building with historical significance.
Originally a 17th-century wellhead, it is made of limestone and stands 2 meters high.
It may have been used as a lock-up for petty criminals or drunks, especially during the Napoleonic Wars.
#20 If You’ve Seen Our Video On Crooked Chimneystl Then You Might Know What These Windows Are Called
Witches window. They believed witches couldn’t turn and fly through them when they were opened.
#21 Old House Mystery. Found During A Kitchen Renovation. Any Ideas What It Is??
Old wood stove plate lifter
#22 Any Idea What This Wheel Is For? Located In An Old Farmhouse But Doesn’t Appear To Currently Be Operating Anything
My Grandparents had a wheel with a sprocket on it on 1st floor. Sprocket had a chain that went thru floor to stoker in the basement. Turning the wheel caused coal to be fed to the stoker which increased the heat fed up thru floor registers warming the home.
#23 Old House Mystery. What Is This? Found Under Carpeting And Linoleum In A Bedroom Of An 1800s House
It is a hole to allow heat to pass from 1st floor to 2nd floor. I have one in my bedroom of my 200 year old house.
#24 Anyone Know What This Is?
Antique door knocker.
#25 What Is This? Sink Maybe??
It’s a Laundry tub
#26 I Think We All Know What This Is
Old door chimes
#27 Found In An Old House. Do You Know What This Is?
This little device was a grocery list checker. Dates back to the 1920s and people kept it on the kitchen. Probably why these are found during kitchen renovations.
#28 Old House Mystery – Why Is There A Pedal In The Bottom Of This Wall???
My old house in Utah had one for releasing coal down the chute
#29 Any Ideas What This Is?? Pretty Sure It’s Not A Well Or Septic
Old wine cellar of a long gone house
#30 This Very Old Shoe Was Found In A Wall Near The Fireplace. Do You Know Why They Hid Shoes In The Walls? Specifically Why They Hid Them Near Fireplaces?
Often, when a house was being built, a family moving into the house would hide shoes in different places. There were children’s shoes on the walls of the children’s rooms, women’s shoes next to the fireplaces and kitchens. Men’s shoes were hidden in the attic. The purpose of these was to bring good luck to the house and drive away evil spirits.
#31 Old House Mystery. Found During A Kitchen Renovation Of An Old House. Anyone Know What This Might Be?
Canning top. You can mark what you have canned.
#32 Any Ideas What This Is For? Over A Door In A Really Old House
That is 100% for a Bracketed Kerosene Lamp
#33 Not Too Old, But These Were For The House That Had Everything
#34 This Item Was Found In The Basement Of An 1907 Home. Anyone Know What It Is?
For sterilizing preserving jars and bottles
#35 Anyone Know What This Is?
This is a Goffering Iron that was used to put ruffles in clothing
#36 I Have No Idea. Hanging On A Radter In The Basement Of An Old House. Any Ideas What This Is??
An old razor sharpener
#37 1935 Silver Certificate $1 Bill Found During Renovations. Awesome Find!
#38 Any Guess On What This Is?
We had one on our milk crate/ metal cooler left at the door. Its to let dairy delivery person know what you needed
#39 This Is A Very Old Chandelier
#40 Odd Space Found Behind Thus Metal Grate In The Basement. Anyone Have An Idea What It’s For??
Air flow for old furnace
#41 Old House Mystery In The Garage. Any Idea When This Space Would Be In The Garage Floor?? There Is A Small Cover For It But No Idea What It Was Used For
it was probably used for used oil. Back then you changed your own oil and disposed of it on your own. This hole would allow the oil to seep into the ground and it would go bye bye
#42 Anyone Know What Type Of Phone This Is?
This is an A & B phone. You put in your dime and made the call. If they didn’t answer you got your money back. Otherwise your money got deposited and you could continue your call
#43 Found While Removing The Wallpaper. Any Idea What This Used To Be?
Dumb waiter or laundry chute
#44 What Are These Old Pipes In The Backyard Of An Old Cottage?
Oil tank vents, it was common to have them barred in the yard to save on space in the basement.
#45 Old House Mystery. Found In The Basement, What Is This???
If it’s in a very large home could it be a communications center for bells to call servants?
#46 Some Kind Of Fireplace Insert Obviously But Looks Like An Incinerator
Coal heater.
#47 Do You Know What This Is?
A Victorian era wooden toilet
#48 Anyone Know What This Item Is Circled In Red? Found Inside A Wall During Renovations Of An Old House
I’m thinking it was a cover for a latch on a pocket door
#49 Who Knows What This Is?
This is an antique fireplace spit. My understanding is that most old homes had these and were used for cooking.
#50 Anyone Know What Type Of Outlet This Is??
I think that is a receptacle for a Toa intercom station. Early versions had 4 pins; later versions had 2 pins.
#51 Found At An Old House. It’s Round And All Glass. Any Ideas What This Is?
Very old telegraph wire insulator
#52 What Is This?? Sticking Out Of The Baseboard Of An Old House
Gas line that is capped and shut off valve.
#53 I Know It’s A Switch But Why In The Bathroom And For What? Looks Specific
Immersion heater. The thing Dad always used to say “Don’t you be leaving that immersion heater on! I’m not made of money”
#54 Found In The Attic Of An Old House. Any Idea What It Is?
I believe it’s a Yacouba Double Spoon – a symbol of hospitality in traditional African art. It represents 2 very distinct universes that are opposite.
#55 This Is Located On A Narrow Door To The Balcony Of A Late 1800s House. The Knob Moves Up And Down. Any Ideas What It’s For?
Its an old style door lock for young children
#56 Who Knows What This Area Is To The Left Of The Door?
Coal bin
#57 Located On The Basement Ceiling And Making A Humming Noise. Any Ideas???
Probably your doorbell power transformer
#58 Found Hanging On A Lower Level Wall In A Late 1800s Home
Counterweight for a window or sliding door.
#59 Located In The Basement Of An Old House. Any Ideas What This Might Be?
The image shows a Buffalo Forge No. 418 Post Drill Press, an antique tool typically used in woodworking and blacksmith shops, especially in areas without electricity.
#60 Any Idea What This Might Be? Located In The Basement Of An Old House
It was a Landry rack for blanket, and large items, at least that’s what my Granny used the one in our basement for.
#61 Found Inside The Wall Of An Old House. Any Ideas Of What It Could Be?
That’s a ballast for a window
#62 Any Know What This Is? Old Tool Found In An Old House
This tool was used to tighten the ropes on old beds.
#63 Anyone Know What This Is?
Railroad Bridge.
We had land on two sides of the track. Ours was tall enough that we used it as a cattle pass.
#64 This Old Brick Was Found During Renovations Of An 1800s Home. Not Sure How Animal Prints Got In The Brick
#65 What Do You Think? Part Of An Old Foundation?
A home made septic tank
#66 Do We Know What This Is?
If it’s on a chimney, it’s to remove ash. If it’s near the front door, it’s for milk deliveries
#67 Anyone Know What This “Pipe” Might Be Coming Out Of The Wall?
Old gas pipe for a gas lamp
#68 Who Knows What This Is?
Boot scrapper. Sometimes there were grates in front of the door to scrap boots off. The mud would fall under porch
#69 Oldest Support Columns I Have Ever Seen
#70 Ever See A Glass Mailbox Before? This Is Really An Antique And A Pretty Nice One
#71 Anyone Kniw What This Contraption Might Be? It’s On The Bottom Of Every Door In An 1890s House
I think it’s a door closer
#72 Anyone Know What Thus Is?
This is an old intercom system
#73 Any Clues On What This Feature Is Located Outside The Window Of An Old Stone House
This is a urinal shelf
#74 Anyone Want To Guess What This Is?
This is a light switch
#75 Any Ideas On What This Might Be? In A Doorway Of An Old House
Damper for old stove. It would have a chain that would go to the basement where the stove was located
#76 Ever Seen This Before? Each Cutout In The Floor Has A Piece Of Clear Glass That You Can See Through To The Basement. This Is In An Old Victorian
To let light into the basement.
#77 Ever See An Electric Socket Like This One??
Yes I used very long time ago this 2 pin 5amp socket are British standard
#78 This Is Located In A Yard Of An Old House. Never Seen One Before. Any Ideas Of What It Is?
It’s an old boiler!!
#79 Found In A Late 1800s House. Any Ideas?
Gas light, those had a globe sometimes that fit inside those protruding arms
#80 What Is This Thing? Located On An Old Countertop Of An Old House
An anchor for something like a meat grinder
#81 Any Idea What This Is? Located In The Basement Of A Very Old House
Shallow well water pump
#82 Old House Mystery. What Kind Of Outlet Is This??
Grounding outlet for antenna
#83 Found In An Old House. Anyone Know What This Is??
I believe it is telephone wiring
#84 What Is This?? On The Front Door Of A Late 1800s Home
Mailbox door
#85 Ok It’s An Outlet. But For What??
Tandem parallel plug. It’s a normal 2 prong 120volt outlet. However in the early days before plugs were standardized there was a double flat configuration. That’s it. Some will say it’s a 240 outlet. It’s not However todays 15 amp 240 volt outlet plug like for an ac unit shares the same double flat configuration with a ground pin of course.
#86 What’s This? Locates On An Outside Wall Of An Older House
Security system, have one in my home that still works. It’s loud as hell.
#87 Do You Know What This Is?
This was a Servants call bell
#88 Any Ideas What This Feature Is? It’s On A Wooden Beam In A Late 1700s House
I’m thinking for an indoors drying
clothes rack. Used more in winter
months when you needed to dry
your coat, hat, socks, etc.
#89 Do You Know What This Outlet Is For? Typically Used For Two Applications
220 volt heavy amp rating. Used for electric ranges and clothes dryers.
#90 This Interesting Lever Is In A House Dating Back To The Early 1920s. Any Ideas On What It’s For?
Damper for the heat
#91 What Are These Mysterious Slots That Appear To Be Cut Into This Older Stone Home??
This looks like it was constructed as a barn or stable. That being the case, those slits are for ventilation.
Has to do with archery so the archer can send arrows out with some cover. Not relevant anymore but neat.
#92 Secret Space Found In The Garage Of An Older Home. I Wonder What This Was For??
Inspection pit for a car.
#93 What Is This In The Corners Of The Baseboards?
Perhaps its intention is to prevent you from pushing furniture into the corner so the house gets proper ventilation and minimizes mold.
#94 What’s This?? Found In A Dirt Basement Floor
The servants area must have been in the basement. Definitely knob and tube doorbell!
#95 Anyone Know What This Is? Found In The Basement Of A House Built In 1882
Boiler or wood/coal stove