Sister real estate duo Carla and Gladys Spizzirri had been waiting a long time to take a look at a particular house. After waiting patiently, the property on 148 Jane Street was finally about to go on the market. Interested parties finally had the chance to see what was hiding in the home all this time. All we can tell you right now is that what awaited them was totally shocking…talk about a surprise of a lifetime!
Realtors Couldn’t Believe What This 96-Year-Old Woman Was Hiding Inside Her House
A Regular Home
From the outside, you would think that 148 Jane Street was just like any other house in Toronto, Ontario. The street was fairly plain and simple without any notable landmarks. The area did not have anything particularly notable as well. Regular-looking structures surrounded the home, so it was safe to assume that would be the same for the interiors as well.
A Regular Home
Looking To Sell
Only a couple of people have gone inside this house. The only thing others knew about it was that the same people lived there for as long as they could remember. However, everything they knew about it was not the entire truth. It all started when the realtors received a call regarding a house that the owner was planning to sell. Needless to say, Carla and Gladys needed to see it for themselves first.
Looking To Sell
Just A Regular Day
It started out as a fairly unexciting day at the office where the pair of sisters worked. Everyone there was busy doing the usual stuff, so no one expected that it was going to be a game-changing day for them. They simply went about their day answering the phone, showing houses, and trying to lock clients in. The agency was owned by sisters Carla and Gladys Spizzirri. The two of them did not always work together, but it all changed when they found out how good of a team they were together. When you have such a good thing going for you, your best bet is to keep at it. One of them would look for listings to sell, while the other would talk to potential customers. The tandem was efficient and effective.
Just A Regular Day
Surprising Event
After raking in years of experience, Carla and Gladys knew how the business worked. They were great at the job and liked what they did. They did not get a lot of surprises in the real estate industry, although there are still times when they are taken by surprise. This was one such time.
Surprising Event
The Phone Rings
It seems like even professional realtors are not immune to shock! They did not know it at the time, but this was exactly what was about to happen. They were onto something big, but they did not immediately get that impression. No one ever truly knows what fate has in store, right? Silence befell the office and there was a brief pause before it happened. The phone began to ring. It was one call that changed their lives forever.
The Phone Rings
A Call From A Stranger
The phone never stops ringing at the real estate office, so they took the call as they usually did. However, what made them reconsider things was the person who was on the other end of the line. It was Joyce, an older woman who was looking to sell her home. However, she was not yet sure about it.
A Call From A Stranger
A Secret
Joyce seemed hesitant as she went on to explain her plans to sell her house. They could tell from her tone and the way she talked that she did not like the idea of this. However, they could also see she was one persistent person. Despite everything, she would probably sell the house. However, she told the sisters a secret they did not expect to hear at all. It completely changed the situation for them.
A Secret
A Different Kind Of Emotion
A lot of the people who sell their homes think it is a step in the right direction. That is why many people seem happy when they get in touch with the real estate office. To them, this is the mark of a new beginning. However, Joyce did not seem to be excited nor happy at the idea of losing her home.
A Different Kind Of Emotion
Hiding Something
It is common for realtors to have a sixth sense when talking to their clients. Both of the sisters could tell the person on the other end of the line had a secret. Perhaps it was something that would make it hard to sell the place. They already had previous experience regarding unpleasant things in the past. They knew it could damage the process of selling a home.
Hiding Something
Challenge Accepted
Joyce did not try to hide any of the typical homeowner problems. She did not lie about things like black mold or a malfunctioning water heater. No, the secret was bigger than that. We hope you are ready to learn the truth about her home. Carla and Gladys stuck to their guns and took on the challenge.
Challenge Accepted
No Way To Prepare
After all, they are confident they could list nearly anything. They had always done a great job in the industry and are perpetually looking for new opportunities. Despite all the experience they had under their belt, they were unprepared for what was about to come their way.
No Way To Prepare
Something New
After spending a long time in the biz, they thought they already seen everything there was to see. They had already handled a lot of things that would make regular people give up. However, they were more than capable of dealing with anything. At least, that was what they had in mind before they went to this house. They were trying to come up with ideas about what they would find at Joyce’s home when they got there. Although they had some pretty crazy ideas, it was not something that they imagined at all. Before we go and talk about that, let us first talk about what happened when they got to the property.
Something New
Low Expectations
The sisters already had 3 years of experience in the real estate industry, so they basically knew Toronto better than anyone else. The two of them were known for buying and selling properties in the popular neighborhoods in the city. They were not only experts, but they had the background to back it all up. Every now and then, they would luck out and snag a property that needed minimal work and practically sold itself without their help. Do you think this was what happened? They had yet to find out, but they were not keeping their hopes up. Joyce did not sound keen to sell the property, but the only way to find out why was to go and inspect the home.
Low Expectations
Moving On
When Joyce first got in touch with the real estate agents, she told them something rather surprising. It was definitely going to affect the property and the sale. She hinted that they were going to find something surprising the moment they go through the front door. What could she be talking about?
Moving On
A Living Legend
Joyce was an older woman. In fact, she was 96 years old at the time! Although they were surprised by her age, Joyce was lucid and still had good hearing. Carla Spizzirri thought this was impressive since she needed to speak louder when she was talking to her own grandma. It was amazing that someone as old as Joyce was in such great shape, although this does not hold a candle to the actual surprise waiting for them. Are you ready to hear all about it?
A Living Legend
Their Expectations
When the real estate agents went into the home, they had no clue that there was something unbelievable waiting for them inside. From the outside, it did not look any different from the rest of the houses on the block. However, they were able to see what she was talking about when they finally went through the doors.
Their Expectations
A Looming Disaster
Joyce told the sisters that she had been living in the simple home for seven decades now. Whoa. In those 70 years, she had never touched the house with the sole exception of a single kitchen remodel to upgrade the room. After hearing about this news, the real estate sisters started to dread coming by to inspect the property. There was a good chance that it was going to be in bad shape if it was neglected!
A Looming Disaster
Worst-Case Scenario
When Carla and Gladys made their way to 148 Jane Street, they felt a little skeptical about the whole thing. After all, they were under the impression that Joyce could not have maintained the house in good condition without any help. They decided it was better to prepare for the worst-case scenario.
Worst-Case Scenario
A Hoarder
The closer it got to the day they were dropping by the house, the two of them felt even more worried. Among other things, they were already worried about the effort and time it would take to clean to house if their worst fears were confirmed. One of their worst nightmares was to go to a hoarder’s home. It was entirely possible that Joyce filled the house with debris and junk she collected in 70 years.
A Hoarder
Not All Bad
On the upside, they thought they lucked out on the location of the house. No matter what was inside of it, this fact should make up for it. The area was somewhere the housing prices had been climbing for quite a while already, so they knew they could sell it at a good price. After all, location is one of the most important things when it comes to real estate. After they ended the phone call with Joyce, they started to do some numbers crunching to see how much they could get for the property. The figure they came up with was even higher than they initially thought, so they were pleased to see that it was going to mean profit for the company. At last, the only thing to do then was to find the time to inspect the house and see what had to be done before putting it on the market.
Not All Bad
So Far So Good
Joyce’s house was located in the Old Mill neighborhood of the city, which was considered the ideal location of many Torontonians. The other houses they sold in the neighborhood fetched them impressive prices. However, they had no idea at the time just how much money they could get for it. After doing the calculations, they estimated that the property was worth a whopping $968,000.
So Far So Good
Still So Hesitant
However, they could not say this for sure without first checking out the interiors of the home. They had to factor in the cost it would take to fix it up and bring it to acceptable standards of living. There was one more problem. Joyce sounded incredibly hesitant – could they change her mind and get her to sell it?
Still So Hesitant
Making Up Her Mind
When she contacted for the first time, Joyce did not sound sure about the idea of putting the house up for sale. Understandably, this worried Carla and Gladys. The older woman told them that despite living 72 years of her life there, she really was planning to sell it. We bet it was hard to leave a place after living nearly all your life in it. This was a place full of amazing memories.
Making Up Her Mind
Hold It
The way she talked made the real estate agents pause. Was she actually upset about giving up her home of seven decades? Or could it be that she was not telling them something? Of course, it was natural to feel that way when you leave a place you are attached to. However, if it turned out to be the other one, the agency would have a lot on its plate…
Hold It
Maintenance Issues
Before they made a decision, the two of them made up their mind to drop by 148 Jane Street and conduct an inspection. They knew it would probably need repairs before they could offer it to potential buyers. It all depended on what the maintenance of the house had been like all these years.
Maintenance Issues
Complete Surprise
The real estate sisters scheduled a time and date to go see the property for themselves. This would let them figure out what they had to do to fix it up. They did not expect what they were about to find there. Needless to say, they were taken by surprise when they saw what Joyce had been hiding.
Complete Surprise
Final Answer
Before they could come over and visit, Gladys and Carla could only base their estimate on the address of the home and an image of its exterior. These were not reliable by themselves, of course. There was also the fact that it looked a lot like the other properties on the street.
Final Answer
A Decision At Last
Joyce already came to a decision at last. She was going to sell the home, so the only thing the realtors needed to do was see the place for themselves. At last, it was finally the day to conduct their inspection. They showed up at the address and Joyce greeted them at the front door. The sisters were stunned when they saw what was waiting for them inside.
A Decision At Last
Amazing Interiors
They had no idea what they were about to see nor was there any way they could have prepared for this. After going through the front door, they could only stare at amazement at the interior of the home. It was not at all mundane and Joyce was clearly no hoarder.
Amazing Interiors
Essentially Perfect
As a matter of fact, the senior citizen was a traditional woman who took care of her home as much as she could! The house was completely stunning on the inside. They were also surprised to see how much care went into the maintenance of the house. The home was essentially perfect, from the furniture to the décor to the knickknacks everywhere. It was impeccably clean and sparkling. That was not the end of it, however.
Essentially Perfect
Time Capsule
Carla and Gladys were shocked to see the amazing condition of the house. They even felt like they won the lottery! The two of them did not expect this at all, though they now knew they could sell it a higher price than they even dared to imagine since it was in such great condition.
Time Capsule
The Designer Herself
There was more to the story. The home was practically a large time capsule. If you walk through the front door, it almost felt like you went back to the ‘40s. That was the time Joyce moved into the home and began to decorate it to her liking. She chose the wallpaper, curtains, flooring, furniture, and more all by herself! How cool is that?
The Designer Herself
Something Special
As the ladies took a tour of the house, they were thrilled to see that each room was even cleaner and more attractive than the last one. It was easily the best-maintained and cleanest house the two had ever encountered in their career. It was more than just a regular house – it was a homage to the past! Joyce went through a lot of effort to take care of the beautiful home. They could see why she hesitated. Even though the house was in the best possible condition on the inside, there was something that they immediately thought would be a problem. It was something that could make or break the deal. However, they hoped this was not going to be such a big problem.
Something Special
Huge Problem
They were a little worried since the home was decorated very femininely no matter where you looked! Even though it was well kept and amazing, it was not going to appeal to male buyers since the décor was going to be too floral or pink for most men. The color scheme was going to be an issue if the potential buyer was not interested in putting some effort do redo the decoration. It was going to take a lot of time, money and effort to redecorate an entire home. Among other things, they knew that money could have gone to the fee they wanted to charge instead. The pinks, golds, and purples of the rooms would probably not attract most male clients. Some women might not like it too.
Huge Problem
Very Unique
The most unique room was something of an acquired taste, that was for sure. In the basement, there was a room that came with wood paneling and a wet bar, which made it the perfect man cave. It already looked like this, which meant one only needed to tweak it here or there to make it ideal. Clearly, there was a man who spent a long time down there. This must have been the private space of Joyce’s husband. It probably served as a space to relax on his own or together with his pals. This room must have served as a retreat from all the pastels and florals everywhere else in the house.
Very Unique
Apart From That
The home was nothing short of gorgeous, but you could not say the same thing for the backyard. Clearly, this was one part of the property that saw some neglect. They installed AstroTurf down there at some point, but that was the only landscaping effort to be seen there. Despite the lackluster backyard, Carla and Gladys knew an opportunity when the saw one. They knew they could fetch a great price for this place. The next thing they had to do was get some inspectors over there to check for hidden flaws and other damages that needed fixing before they could sell it.
Apart From That
The Inspectors
A house can look this good but boast of severe problems when it comes to the parts hidden from our eyes. Perhaps there was something wrong with the foundation. Maybe there was mold inside the walls. It is these things that would mean a huge price drop, although Clara and Gladys felt confident that this place was perfectly fine. Despite the confidence they had, it was always possible that something unexpected would turn up. Maybe there was some issue that remained unaddressed for years on end. When it was time for the inspectors to do their work, everyone involved in the situation was in for another big surprise.
The Inspectors
Beneath It All
When the home inspectors arrived at the property, the got to work right away. They searched and scoured every nook and cranny of the house. They checked everywhere and looked for surprises that might be obscured by the old walls or the flooring. There was plenty of places to check, so it took a little while before they were done with it. What they discovered shocked all of them. The house was actually in perfect shape! The house was probably in better condition than it was when Joyce bought it one fateful day in the 1940s. Together with her husband, she took such good care of the home that there was nothing else that needed to be done before they could sell it. In fact, Gladys and Carla only needed to head back to the office and it was all good. This had never happened before!
Beneath It All
It Is On
When Carla and Gladys got back to their office, they placed the house on 148 Jane Street up for sale at the price of $699k. Even though this was undoubtedly expensive, something exciting happened. A bidding war erupted when people saw just how beautiful Joyce’s house was! The potential buyers saw how amazing the interiors are, and they all wanted it for themselves. The bidding went on and on. For the people looking to buy a house in that neighborhood, this was going to be a good choice. In fact, even people who were not in the market to buy one started to tune in to the bidding war. They probably did not need a house, but this incredible homemade them rethink that decision!
It Is On
Blast To The Past
As you might have expected, such an amazing house with such stunning interiors became viral. It was even featured on the news! People tuned in to this fascinating story. Who would have thought that a 96-year-old woman can maintain a place like this all on her own? Of course, the popularity made the price skyrocket some more. For people who had been paying attention to the story, the house probably felt more like a museum than a home to live in. Inside, the house looked like something from the ‘40s in nearly every single way imaginable. Joyce chose not to alter everything that she could still afford to keep intact.
Blast To The Past
Modern Kitchen
Although the place remained largely the same, Joyce confessed that there was one part of the house that underwent renovation. During the ‘60s, she decided to modernize the kitchen to add modern conveniences back then. The original design was, of course, not particularly practical. For her, the only thing she needed was to cook more efficiently. Despite the previous update happening in the ‘60s, all of the appliances inside the house remained in good working order. When you consider how much she took care of the home, it should not be very surprising to hear that this is the case. This made perfect sense to the sisters. It truly was like a time capsule home.
Modern Kitchen
Where She Went
As you might have been guessed from the care she put into the home, Joyce thought of herself as an interior designer. She told the Daily Mail this. If you ask us, she should have taken the calling more seriously in the past because she was pretty darn good at it. However, it was now time to say goodbye to her very own masterpiece that took decades to create. What was next for Joyce? The media got wind of the fact that she was actually selling the home to get the money she needed to pay for a retirement home. She wanted to enjoy her twilight years without having to take care of the home. In the past, she was a seamstress. Can you believe that she managed to make the home look like that even though she never undertook professional training? This was what she told HGTV: “I’ve always tried to be individual, and follow my own styles.”
Where She Went
A History Lesson
Joyce and her husband started to call 148 Jane Street home in 1942. In those days, the Second World War was still going on. Everyone had their minds on the destruction that was happening all over the world. The couple relocated to this two-level brick house and decided to make it their own. A lot of people wanted to know whether the new owners planned to stick to the interior or do a huge makeover. If you ask us, it seems like a huge shame to destroy the hard work Joyce had put into it. To this day, we have no idea what the new owners of the home did with it. The only thing we can assume is that it has been sold since the listing no longer appears. Since it is not a heritage site or an actual museum, the buyers can do anything they want to the place. Let’s hope they do the right thing.
A History Lesson
Not The Furniture
There was a catch about buying the property, however. Whoever ended up winning the auction did not inherit the furniture in the price! We are sure that the furniture pieces played a huge part in the design and feel of the place, so we hope they read the fine print to avoid disappointment. Joyce’s daughter wanted the furniture for herself and got it as part of her inheritance. We bet she has a lot of memories with those antiques that had been there ever since she was young. There is no denying that it impacted how the house must now look. Regardless, we are sure the place is still worth it.
Not The Furniture
After Seven Decades
Joyce was only 24 years old when she moved into the house at 148 Jane Street. She had lived there for seven decades before she decided it was time for something else. She went through most of her life in that home but never failed to neglect the house. The simple brick house looked nothing special from the outside, although her skills at decoration and interior design turned it into something else completely. Joyce spent a huge chunk of her later years in the master bedroom. Despite this, it still looks immaculate. The chairs look like no one ever sat down on them. Meanwhile, the bed looks completely brand new. Who would have thought they came from the ‘40s? Whoa.
After Seven Decades
Pastel Colors
She told the press that her personal design style was tone on tone pieces. She also likes soft colors and matching designs. From the way things looked, she liked the pastel shades of blue, aqua, purple, and pink. It might not look right anywhere else, but it fit her home so perfectly. Thanks to her mastery, the place was both comfortable and inviting. She took her time selecting everything that she put in the house. She paid a lot of attention to detail, so everything goes well together. Photo frames, towels, and toilet seat covers have been chosen with great care to fit with the rest of the room. After seven decades, the house did not look like it was old and in need of repair. We doubt anyone could tell it is such an old place if they haven’t heard about it first.
Pastel Colors
The Intricate Details
The three-bedroom house comes with two bathrooms that have wall to wall carpeting and wallpapers that smacked of the post-war era. Other details include baroque pattern, floral sweeps, gold touches, and metallic wallpaper. You can just imagine how she was able to make these interesting touches work together. There are also fireplaces in the house, which is important to battle the Toronto cold. All the rooms in the house had been planned and decorated with care and consideration. This is the reason it could pass for a museum on its own. The cupboards and hardware were customized and tailor-made. The color choices had been masterful as well. The master bedroom boasted of purple and lilac colors with accents of aqua and fuchsia. Each room came it a color scheme that she chose after much thought.
The Intricate Details
The Best Part
Even though the main floors of the home are gorgeous, the basement might be our favorite part. The laundry room came with wooden cabinets that look amazing with the laundry machines down there. They probably do not come from the same period as everything else in the house, but we do not blame her at all.
The Best Part
Follow In Her Footsteps
Joyce did not only have a blast decorating and caring for the home, but she also maintained it to a standard not a lot of people can achieve. When John Sims bought his new home in Arizona, the owners didn’t leave a meticulously kept home, but rather something much stranger and quite a bit spooky…
Follow In Her Footsteps
New Beginning
In Tucson, Arizona, John had bought a new home. It so happened to be that the previous owner was a friend of his, so Sims knew he was in good company. However, when his friend handed over the keys, he had an odd message for him as well. His friend explained how there was somewhat of a mystery about the property that no one could figure out. Sims had no idea how this little bit of information would unfold to an incredible chain of events.
A New Beginning
So I’ve Heard
Sims’ friend made sure to tell him about the mystery surrounding the backyard. There was a rumor about something unknown that was buried there. Now that Sims owned the place, he could do anything he wanted on the property. As he was moving in his belongings, his mind was racing. He desperately wanted to know more.
So I’ve Heard
Wild Curiosity
Understandably so, Sims was going wild with curiosity as to what could possibly be buried in his new backyard. From the moment his friend told him about the rumor, he became intrigued. Half-jokingly, Sims asked his friend for a shovel. Even though the two laughed it off, Sims knew he needed to gather the right equipment for the job.
Wild Curiosity
A New Project
With a newfound determination to uncover the secret his backyard was hiding, Sims began to set things in motion. He couldn’t help but wonder what he would find, if he found anything that is. He knew the possibilities we limitless. Despite the fact that he would make a mess of his yard, he knew it would only be a minor setback. John knew he wouldn’t be able to let the matter go until he got to the bottom of it. So, he began to dig.
A New Project
Arizona Heat
John set to work on the yard, but it seemed as if the elements were working against him. Naturally, the notorious Arizona heat was in full effect, rising to three digit degrees Fahrenheit. Despite this, John kept going, hoping he would find something worthwhile. Even with his determined labor, he found nothing. Could the rumor have been just that, a rumor? Instead of giving up, Sims kept going.
Arizona Heat
Adjustment
Even though he dug four different holes in his backyard, John came up empty. There was a possibility that even if there was something underneath the surface of the grass that it had already been destroyed or it had collapsed. At this point, despite the disappointment he had felt, John knew he couldn’t give up. He knew he had to begin thinking outside the box. Suddenly, an idea came to him as to how he can locate whatever was in his yard.
Adjustment
The Blueprints
John had found something that would greatly help him in his backyard search: municipal records of the part of Tucson that he lived in. He searched through the documents until he found what he needed. Aside from a record stating the house had been built, there was another thing there. He now had a clearer picture of what to look for. He found a document stating that the company Whitaker Pools built something there in 1961. One thing didn’t add up, however. Why would a swimming pool be built underground?
The Blueprints
Taking It To Another Level
Sims knew he had to refocus his search and be more careful about it. Up until this point, he had just been working based on a hunch. Now he had documentation and he wanted to go about it in a smart way. For this reason, he hired consultants to come over with metal detectors. Things were beginning to get serious. The crew showed up with all the equipment, and they all began to scour the backyard together. At first, they found nothing. Suddenly, the detectors went off.
Taking It To Another Level
X Marks The Spot
John was ecstatic when he heard the metal detectors go off not once, but twice. He marked both spots with an X on the grass. His search was not going to be blind this time around. The professionals he hired helped his focus the search and make it more effective. He quickly began digging up the spots he marked. Soon enough, his shovel hit something. What could he have found?
X Marks The Spot
Lucky Strike
John’s shovel hit something made of metal. He was ecstatic, but nonetheless, he paused. At first, he thought it might be a septic tank and wondered whether to keep digging around it. Now that he discovered something, he had to proceed with caution and work precisely so he wouldn’t cause any damage. Thankfully, he found out that what he found was not what he initially thought it was.
Lucky Strike
The Discovery
It seemed that John had discovered some kind of entrance in his backyard that was shaped like a hatch. He cleaned up around it and then pried the lid open. He made sure not to inhale too much. He had no idea whether there was mold down there or worse, toxic gas fumes. Sims peered in carefully and was amazed at what he saw.
The Discovery
Stairs Below
Under the lid Sims had just discovered just three feet below the grass in his yard was what seemed to be a series of sharp blades. After a closer look, John realized it was actually a spiral staircase leading downward. A lot of people wouldn’t hesitate to explore this newfound discovery, yet John hesitated despite his overwhelming excitement. He had a good reason for his hesitation.
Stairs Below
Safety First
Even if he proceeded carefully, John knew it would be a foolish thing to do without serious preparation. John is, in fact, a fire department captain, so he is well aware of the possible dangers in just climbing down into the underground space. He knew the structure beneath might not be stable. Because of this, he thought of a plan. The only problem was, he couldn’t execute it on his own.
Safety First
The Team
John needed some help with the plan he had in mind, so he called up a bunch of his friends. He wanted to make sure he had the backup he needed in case something were to go wrong. With John’s experience rescuing people, he was well aware that if the old lid were to collapse and fall on him, he would be a goner. Before they would be able to explore what was below the surface, there was an important task they needed to complete.
The Team
The Master Plan
While John was excited to explore the finding in his yard, he knew he wanted to navigate the space safely. He didn’t know enough about what was waiting down below. So, he and his friends made a plan about how to approach the entire thing. They came up with a blueprint as well as a method of how to proceed. They had no idea what they were about to discover.
The Master Plan
First
The first step on their list was to reinforce and fix the concrete structure surrounding the stairs leading down. The stairs weren’t safe with all the rust they had accumulated. Despite the growing temptation to just climb in to find out what was inside, John knew he had to go about this in a smart way.
First
Reinforcements
Sims worked relentlessly with his friends to set down a few layers of concrete and secure the rebar inside the hatch. They needed to make sure the structure wouldn’t crumble when someone would go down there. They kept having to pour new batches of concrete in order to stabilize everything. Throughout the whole process, John couldn’t help but wonder what could possibly be waiting inside the hatch. All the while he had no idea that something was working against him.
Reinforcements
Summer Stench
One factor that slowed down the progress of the team was the unavoidable blistering Arizona heat. What was worse, that no one could know whether the intense and direct heat would affect anything inside the mysterious hatch. In order to protect themselves and whatever was inside the hole, the team put up a tent over the entire project. Around the entrance, they set up a Sonotube cardboard structure so that they wouldn’t cause damage to anything while they worked. After they were done with the cement, it looked like they were finally ready to make their descent. However, they were still missing one thing.
Summer Stench
Preparation
In order to make sure they would be able to illuminate whatever was inside the hatch, Sims and his team installed an electrical line. In addition, they put up a black pipe to funnel in fresh air. At long last, they were reaching their final goal. Over fifty years later, the mystery of the underground cavern would be solved.
Preparation
Ready To Go
Once the team was done widening the entrance, it looked much better than when they had begun. Despite the Arizona heat, they worked on and at last, they were reaching the part they looked forward to the most. John finally felt secure enough to go down and explore his backyard discovery. Everyone had been waiting for this moment, most of all John. At last, it was time to go inside.
Ready To Go
Last Touches
Despite the fact that the outside of the structure was reinforced, the stairs were still not safe. They were covered in rust, and despite the fact that the structure around was fine, Sims couldn’t know what weight the stairs could hold. Unlike the entrance that was able to be reinforced, the stairs couldn’t be repaired from above. The team needed to get inside in order to repair the stairs in any way. Because of this, John had to find an alternative way inside. Nothing could stop him at this point.
Last Touches
Another Way In
John had to figure out a way to get inside the cavern without using the rusty stairs. Since the entrance was too narrow or deep to jump, John could get hurt by the rusty stairs. Instead, he inserted a ladder. Ever since his friend had told him about the rumor, John couldn’t wait to solve this mystery. Filled with uncontainable excitement, he descended the ladder. He couldn’t even begin to imagine what he would find down there.
Another Way In
John The Explorer
As John went further and further down the ladder, he knew he was the first person to be there in over half a century. As he went down into the shaft, he discovered there was an entire complex underground. It wasn’t full of dirt, or anything of that nature. As a matter of fact, it was completely empty. He walked across the floor and through an arched doorway. He would soon see something that would leave him speechless.
John The Explorer
A Bit Of The Past
Inside the chamber, the ceiling appeared to be covered in old fiberglass that was coming apart. As soon as he caught a glimpse of it, he knew the structure was still not fully secure. He and his team still had work to do. If the fiberglass would come apart, it could harm bare skin and impact breathing, but now that John finally knew what was under his yard, there was no way he could give up. He knew there was still more to uncover.
A Bit Of The Past
Long Buried
Underneath John’s backyard, this structure seemed to not have been used by the previous inhabitants. Some wear and tear was to be expected over the course of fifty years with no upkeep, but otherwise, the structure was in great condition. While there was nothing inside it, John and his friends figured out what it once was. While it stated on the blueprints that Whitaker Pools had built the structure, it certainly was not a swimming pool. This structure had a different purpose altogether.
Long-Buried
A Historical Find
As it turns out, the structure underneath John’s garden is a nuclear fallout shelter. It was built at the height of the Cold War tensions between the US and the Soviet Union. At the time, the mass paranoia was on the rise, resulting in bomb shelters being built. Behind the scenes, Whitkar Pools expanded their business services to build something people desperately wanted in the era of the Cold War. Instead of swimming pools in their backyards, people wanted bomb shelters. As John was learning more and more about the structure, he realized he was not alone.
A Historical Find
Tucson
As it turns out, the Tucson area was filled with these kinds of bomb shelters. At the time they were built, it wasn’t seen as overreacting to have one built in the back garden. On the contrary, a man who had one built was seen as a family man just looking out for his loved ones. The nuclear war threat was very real at the time. Aside from this, Tucson had another secret to be unveiled.
Tucson
Missile Town
Once, Tucson, Arizona was home to 18 different ballistic missiles that were capable of traveling across whole continents. Each one was 110 feet long and 10 feet wide. They were able to destroy an area of 900 square miles, with the capability to be launched in just 58 seconds. At the tip of each missile was a 9-megaton nuclear warhead. So Tucson wasn’t just full of shelters, it was also full of weapons. Obviously, this project was kept a secret. Now that the Cold War is long behind us, there is still the question of whether there are still missiles that were left behind.
Missile Town
Disabled
Thankfully, ever since the threat of war breaking out had disappeared, most of the rockets were disabled. Almost all the nuclear shelters in the Tucson area were destroyed or sealed at the beginning of the 1980s when the relations between the US and the USSR were calming down. John’s shelter was built back in 1961, just around the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis – the closest the US has ever gotten to nuclear war. This shelter John had was clearly a historical relic. Only he didn’t know just how big the news of it would become.
Disabled
Cold War
John posted his findings to Reddit and soon after, his story went viral. He was so proud of his new finding and he was sure there were others like him. Thanks to his post’s popularity, he was connected with others in the Tucson area who also had bomb shelters on their properties. Sims’ friends had suggested that he turn the shelter into a wine cellar or a cigar bar. However, John had other ideas in mind. He wanted to begin collecting Cold War memorabilia and furniture to bring the relic back to life. We still want to know, how did he plan on doing that?
Cold War
Raising Funds
To reach his goal of bringing the shelter back to life, John set up a GoFundMe page explaining his story. “Hi, I’m John and I need some help restoring a vintage Fallout Shelter that I have uncovered in my backyard,” he wrote. The interior may be in pretty good shape, but John planned on rebuilding the upper entryway with concrete to secure it before moving on to fixing the inside. In addition, he wanted to replace the staircase. We can safely say that the results of this renovation are amazing.
Raising Funds
Civil Defense Museum
John wasn’t going to just let this amazing discovery go by without him doing anything about it. When he found out it was a bomb shelter, he immediately decided to turn it into a man cave, HAM shack, and a Civil Defense Museum. He began researching the Cold War and what got the civilians of Tucson to build these shelters in the first place. He believed that restoring the shelter could serve as a memorial of the time in history in which it was built. For this reason, he started to find Cold War memorabilia to put on display such as HAM radios, Geiger counters, sanitation kits, and water supply barrels.
Civil Defense Museum
New Stairs
The story John posted online became popular, resulting in it being shared 430 times. This led to John raising enough money to start renovating the shelter. His goal was $2,000, out of which he already made $350. This proved there were a lot of people who believed in his important project. John managed to complete the staircase in a safe way with the beginning of the funds. Now it’s easy to climb down to the shelter without worrying that the stairs would fall apart. To make the process more meaningful, he shared the step-by-step progress with the people who donated money.
New Stairs
Restored
It took a while to rebuild the steps of the shelter and John did not want to cut any corners in the process. He made the top step 2.5 times wider than the other stairs while securing it to the concrete wall as well. After the stairs were rebuilt, the restoration of the inside went more smoothly. People were extremely impressed by this entire process and decided to make a donation to the cause.
Restored