Daily Happenings from poetsareangels

NASHUA, N.H. — Renovations at a house in Nashua uncovered old newspapers filled with headlines and history.

Ken Steffen found a hidden treasure under layers of old siding in his Kinsley Street home. Editions to The Nashua Telegraph and Boston Post dating back to August 1922 were found inside a wall.

“And right in here, just in the corner, they had packed a bunch of old newspapers,” Steffen said.

Steffen said the papers were probably packed in the wall for insulation or to plug a leak and are not worth a lot of money, but the time capsule is priceless to him.

“Honus Wagner, my favorite one,” he said.

Steffen said he can’t get enough of the photos of baseball legend Honus Wagner. “The Flying Dutchman” was the first face he saw on the tattered pages.

The papers contained headlines including “3 textile mills open gates,” “Yankees increase lead over Browns,” and “Men wanted as machinists, boilermakers and blacksmiths – up to 75 cents an hour.”

“It was just really interesting to see what was going on back then in the industries, the job market and prices,” Steffen said.

Prices for items 92 years ago include suits for $4.95, three cans of foot powder for 25 cents, bicycles for $27.50, and “Drive a sedan home for $650.”

The renovations will start up again this summer and Steffen said he is hoping that peeling back more of the old siding will reveal more treasure.

“Who knows, maybe we’ll find $1 million under there someday,” Steffen said.