Old homes turn up varied pieces of history often: it slips through the cracks, a forgotten hiding place is found, the trunk moldering in the basement — one that came with the house — is opened for the first time in a century. It’s a bit rarer, however, to come across a find that was deliberately hidden and left in a home for a reason.

Troy Koonce, also known as “Monk,” and his fiancée Mary Bowen found exactly that at 320 N. Charlotte St. Koonce and Bowen stumbled across an interesting find in the attic while doing work for the new owners of the Washington home.

“Me and her are repainting the house, and I was looking for the water heater in the house ‘cause I’m kind of nosy that way,” Koonce laughed. “I like old stuff.”

Koonce said the attic appeared not to have been opened for many years, and when he shined his light around he noticed a something set atop the attic insulation.

“I thought it was a block of wood; I said, ‘Mary, I found something,’” Koonce said.

“He likes looking for stuff like that,” Bowen said.

What that something turned out to be was an old Bible wrapped carefully in plastic wrap. Tucked inside the Bible was a copy of the deed to the house signed Oct. 27, 1924 — the sellers: John G. Bragaw Jr. and his wife Willie H. Bragaw; the buyers: Abner C. Cutler and his wife Zula P. Cutler.

Affixed to the cover of the Bible was a piece of paper reading: “This Holy Bible has been placed here in honor of the Cutler Family. Three generations lived at 320 Charlotte Street. 1924-2009. We ask that this Bible stay with the home.”

It was a note from the past to present, one that Koonce and Bowen were delighted to find, but Koonce is curious as to why the Bible was left at the house.

“They wanted it to stay with the house, or maybe all the family members have passed, or they they didn’t want to take care of it—there’s a million scenarios,” Koonce said.

Koonce is currently reestablishing himself as a housepainter — the house on Charlotte Street is his and Bowen’s first job — but he’s retained not only the skill as evidenced by the home’s interior walls, but memories of past jobs where he’s run across many items lost to time and the joy of returning them to the owners.

“I’ve found old toys, bottles, spoons,” Koonce said. “I’ve had people say, ‘I remember when my Daddy gave me that when I was 4 years old.’”

Koonce said he informed the new homeowners — Cat Hardee and Connie Langley — about his and Bowen’s find.

“I always believe if you find something at a house to return it to the homeowner or the house,” Koonce said. “I’m going to protect it the best I can and present it back to the house.”

Koonce, who has worked in many fields over the course of his life, said after a few rough years that included the tragic death of his son, he views the find as an indication he’s back on the right path — which includes a return to regular church worship.

“This job right here means a lot to me to try to establish something back—I know means a lot to me,” Koonce said. “It’s like a sign: ‘Y’all are doing what you’re supposed to be doing in life. Keep it up, I’m going to reward you.’”

Koonce said he’d welcome any information about the Bible. He can be contacted through Facebook or by calling 252-402-2834.