Yesterday I got to meet with Jill and John Tucker (son of Idora Cooley Tucker- daughter of Harry Cooley, owner of the house in 1953). He and Jill are the family members who most recently lived in the house, moving to their own place down the road in 2016. He took good care of the house, especially since he is a painter by trade. I look forward to hearing more of their memories.
John showed me this little cupboard door, deep in a closet. Hand-hewn, it could be as old as ~200 years, but also could have been added after that. Amazing to imagine all the hands over the years that have opened that door; it is historically relevant.
The closet is located in the upstairs front bedroom of the '2nd House' (the section above the fireplace room). It will be carefully removed, saved, and hopefully reused in the rebuilt house. John says the secret passageway is located more towards the front of this closet.
Thank you John!
Jill and John, I tried to take this out but the screws are painted in. My niece's husband Jim came over and suggested I take out the whole door frame (instead of just the door) along with the green wide boards on this side of it. That will be my next attempt. Definitely want to save this!