cleaning out my parents attic

chrisinhouston · 02-13-2009, 04:07 PM

Last week I finally cleaned out my parents attic. Since the both died last year I am busy trying to get the house ready to put on the market at some point. The attic has been the final resting place for many things and some of what was left was put up there in 1966 when the bought the house.

Among other things I went through 3 or 4 mostly empty trunks that my grand parents used when they returned to England from China in about 1928; the trunks were used again when they came to the USA in 1957. Most of them had all kinds of stickers saying Cunard Line and White Star Line from the ships. My dad told me that my grandfather had ordered them while in his last post in Beijing from the Montgomery Wards catalog.

In one trunk I found many old newspapers from England. They were special editions of the Times with feature stories on things like King George V Silver Jubilee, his death a year later and several papers and magazines covering the coronation of his son Edward VIII. They are all in pretty amazing shape considering they are around 74 years old and were in an attic that got hot in summer and cold in winter.

You never know what you will find. This was pretty cool.

TheMercenary · 02-13-2009, 04:11 PM

WoW, I would be interested in anything you had with photos of old rugby matches. Would glad to make a deal for them and pay shipping.

Juniper · 02-13-2009, 04:13 PM

Pretty neat.

My condolences. I still have to clean out my mom's condo and she died a year ago December.

ZenGum · 02-14-2009, 03:52 AM

If nothing else, stick those trunks on eBay. There is a good chance they are valuable. Leave the stickers on.

xoxoxoBruce · 02-14-2009, 04:04 AM

Might as well sell them, the elephants are probably dead by now.

bluecuracao · 02-14-2009, 04:20 AM

That's a hard thing to do, chris, I know. But it is really interesting finding stuff while you're doing that, and thinking about the history of your family while you're at it. I'd keep it all if I were you.

Crimson Ghost · 02-14-2009, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluecuracao

That's a hard thing to do, chris, I know. But it is really interesting finding stuff while you're doing that, and thinking about the history of your family while you're at it. I'd keep it all if I were you.

Definitely keep it all.

Get archive bags for the papers (at a comic book store).

Cloud · 02-15-2009, 10:21 AM

Keep one or two things that mean the most to you; sell the rest on ebay.

Radar · 02-15-2009, 12:23 PM

Antiques Road Show!!!

DanaC · 02-15-2009, 01:55 PM

Oh cool, do you guys have that too?

xoxoxoBruce · 02-15-2009, 01:57 PM

One of the most popular shows on PBS.

DanaC · 02-15-2009, 01:58 PM

I used to love watching that

Shawnee123 · 02-15-2009, 02:39 PM

I saw a great episode last week...amazing the things people have just laying around that end up being worth something.

I really love the end parts, where they talk to folks who are laughing saying things like "I brought in my great grandmother's emerald brooch...turns out it came from Dollar General and is worth a buck fifty."

02-13-2009, 04:07 PM	#1
chrisinhouston Professor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Houston TX Posts: 1,857	cleaning out my parents attic Last week I finally cleaned out my parents attic. Since the both died last year I am busy trying to get the house ready to put on the market at some point. The attic has been the final resting place for many things and some of what was left was put up there in 1966 when the bought the house. Among other things I went through 3 or 4 mostly empty trunks that my grand parents used when they returned to England from China in about 1928; the trunks were used again when they came to the USA in 1957. Most of them had all kinds of stickers saying Cunard Line and White Star Line from the ships. My dad told me that my grandfather had ordered them while in his last post in Beijing from the Montgomery Wards catalog. In one trunk I found many old newspapers from England. They were special editions of the Times with feature stories on things like King George V Silver Jubilee, his death a year later and several papers and magazines covering the coronation of his son Edward VIII. They are all in pretty amazing shape considering they are around 74 years old and were in an attic that got hot in summer and cold in winter. You never know what you will find. This was pretty cool.

02-13-2009, 04:11 PM	#2
TheMercenary “Hypocrisy: prejudice with a halo” Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Savannah, Georgia Posts: 21,393	WoW, I would be interested in anything you had with photos of old rugby matches. Would glad to make a deal for them and pay shipping. __________________ Anyone but the this most fuked up President in History in 2012!

02-14-2009, 03:52 AM	#4
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	If nothing else, stick those trunks on eBay. There is a good chance they are valuable. Leave the stickers on. __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

02-14-2009, 04:04 AM	#5
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Might as well sell them, the elephants are probably dead by now. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

02-15-2009, 10:21 AM	#8
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	Keep one or two things that mean the most to you; sell the rest on ebay. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

02-13-2009, 04:13 PM	#3
Juniper I know, right? Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,539	Pretty neat. My condolences. I still have to clean out my mom's condo and she died a year ago December.

02-14-2009, 04:20 AM	#6
bluecuracao in a mood, not cupcake Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 3,034	That's a hard thing to do, chris, I know. But it is really interesting finding stuff while you're doing that, and thinking about the history of your family while you're at it. I'd keep it all if I were you.

02-15-2009, 12:23 PM	#9
Radar Constitutional Scholar Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 4,006	Antiques Road Show!!! __________________ "I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death." - George Carlin

02-15-2009, 01:55 PM	#10
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Oh cool, do you guys have that too?

02-15-2009, 01:57 PM	#11
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	One of the most popular shows on PBS. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

02-15-2009, 01:58 PM	#12
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	I used to love watching that

02-15-2009, 02:39 PM	#13
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	I saw a great episode last week...amazing the things people have just laying around that end up being worth something. I really love the end parts, where they talk to folks who are laughing saying things like "I brought in my great grandmother's emerald brooch...turns out it came from Dollar General and is worth a buck fifty." __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

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