Homeowner uncovers long lost childhood toys, reunites them with family

A homeowner in the US has reunited a family with their long lost childhood toys following a moving clean.

The owner, who did not disclose their identity, detailed the heart warming moment in a post to the popular Old House Explorer Facebook page. 

The series of unlikely events occurred a week after moving into their Philadelphia “Trinity” house – a three-storey row house with one room per floor.

“I began cleaning behind the first floor radiator. Among all the dirt, leaves and oddball junk were two curious items wedged between the grill and wall – a little toy truck and a baby rattler with the names Bob and Judy,” the owner wrote.   

“I showed them to the prior owner,  who had been here 30+ years and they weren’t hers.”

Undeterred, an online search revealed the truck as a Corgi Toys “Tobler” truck from 1959. The baby rattle with “Bob & Judy” proved a tough find. There were no details.

Then, fate stepped in.

“Several days ago my wife returned home from walking pooch to find a mid-aged couple looking up at our house,” the owner shared.  

“They’re from Boston and he was a little kid here from 1960 – ’68.”  

The man had a “very sketchy memory” of the house. 

He shared that he and his three siblings, and parents lived at the home – four on the third floor and mum and dad on the second.

After finishing a tour of the house, the present homeowners showed the couple the truck and baby rattle with the handwritten names on it. 

The mystery was instantly solved.

“His eyes went wide, “that’s my parents name!!,” the owner wrote.  

“We offered him the items however he felt they belonged with the home.”

An hour after the man’s visit, he confirmed the trinkets were indeed from his family.

“He confirmed with his mum, still alive, that she loved playing with her kids by the window… and he emailed me this photo from 1962,” the owner shared.

It’s not the first time a homeowner has uncovered items after taking over the keys.

Earlier this month, an owner sparked debate online after discovering old currency inside their property.

The five cent coin, dated 1943, was found behind the mantle of their fireplace.

Meanwhile, last month, a homeowner in the US made an unexpected discovery while renovating their stately fixer-upper.

The owner revealed they found a doorway to the spare room hidden behind wooden panelling.