House Update #14: Secret Bookcase!

Last Friday, before the Coronavirus issued social distancing, a couple of people had come over to our house to take a look at the progress since I had recently shared about what was going on with the renovation since the fire. Ironically both of them have very significant ties to my house!

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Visitor #1

The first visitor was Lee Gentine with Mootown Properties. We met Lee shortly after we moved in. My hubby and I were outside raking a years worth of leaves (no joke) when a truck pulled up and the man came over asking how we were liking the house. Long story short, it was Lee and he had renovated our home prior to the people we bought from bought it! I admit I was a little star struck because Lee is the son of the Sargento cheese owner!

While Lee and I were walking through the library he said that he thought he recalled the smaller bookcase being able to open. I told him that we had wondered about that because when we had flown up for the home inspection in December 2018 my hubby found a piano hinge on the side of the bookcase.

Visitor #2

The second visitor was my neighbor and also the sister of the gentleman who renovated my house in the 1980s! …and the aunt to our kid’s principal! Such a small world! I love having so many people know about our house because it helps me piece together it’s history!

That night, Lee texted me after talking with one of the other guys who helped him renovate our house and he confirmed that it did open when they renovated it.

Saturday Clayton and I went to the house to see what we could figure out, using a hammer and scraper to pry off the wood trim along the bookcase. A piece had been added along the bottom front of the bookcase and nails placed in the trim on the right hand side.

By this point I was squealing with excitement!

Of course I had to have some fun! I mean, what kid didn’t dream of having one of these in their house growing up?!? P.S. The Secret Garden was one of my favorite movies as a kid…and while this is a bit different, it’s kind of similar in a way! 🙂

I talked to my neighbor (visitor #2) and she said that her brother loved secret bookcases and doors, so she wasn’t surprised if he added it or refinished it when he lived here.

Where Does This Bookcase Lead?

After sharing our super fun find on Facebook, I’ve gotten a lot of questions asking where it leads. Because I’m a photo person, I’ll explain it with photos!…these photos are mixed. Some are from prior to us moving in and some are from post demo.

Inside the library, there is a full sized door that leads to a closet that is a closet under our staircase. It’s actually the same closet (“room”) that the secret bookcase leads to. I’m not sure if this doorway is original or if it was added at some point. Maybe one day I’ll figure it out!

Before The Fire

This picture below is actually the back side of the bookcase.

After Demo

This is the view when the secret bookcase is opened.

When my hubby and I flew up to the house 3 weeks after buying it (we waited over 3 months to move up from North Carolina after owning it), I found a key hanging on a nail under these stairs! I still have no idea what it goes to, but nonetheless, it was a fun find and hopefully one day I’ll figure out what it goes to!

This is also the room where I found the signatures under the staircase once the bead board was removed. Thanks to my Facebook fans who figured out what it says!

I love this house! Like so so so much! I feel like we put in so much work and gained so much experience in our past 3 houses so I could be rewarded with exactly the type of house I’ve always dreamed of owning! House #4 for the win! 🙂

Thanks for following along!