A Real Barn Find

Reporter: “Ok, last question for today, tell us, Larry, what is the strangest thing you have seen in the forty years of owning Big Larry’s Auction House?”

Big Larry: Well, one story comes to mind. I can’t tell you where the property is, but I can tell you that it became a hush job pretty fast.

Reporter: You have us intrigued, Larry, but you need to elaborate a little more.

Big Larry: It started like most other estate sales. We met with the family of the deceased, and they made it clear their intention was to sell as much of the contents of the house and barn as possible to prepare the property for sale. They had already taken items of sentimental value, and we were clear to do what we needed to do to prepare for the sale. We got to work collecting items in lots and tagging them, making programs, setting a date for auction day, and posting links online.

Reporter: Wow, that’s a lot of work, Larry!

Big Larry: It sure was, but it was less work than it was trying to stop it once it was in motion. It happened the day we started moving the farm equipment and trucks from the barn. Some things you can get running, and others you need to hook onto and pull out. One car looked like it had been there since the dawn of time. It seemed to be rotting right into the ground. We dug out around the back and sides a bit and were able to hook a tow chain around the frame, and we started pulling.

Reporter: Aren’t you afraid you might pull the old car apart?

Big Larry: That was not something we had to worry about that day. We tried digging it out a little more, but that didn’t work. We figured it must be caught up, maybe settled on top of something. Everyone else had called it a day, but I was determined to get this car out. I struggled to open the hood, hoping to look down through to see what was underneath. Boy, did I get a surprise when, before my eyes, I saw a set of concrete stairs leading to a room that held the real jackpot.

Reporter: What, a set of stairs? Leading to what?

Big Larry: The family decided they didn’t want anybody out to the farm after all. I did get generous compensation to keep the details to myself though. Sorry, I guess that’s where the story ends.