# found wallet from the 70's **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 12, 2007, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-wallet-from-the-70s/387659 "2007-01-12T03:35:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2007, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-wallet-from-the-70s/387659/261 "2007-03-01T20:06:23Z")
[QUOTE=cainxinth] One of my friend’s grew up in a house that was owned by Muhammad Ali for a few years in the 70s. They found a few thousand dollars in cash under the wallpaper. [/QUOTE] Nice. That’s one of my fantasies now that I’m working on our house… We pulled paneling down in the daughters room this last weekend, and someone had spray painted a peace sign, a crude representation of a cross, and the words “Peace and Love from The Great One”. I’m really wondering what else we’re gonna find. I’m hoping cash. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2007, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-wallet-from-the-70s/387659/262 "2007-03-02T01:51:33Z")
[QUOTE=cainxinth] One of my friend’s grew up in a house that was owned by Muhammad Ali for a few years in the 70s. They found a few thousand dollars in cash under the wallpaper. [/QUOTE] My aunt and uncle used to keep lots of cash in their house. My uncle, who later lost his memory, hid it all over the house. After they died and the house was sold, workmen who were demolishing it found thousands of dollars in the walls. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2007, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-wallet-from-the-70s/387659/263 "2007-03-03T02:45:09Z")
I’ve been following this thread since the beginning. I love it! [QUOTE=hajario] That reminded me of something that I haven’t thought about in ages. When my mom got the living room of our house re-wall papered in the 70’s, we were allowed to write notes in pencil on the walls first. My sister and I wrote our names and drew pictures. [/QUOTE] This made me remember this bit on Happy Rhodes’ [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Rhodes) page, in a section about why she paints monsters even though her music is gentle and sensitive: > [@](#): > > "…I realized at some point that I painted monsters to be my friends and protectors. They were always kind souls who would rip to shreds anyone who tried to hurt me. > > I sketched monsters throughout my adolescence, **then when I was 14 I convinced my mother to let me paint a monster mural on my bedroom wall. It was about 7 feet tall, had horns, one leg ripped off, demonic eyes and taloned hands with twisted fingers. Oh - and long pointy teeth of course.** The monster on my bedroom wall was named, “Alice.” It was male not female. My brothers’ friends would always ask to come in to see it. Later in my teens I started painting monsters on canvas. I was never a good painter but it was a great hobby for me at the time. I painted a monster on the saddlebag of a motorcycle. I took a picture of it and it became the album cover for Rhodes I. > > I continued painting monsters all over my room-some original and some from Dungeons and Dragons. When my mother sold the house a year later, I had to paint over every single one of them. I used two coats of primer and two coats of paint and Alice still kept bleeding through. **Someday some poor little kid is going to wake up in the room and see the faint outline of a horrible creature staring at it.** She gave me the address of the house and I had thought briefly of writing and asking the owners if they’d ever uncovered the monster paintings or, if they did in the future to take photos because they WOULD be important to future music historians, but I chickened out. They’d probably just think I was crazy. A more likely goal is trying to track down the guy with the motorcycle saddlebag. He already knows she’s nutso for monsters. I desperately want to own that saddlebag. I already own the original painting from her 2nd album. I bought it on ebay. ---
**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2007, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-wallet-from-the-70s/387659/264 "2007-03-03T03:52:54Z")
A few years back I had a friend who owned a building in downtown Ypsilanti Michigan. He had a business downstairs and was renovating the upstairs to live in. He showed me a stretch of smooth plaster where workmen had signed their names in black paint over a hundred years earlier (someone even drew a penis, as I recall). Pretty cool. What was even cooler was that I recognized one of the names-- [Winsor McCay](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winsor_McCay). ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2007, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-wallet-from-the-70s/387659/265 "2007-03-05T21:37:15Z")
Saturday we pulled down more panelling. Written under one piece, in faded red marker, was the command “Finish this room!”. Under the panel to the right of that was someones doodle… bubble letters saying “home”. It made my wife a little sad. ---
**Author:** ![theOldGoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6f9a4e/32.png) [@theOldGoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/theOldGoat)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-wallet-from-the-70s/387659/266 "2007-03-06T19:57:04Z")
How sad. i was so looking forward to seeing a conclusion to this caper. …And yes, I am a longtime reader, first time poster. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-wallet-from-the-70s/387659/267 "2007-03-06T22:40:06Z")
[QUOTE=theOldGoat] How sad. i was so looking forward to seeing a conclusion to this caper. …And yes, I am a longtime reader, first time poster. [/QUOTE] Welcome to the SDMB, **OldGoat**. But we ain’t beat yet! ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2007, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-wallet-from-the-70s/387659/268 "2007-03-08T00:44:49Z")
While we’re sitting around waiting for Donald Ivens to show up, I thought I’d share something I did at work which was inspired by this thread. The mess deck at the station where I work was carpeted. The carpet was very worn and needed replacing. We decided to replace it with a nice ceramic tile and got started a few weeks ago. As we were ripping up the old carpet, we discovered all the notes and comments written on the plywood sub floor, left by the crew that laid the carpet. Things like "Call me when you find this - I might be single by then! - signed, [name]. As I read all the comments, I thought of this thread. When it came time to lay the new tile, we had decided to get a little fancy a lay in a nice seven foot compass rose made of different colored tile. It actually points to North. So I’m thinking, what great place to leave something for people to find decades later. So, under the compass rose, I placed a treasure map. It’s not really a map, per se; it’s actually a maneuvering board. Basically, it’s a large piece of paper that kind of looks like a RADAR scope. I drew the compass rose in the center of the paper, and an arrow pointing north-west. I drew three circles, representing trees, and in the center of those trees I drew a big “X”. North-west points directly at the park outside the station, and the three tree are visible through a window when you stand directly on the compass rose and face NW. Now I just need to figure out what I’m going to bury in the park. ---
**Author:** ![King\_Friday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@King\_Friday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Friday)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2007, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-wallet-from-the-70s/387659/269 "2007-03-08T02:09:54Z")
I just came across this thread and am riveted! I’m just glad I didn’t pick up on it January 11th, I’d have pulled my hair out by now. ---
**Author:** ![Vision\_of\_Love](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Vision\_of\_Love](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vision_of_Love)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2007, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-wallet-from-the-70s/387659/270 "2007-03-08T05:56:07Z")
[QUOTE=Hal Briston] [Under the wallpaper I removed from my daughter’s room](http://sirblah.com/photo/view.php?album=Mount%20Holly/Renovations/Shaylas%20Room&mode=&pic=SBR10.JPG&picindex=8). And add me to the list of those dying to know how this turns out! [/QUOTE] I’m such a stalker. > [@](#): > > **Hoist Your Own Sails** > Self-Directed Employment for People with Disabilities > > Dennis C. Rizzo & Elizabeth M.Van Houtte > > Self-employment is a viable option for > people with disabilities. This guide cov- > ers the essential areas to consider when > starting your own business. > > 26 pages ♦ ISBN 1-883302-35-8 Source: [http://www.trninc.com/pdfs/04Catalog.pdf](http://www.trninc.com/pdfs/04Catalog.pdf) (PDF) ---
**Author:** ![Keweenaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Keweenaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keweenaw)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2007, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-wallet-from-the-70s/387659/271 "2007-03-08T14:04:18Z")
[QUOTE=Scruloose] Now I just need to figure out what I’m going to bury in the park. [/QUOTE] How about your wallet. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2007, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-wallet-from-the-70s/387659/272 "2007-03-08T20:57:58Z")
[QUOTE=Vision of Love] I’m such a stalker. Source: [http://www.trninc.com/pdfs/04Catalog.pdf](http://www.trninc.com/pdfs/04Catalog.pdf) (PDF) [/QUOTE] That’s amazing…\*\*Hal \*\* should send them a photo of the wall and their names. I bet they’d be amazed to get it. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2007, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-wallet-from-the-70s/387659/273 "2007-03-08T21:30:26Z")
[QUOTE=LunaV] That’s amazing…\*\*Hal \*\* should send them a photo of the wall and their names. I bet they’d be amazed to get it. [/QUOTE] Yeah, but then they would know where their stalker lives. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2007, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-wallet-from-the-70s/387659/274 "2007-03-08T22:43:51Z")
[QUOTE=Keweenaw] How about your wallet. 🙂 [/QUOTE] Believe me, that thought has crossed my mind. Or maybe **filmyak** will let me bury Donald Ivens’ wallet. I haven’t decided whether I’ll bury the ‘prize’ in the park, or go into full ‘Da Vinci Code’ mode and bury another clue leading elsewhere. I have a few years to decide. ---
**Author:** ![BW\_Morrison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba9def/32.png) [@BW\_Morrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BW_Morrison)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2007, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-wallet-from-the-70s/387659/275 "2007-03-08T23:34:11Z")
[QUOTE=Tristan] Nice. That’s one of my fantasies now that I’m working on our house… We pulled paneling down in the daughters room this last weekend, and someone had spray painted a peace sign, a crude representation of a cross, and the words “Peace and Love from The Great One”. I’m really wondering what else we’re gonna find. I’m hoping cash. [/QUOTE] Years ago I took down a wall to turn two small rooms into one large room and found within the wall $180 in brand-new, crisp $10 bills that were dated 1953! ---
**Author:** ![lizardling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@lizardling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizardling)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-wallet-from-the-70s/387659/276 "2007-03-09T00:16:48Z")
[CNN article about a lost class ring found 20 years later](http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/02/20/ohio.ring.ap/index.html) It’s not a wallet, but this is really cool. An ex-CIA officer went cave diving off Mauritus, and lost her class ring. 20 years later, some guy from Germany found the ring in the cave and returned it. 😃 **Scruloose** , that is a supremely cool plan. I’d love to be whoever finds your map later! Of course… it might be so far in the future that the park might have disappeared - mosiacs seem to last a long time. But that’d still be really cool. ---
**Author:** ![jimbeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/858c86/32.png) [@jimbeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbeam)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-wallet-from-the-70s/387659/277 "2007-03-12T04:25:21Z")
**Scruloose** how about burying a copy of this thread with whatever else you decide? ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-wallet-from-the-70s/387659/278 "2007-03-12T05:16:41Z")
Any reply from the Social Security Administration’s letter forwarding service? ---
**Author:** ![filmyak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@filmyak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmyak)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-wallet-from-the-70s/387659/279 "2007-03-12T09:41:26Z")
OK, I’ve been bad. Totally lazy, haven’t followed up on this in past couple of weeks. I think some of the wind went out of my sails, my apologies. (Having a newborn at home isn’t making it any easier, either…) So. Let me get back on it, follow up like I said I would. Tick, tock… ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-wallet-from-the-70s/387659/280 "2007-03-12T15:36:06Z")
[QUOTE=lizardling] [CNN article about a lost class ring found 20 years later](http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/02/20/ohio.ring.ap/index.html) It’s not a wallet, but this is really cool. An ex-CIA officer went cave diving off Mauritus, and lost her class ring. 20 years later, some guy from Germany found the ring in the cave and returned it. 😃 [/QUOTE] I had a lost class ring returned to me about 5 years after I lost it. It had dropped behind a locker in the mens locker room at my high school. Another student had his go to the same location, and when he went looking for his, found mine. I was easy to find, as I was still working in the supermarket where he also worked (I worked there through college). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-wallet-from-the-70s/387659.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-wallet-from-the-70s/387659.md?page=15)