Hidden History

A Historic Home’s Secrets

Walking into an old home, the history and memories made there almost beg to be heard. There’s a sense of belonging to a bigger story. The historic 1919 Bismarck home featured in the October-November 2019 River + Ranch issue exemplifies this sentiment.

Even though the inside and outside of this 100-year-old home looks quite modern, there is still a strong sense of its past. The current owner, Jason Ronsberg, expressed how he and his girlfriend felt when they first moved in. “The house definitely makes a lot of noise. The first few months we felt creepy because we knew it was an old house. We thought we heard something all the time. My girlfriend thought she heard footsteps in the attic.” An old house making creepy noises isn’t a surprise, but what the owners before Jason found in the walls is.

Before Jason bought the house, it was owned by the Redigs. They made several renovations which included opening up the main level and adding a second. Many walls were removed for this project allowing for the hidden to be discovered. Chris Redig explained, “The house has been remodeled several times over the years. As a result, there were small spaces closed off behind walls. The shoe and letter were buried in one of those dead spaces of the house. We found a variety of objects. The letter and shoes were two of the best.” The letter is dated August 16th, 1915 and is written in beautiful handwriting. The shoes appear to be a woman’s pair. Finding the letter and shoes, along with the other items makes one about wonder who left them behind. How were they forgotten? Could the shoes or letter be the answer to the steps heard in the attic? What’s the story behind these items?

The answers to the questions this house poses would be fascinating; however, the truth may be lost to time.