Ever peeked into an abandoned home? You might be surprised by what you find.
It’s not our client’s home, but it’s almost identical to where their grandparents lived before WWII, according to the living relatives we’ve traced. Check the photos and comments to look inside, learn more, and see what life might have been like back then.
Based on what we saw inside and its condition, this house was likely abandoned about 30 or even 40 years ago, but it can tell stories from much further back.
There’s even the old house number – 44 Seredkevychi Village, without the street name that was introduced much later.
See the bench under the window? The elderly owners used it to rest, watch the passersby, and chat with neighbors. This little spot was the heart of life in the evening once the work is done.
This timber has clearly stood the test of time — it’s likely over a century old.
The foundation was made of rocks. There’s no trace of concrete there.
The door isn’t locked — let’s step inside and see what we can find
There’s only a corridor and one tiny room.
The room did it all — cooking, living, and sleeping
The icon on the wall hides a secret message from the past… I’ll show it a bit later.
Part of the furnace was dismantled to reuse the special bricks it was made of, and the metal parts were taken away too. Check out our blog post to learn about the central role of such furnaces in family life.
Judging by the type and size of the bricks, they were made before the Soviet era.
I can only imagine the tasty dishes baked and roasted here.
Do you notice anything unusual about this icon? Take a closer look at the next photo to see a message from the past.
See the photos? It’s thrilling — almost as if the original owners of this abandoned house are looking at you.
See the old radio socket? The radio appeared here in the 1950s. That’s also how we can learn about the true local embroidery colors and patterns.
Here’s a bit of the russification influence. The rider is “Grigoriy” from Sholokhov’s novel “Tikhiy Don.”
There’s often a construction year carved on the main beam in the middle of the house. Not here, though.
The old glass jars used for wine and moonshine
This window hides another message.
The photo of the owner’s son in a military uniform is at the bottom. The inscription on the top picture says “the opening of the church in Seredkevychi” in 1989. It was shortly before the Soviet Union fell apart. Church and children— both held a special place.
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Feel free to get in touch if you need help with your family research or would like to visit your ancestral village “virtually.“
Andriy