Discovering Hidden Rooms in Old Houses: A Secret Passage to Adventure

It's no secret that old houses have a mysterious history. Sometimes, they can hold secrets that are as elusive as they are fascinating. Imagine finding a hidden room in your own home, like the secret portal in a child's closet or that one lady's hidden space in her century-old house. Here, we explore the idea of hidden rooms in old houses and share some fascinating stories from history and personal experience.

A Secret Room in My House

I reside in a unique house that stands at over a century old. This curious dwelling has seen many a transformation. It was once a roadside bar, dining establishment, campground, and even served as apartments before the housing codes sealed off the third floor. The absence of external stairs marked this floor as off-limits, and the inside stairs were similarly blocked. However, one peculiar feature remains concealed and it's hidden within my closet.

In the side of my closet, there's a magical portal that my four and five-year-old boys adore. It's a secret door that opens up to a set of hidden stairs, allowing them to race up and down, creating a thrilling sound reminiscent of distant thunder. The thrill of this secret discovery is palpable, as they proudly showcase their achievements and the secret access to their friends. However, it's also a bit confounding for visitors, who often need help navigating the portal in reverse.

While that sounds a little eerie, it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility. Considering the vintage and creativity of old houses, the chances of there being a hidden room are high, as evidenced by the experiences of others who have stumbled upon such spaces.

Is It Possible in Newer Houses?

Even if you built your house yourself, like I did with my husband, the odds of there being a hidden room are relatively slim. By the time you've completed detailed blueprints, it's unlikely that any hidden spaces remain. I've even checked crawlspaces, and they're typically a mix of pipes, foundation joists, and dirt with no secret access anywhere to be found.

But there are instances where secret rooms are discovered even in newer homes. A notable example is a 99 percent chance that you would be wrong in assuming a hidden room isn't there. It happened to one particular lady, showcasing the unpredictability and hidden possibilities within the structure of old houses.

Other Hidden Spaces in Older Houses

Hidden spaces often come in the form of storage rooms or passageways that are not immediately obvious. For instance, a cold storage room measuring 6 x 18 feet off a corner of the basement, or a 3 x 10 space under the stairs, are not typically accessible without a hidden door. These spaces can be remarkably secretive and add to the charm of an old house.

Crawlspace explorations can also provide insights into the hidden elements of a house. While I've inspected mine for pipes, foundation joists, and dirt, I didn't find any secret rooms. The floors usually lack the structural integrity to accommodate such spaces, making them inaccessible and undetectable from above.

Conclusion

Discovering a hidden room in an old house can be a thrilling and unexpected adventure. Whether it's a magical portal in a closet or a storeroom beneath the stairs, these spaces add character and intrigue to any home. While the chances of finding a hidden room in a new house are low, the possibility remains, especially in the more mysterious and historically rich structures.