After renting all their lives, husband and wife James and Mandy Fisher were ecstatic to have finally saved enough to buy their first home. The property was an old historic Victorian building that needed renovations but had good bones.
While the couple knew updating the home would be challenging, they were excited and ready for it. But both James and Mandy had no idea that hiding behind the calm exterior of the house was a dark secret that had been left hidden for decades.
A Dream
The couple had been married for five years and searched for a property ever since. They wanted to settle down before they began to start a family, and when they found the abandoned Victorian home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, it felt like they could finally turn their dream into a reality.
Mandy and James were ready to leave behind apartment living and wanted a proper space for their energetic dog, Scout, and the future kids they planned on having. And while the couple had no experience renovating properties, the historic home had a price tag that they couldn’t say no to.
Moving Day
And despite the competitive market and being first-time homeowners, the couple closed the house within the asking price. For Mandy, this felt like a good omen, and for her, this was the perfect place for the couple.
And while James wasn’t as spiritual, he too was amazed at how smoothly the entire process of buying the home had been. And within a month, the couple had packed all their belongings and moved into the house.
Hatch
Since James and Mandy had always lived in apartments, the giant Victorian home with its high ceilings, large windows, and plenty of outdoor space felt like a true treat. An avid cook, Mandy loved the large kitchen and plenty of storage options.
And, of course, since the home was a few hundred years old and hadn’t been adequately renovated, it did have a few quirks and details. But as Mandy began unpacking the kitchen, she noticed a small hatch on the floor.
Locked
It was flush and almost blended into the floor, which probably explained why Mandy hadn’t noticed it during her home walk-through. Intrigued about where it led, she tried to open it slowly, but the latch wouldn’t budge.
It was as if it had been sealed shut from the inside. Mandy quickly told James about the hatch, and he also tried to open it but wasn’t successful. And with both of them tired from their big moving day, they forgot about the hatch and rest.
Slow Down
The couple was planning on spending years on the property and weren’t in a hurry to spend all their energy uncovering every nook and cranny of the place. So, they had a quick dinner and decided to go to bed.
But while the couple were at peace with their decision, their dog had other ideas. All night, the pup kept barking and scratching. And while that was expected since Scout was in a new environment and bound to be agitated, this just felt different.
Furniture
It looked like there was a specific spot in the room that had all of Scout’s attention. And at times, he would growl and bark as if something was there. But both Mandy and James didn’t give Scout’s warning any attention and tried to calm him down.
The next day, both were sleep-deprived, but it was time to start moving furniture around to make the house feel like home. And Mandy knew precisely where to start. The kitchen had a significant and old-fashioned cabinet that wasn’t practical or pretty.
Door
So, after a quick breakfast. They started slowly sliding the cabinet to the side, but when Mandy got a look behind, she shrieked away! Hidden amongst the cobwebs was a small door with a heavy padlock!
James also spotted the door and swiftly moved the hutch aside to get a better look. This door wasn’t in any of the building plans, and while the small latched hatch in the floor was a small detail, this door looked far too significant to have not been told about!
Mysterious
It almost seemed like the last owner was trying to stop anyone from entering the door since it had several locks in front of it and a heavy padlock. And, of course, the cabinet in front of it further proved that point.
James quickly took pictures of the door and sent them to the realtor while Mandy figured out how to unlock it. While both were slightly startled by how the door was hidden, they assumed it was either a pantry or a cellar door.
Won’t Budge
But after trying all the keys, the door still wouldn’t budge. And within minutes, the realtor messaged back, and she was just as shocked as the couple to see the door. She promised to research more about the door and get back to James as soon as possible.
In the meantime, James decided to use reasonable old force to open the door, but no matter how hard he tried, much like the latch, it didn’t budge. Annoyed and frustrated, he decided to give up.
Dog
But their dog, Scout, seemed highly agitated. Much like the night, he kept barking and growling, but this time all his attention was directed toward the strange door. The dog, known for being calm, was anything but, and no matter how many times Mandy and James tried to calm it, the dog refused to listen.
He finally stopped barking only when Mandy picked Scout up and took him to another room. While the couple wasn’t superstitious, all these small odd discoveries were making them rethink buying such an old and abandoned property.
Lights On
They both discussed it and concluded that they were just paranoid and that a good night’s sleep and a warm bed would help them think clearly. So, James turned on the heating for the first time, and the couple cuddled in bed and slept well.
At least, until Mandy woke up because Scout was again growling, and when she looked at the time, it was 4:11 a.m. And something else was also off, and the whole room had a putrid smell inside it. Mandy quickly turned the lights on but only to find the room empty.
Growled
Scout, though, still growled and barked at a corner. Mandy had no idea what to do and quickly woke James up, who was also assaulted by the smell. Together the couple began investigating the room to find the source of the stench.
And within minutes, he discovered it was coming from the vents! Specifically, a vent was situated on the same wall Scout had been growling at all night. James quickly opened it and was sure he would find some small animal in there.
Looking Inside
But he was shocked when he looked inside. The vent was completely clean! But the rotten smell had gotten stronger, and it was clear it was coming from the ductwork. And despite it being 4 a.m., James and Mandy decided to investigate all of the vents.
They went to each of them, hoping to find whatever was causing the smell, but after an hour of search, they hadn’t come any closer to finding any answers. Only when James checked the last vent in the kitchen did he find something even more peculiar.
Strange Smell
The vent was clean like all the rest, but hidden inside was a ring of old keys, and James had a pretty good idea what door they opened. He quickly showed Mandy the keys, and while James wanted to open the strange hidden door, his wife had other ideas.
She was shaken up by the strange smell and Scout’s barking and felt uneasy in the home, and while she didn’t want to believe it, she wondered if there was a good reason the door had been locked.
Getting Help
She urged James to keep it locked and wait for the realtor to get back to them. And besides, it was nearly 6 a.m at that point, and both were exhausted. James agreed with his wife, and after a good nap, they both woke up to get ready for work and start their day.
Thankfully, the realtor returned to James and explained that the door was indeed to a basement that hadn’t been added to the updated home plans. And that she was sending in a locksmith to help give the couple access.
Forget It
James explained how he had found the keys hidden in a vent and also complained about the putrid smell from the vents. But the realtor was shocked to hear that the vents smelt terrible since they had been recently cleaned and serviced.
While these words would have assured everyone else, James suddenly panicked, and his wife’s words began ringing in his ears. Maybe, the couple should just forget about the smell and the hidden door.
Opening The Looks
When James got home, he was surprised to see Mandy already waiting for him. She had the keys and a determined look on her face. While James had spent the day considering not opening the door, it looked like his wife had come to the opposite conclusion.
Without saying a word, Mandy slowly started opening the looks on the door. And one by one, they clicked open, and with each one, a great sense of dread spread amongst the couple. Not just that, Scout had gone back to growling.
Sinister
But despite all of the dog’s warnings, Mandy continued opening the door, and with a final thud, she removed the padlock and slowly pushed the door open, and suddenly a wave of stink spread in the room.
It was clear something had been rotting away inside the basement for a long time. Together, the couple slowly climbed the creaky and dusty stairs into the basement, and with each step, the smell only worsened. And the dread that the couple was walking into something sinister also grew.
Uncovered
They slowly scanned the basement and saw that it was full of hundreds of jars, and while some contained items the couple recognized, like onions, others had animal remains in them! And due to lack of care, many of the jars had broken and filled the room with a great smell. While this wasn’t the most pleasant site to behold, Mandy and James had honestly expected the worst.
It looked like whoever lived before them was interested in taxidermy and, with all his chemicals left to rot, had created a toxic fume that spread across the entire home. And now, with one mystery solved, it was time to open the hatch in the kitchen. Thankfully, one of the keys perfectly fit it and revealed a small hole in the floor full of taxidermy articles! There wasn’t anything sinister in the home after all, and all the couple had to do was clean out the basement, and soon they could get rid of the smell and finally settle into their home.