Imagine tearing down a wall in your new home and stumbling upon a little piece of someone else’s life from nearly two decades ago. That is exactly what happened to Tommi Cullen and her fiancé Jared Tirocchi while renovating their first house in Rhode Island. The couple purchased the property in February of the previous year and moved in shortly after spring arrived. Their unexpected find came during a bathroom remodel when they removed some old paneling and revealed a surprise tucked away for years.
Jared called Tommi upstairs one day during the work, and she immediately spotted a crisp one-dollar bill taped to the wall. At first she thought it was a sweet touch from a previous owner. Then she noticed the handwritten note beside it and checked the date. The message, penned on September 5, 2008, turned a simple renovation moment into something deeply moving.
The note came from someone named Billy who had clearly been working on the house back then. He wrote that it was the last time he would ever hang wallpaper for a person named Pat. With a touch of humor he added good luck to Pat’s new victim. Tommi later shared that the combination of the joke and realizing the note had sat unseen for almost twenty years sent a shiver down her spine.
Further exploration revealed even more traces of the former residents. An older inscription listed family members by name and age along with the beloved family dog prominently featured. Those personal details touched Tommi the most and made the discovery feel like a genuine connection across time. She also came across an old cough drop box that had likely been forgotten decades earlier.
@tommicullen my husband is the new victim, Patty I will make sure to keep up the tradition of wallpapering 💕 follow to see our bathroom transformation 🌷#homerenovation #bathroomremodel #demolition #oldhome #rhodeisland ♬ Scott Street (Slowed Down) – Phoebe Bridgers
The emotional weight of finding these small artifacts inspired Tommi to honor the previous owners. She plans to carefully remove the dollar bill and the 2008 note then frame them alongside the cough drop box. The framed collection will hang in the renovated bathroom as a permanent nod to the home’s history. The couple also intends to add their own Polaroid photo and a fresh message before sealing everything back up for future owners to possibly discover one day.
Tommi decided to share the entire experience on TikTok where the video quickly captured widespread attention. It racked up over 1.6 million views with viewers leaving heartfelt comments about the beauty of the find. Many people wrote that the story nearly brought them to tears while others noted that the house had clearly been loved. Some even shared their own longing to know what new families are doing in homes they once cherished.
Stories like this remind us how houses hold memories long after people move on. Simple acts from the past can create powerful moments of connection for those who come later. Tommi and Jared’s discovery turned an ordinary renovation into a celebration of the lives that shaped their home before them.
What hidden treasures or notes from the past have you ever found in your own home? Share your stories in the comments.
