A Virginia girl who discovered a secret room in her house full of a whole lot of outdated love letters from the earlier house owners has now reunited them with the recipient’s household.
Anna Prillaman, 40, from Henrico County, was surprised when she found a hidden door to a blocked off part in her attic, whereas she was doing a little spring cleansing lately.
Inside, she got here throughout a whole lot of handwritten letters addressed to a lady named Betty Sue McGhee – a few of which have been penned by a person named Vance Herschel Lengthy, who professed his love for Betty in them.
Anna, who was moved by the pair’s compelling love story, turned decided to seek out Betty and Vance – or their descendants – and she or he set out on a mission.
A Virginia girl, who discovered a secret room in her house full of a whole lot of outdated love letters from the earlier house owners, has now reunited them with the recipient’s household
Anna Prillaman was surprised when she found a hidden door to a blocked off part in her attic whereas she was doing a little cleansing lately. Some contents of the room are pictured
Inside, she got here throughout a whole lot of handwritten letters addressed to a lady named Betty Sue McGhee
A few of them have been penned by a person named Vance Herschel Lengthy, who professed his love for Betty in them. Betty and Vance are pictured collectively
Finally, by way of the assistance of social media, she was capable of get in touch with their grandson, and she or he has now despatched the letters to him.
In line with Anna, she hoped to seek out ‘treasure’ within the hidden room, however as an alternative, she discovered one thing rather more particular.
‘I noticed there was a door. It isn’t a door that had a key or something it was simply latched on the high,’ she recalled to native information outlet WTVR.
‘I’m an ’80s child, so I watched Goonies. As I’m rummaging by way of the attic, I’m considering there may very well be treasure again right here, may very well be a map, there may very well be gold cash.’
In one of many letters, Vance wrote, ‘Hello honey. How is my child getting alongside? Once we’re not collectively I do know simply the precise phrases that I might use in telling you all the pieces. However after we’re collectively all I can consider is “I really like you.”‘
Though Anna admitted that it felt barely ‘intrusive’ for her to learn the letters, which have been greater than 70 years outdated, she mentioned they left her desirous to know extra.
‘It does pose a variety of questions simply out of curiosity about their love story. As a result of it sounds neat,’ she mentioned.
Anna, who was moved by the pair’s compelling love story, turned decided to seek out Betty and Vance (pictured) – or their descendants – and she or he set out on a mission
Finally, by way of the assistance of social media, she was capable of get in touch with their grandson, Dalton Lengthy (pictured), and she or he has now despatched the letters to him
Though Anna admitted that it felt ‘intrusive’ for her to learn the letters, which have been greater than 70 years outdated, she mentioned they left her desirous to know extra. Betty and Vance are pictured
In one of many letters, Vance wrote, ‘Once we’re not collectively I do know simply the precise phrases that I might use in telling you all the pieces. However after we’re collectively all I can consider is “I really like you”‘
‘I feel the explanation it felt intrusive is {that a} letter written is between two folks and two folks solely.
Anna (pictured with the letters) took to Fb to attempt to discover the rightful house owners, posting in local people teams, and everybody on the town turned invested within the story
‘I assumed, I’m undecided I must be the third celebration that places my head and my eyes on that as a result of it wasn’t meant for me to learn.
‘However upon glancing at these, it was clear [they] wanted to be in the precise fingers and I wanted to determine how I used to be going to seek out that.’
She took to Fb to attempt to discover the rightful house owners, posting in local people teams, and everybody on the town turned invested within the story.
‘Individuals love the story. All over the place I’m going on the town individuals are stopping me like, “Hey you wrote that put up concerning the letters have you ever discovered the household but?”‘ she shared.
‘I feel lots of people placed on their Sherlock Holmes hat and started working.’
After a lot detective work, Anna got here throughout a person named Dalton, who turned out to be Betty and Vance’s grandson. He’s pictured with Betty and Vance as a toddler
She reached out to him, and he revealed that Betty and Vance (pictured) – who have been highschool sweethearts – ended up getting married, and have been collectively for 50 years
Now, Dalton mentioned he’s excited to learn the letters and ‘join on a human stage’ with individuals who ‘aren’t right here with us anymore.’ Betty and Vance are pictured
After a lot detective work, Anna got here throughout a person named Dalton Lengthy, who turned out to be Betty and Vance’s grandson. However he sadly, lived 1000’s of miles away in Portland, Oregon.
She reached out to him by way of Fb, and he rapidly responded and mentioned he ‘would love’ to have the letters.
He revealed that Betty and Vance – who have been highschool sweethearts – ended up getting married, and have been collectively for 50 years till they each sadly handed away.
Now, he’s excited to learn the letters and ‘join on a human stage’ with individuals who ‘aren’t right here with us anymore.’
‘So as to add phrases to that point of their life goes to be unimaginable. I feel it’s so lovely to attach on a human stage with people who aren’t right here with us anymore ?’ mentioned Dalton, who grew up in the home that Anna now owns.
He added that ‘so as to add phrases to that point of their life’ goes to be ‘unimaginable’ that that he’s so grateful Anna helped ‘unite him with just a little piece of his previous’
Anna defined that if she discovered long-lost love letters from her personal grandparents, she wouldn’t have the ability to maintain again her tears. ‘I hope that’s what this household is ready to do,’ she added
In line with Anna, she hoped to seek out ‘treasure’ within the hidden room, however as an alternative, she discovered one thing rather more particular
‘She was capable of finding one thing and discover the opposite finish of it. And I feel not solely is it thrilling for me however I hope it’s thrilling for her to have the ability to unite me with just a little piece of my previous.’
Anna defined that if she discovered long-lost love letters from her personal grandparents, she wouldn’t have the ability to maintain again her tears.
‘I do know that if I discovered letters from my grandparents on my mom’s or father’s facet, I might be sitting there in a pool of tears studying them and cherishing them. I hope that’s what this household is ready to do,’ she added.
‘It’s attention-grabbing the attain this story has gotten with folks being concerned about it. So everybody has that in them. Human connection issues. The previous issues.’
Dalton’s mother lately picked up the field of letters and is now planning on sending them to Dalton quickly.
