Couple Buys 200-Year-Old Home—Then They Find What Was Left Behind in Cellar
The homeowner told Newsweek she still has not gone through all the cabinets to see how many jars were left behind.
Sommer Duran and her husband Antonio purchased a 200-year-old Michigan home in March 2026, continuing a generational family history with the property. During renovations, they stumbled upon a cellar filled with jars that revealed a fascinating historical puzzle. Sommer, born in 1926, found her great-grandmother's name in the attic, making the discovery particularly meaningful.
The jars, containing various brands and styles from different time periods, intrigued Sommer, who began researching their origins. She discovered an aqua Ball Mason jar featuring the company's old Triple-L logo, believed to date back to the late 1890s or early 1900s. The couple decided not to consume the contents, cautioning against the potential dangers of improperly preserved home-canned food, such as botulism.
Sommer's discovery has turned into a treasure hunt as she identifies and dates the jars, while also discussing the contents with a community on her TikTok account.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
