Unexpected Finds

During our short tenure here in Charlottesville, we’ve come to specialize in historic preservation.

Old structures can have a lot of built-in secrets, and historic renovation projects can, at times, be like opening a time capsule. Behind every peeling wall, beneath every floorboard, and within the bones of the structure, there are untold discoveries waiting to be made.

These types of projects are often fraught with unexpected challenges, but they can also yield fascinating and sometimes downright surprising finds. These discoveries add a unique layer to the already rich narrative of the building, creating interesting insight into the history of Virginia. Here are some unexpected finds that have emerged during a few of our renovation projects in and around Charlottesville, shedding light on the hidden history of these buildings.

Animal Skeletons & Beehives

When a building sits abandoned for long enough, nature slowly starts to creep in. There’s the usual suspects – unsavory bug nests in the attic, termites, and the occasional rodent. Sometimes, though, there are more unique, surprising, and otherwise gruesome discoveries, and these can rapidly increase the project budget.

At one point during the construction the Historic Boswell Mansion in Chase City, VA, workers found a 134-inch tall beehive nestled in one of the exterior wall cavities. The beehive, which was still very active, had an estimated 150lbs of honey. An apiarist had to come out and spend several days safely relocating the hive, section by section, after which the exterior wall needed extensive reframing and reconstruction. The apiarist estimated that the hive had been in place for around 20 years.

We can only imagine what the honey might have tasted like!

In the same project, one of the back rooms was filled with door frames from the rest of the house, from a previous partial renovation. Unfortunately, water damage and animal infestations left them unsalvageable. But while cleaning up, workers stumbled upon several bird skeletons stacked near one of the windows, offering a quirky glimpse into the building's past.

Forgotten Architectural Features

In many cases, what you see on the surface is just the beginning. As layers of modern construction are peeled back during a renovation, previously concealed architectural features are often revealed. These hidden gems might include intricate moldings, or decorative wallpaper, or stunning hardwood floors that had been covered up for decades.

This gold relief wallpaper was hidden beneath four other layers of wallpaper

And this gold-leaf wallpaper was hidden beneath two other layers.

Unexpected Time Capsules

Discovering time capsules during the restoration of historic buildings is a fascinating part of the process. In one notable example from the Historic Boswell project we uncovered a container filled with hundreds of 1” marble tiles that perfectly matched the tiles in the front porch. After further inspection, we realized the container was likely stored in the attic for almost a century, filled with extra tiles from the original construction.

Tiles from the drawer

....were leftovers from this huge undertaking.

Another intriguing discovery came in the form of a button embedded in the floor of what was likely the dining room. After consulting a historian, we learned that this floor button was used to summon servants during meals, offering a glimpse into the historical lifestyle of the family that built the home.

Our work at The Point Church in Charlottesville, Virginia also provided unexpected insights into Charlottesville’s past. During the demolition of the old church stage and the removal of a defunct pipe organ, workers uncovered vintage newspapers and signs dating back to the 1920s. These relics, hidden for a century, revealed interesting details about local businesses in Charlottesville, including long-gone stores and what a local grocer was charging for food items.

28 cents for a chicken?

An Expert Embalmer, from 1917 Charlottesville.

Demolition of the hallway ceiling uncovered 130-year old gas pipes, a testament to the gas lighting that once illuminated our nighttime world. Alongside the pipes was abandoned knob & tube wiring, suggesting that the church had been renovated in the early 1910's or 20's.

Old Construction Techniques

Historic renovations often involve uncovering construction techniques that were once cutting-edge but are now considered either outdated, or prohibitively expensive to replicate today. Again focusing on the Boswell Mansion project, where a careful examination of the roof structure uncovered fascinating details. The slate roof features a unique curved flare at the base, and each wood rafter was custom cut to follow this exact curve. The rafters occur every 24”, and without the many jogs and the dormers, the building is around 100’ long. We’ll let you do the math on how many rafters were hand-cut to the same exact curve.

The roof curve is subtle, but it's there.

Details like this not only add to the building's aesthetic charm but also serve as a testament to the craftsmanship of previous generations.

Historical Documents and Blueprints

Again at the Boswell Mansion, our team discovered a roll of architectural drawings in the basement. Why it was in the basement is anyone’s guess. Tightly bound and covered, the drawings were dated to 1980 and were the construction documents for the Sheraton Hotel in Luxor, Egypt. The site plan showed Luxor Temple and the ancient Valley of the Kings Necropolis.

We've never seen a site plan like this before.

While historic renovations come with their share of challenges, the unexpected finds are what make them truly exciting. These discoveries—whether artifacts, hidden architectural elements, or secret spaces—serve as a reminder of the long and rich history that surrounds us. Each item unearthed, every feature revealed, adds another layer of depth to our understanding of the past, allowing us to connect with the lives, craftsmanship, and stories of those who came before us. For anyone involved in a historic renovation project, these unexpected finds are a cherished reminder of why preserving history matters.