An unexpected flood leads to a bizarre discovery
Cathy and Roy Aukamp, who recently moved into their New Jersey home, were in for an unusual surprise. Just two days after their arrival, a severe storm flooded their basement. While removing the water-damaged plasterboard, Roy unearthed a hidden stash of empty Captain Morgan rum bottles. As he scooped the bottles out, Cathy could be heard laughing and saying, “Thirsty?” Roy, on the other hand, was less amused, shaking his head as he continued to dig. “It’s five o’clock somewhere!” Cathy quipped.
Cathy shared the peculiar find on Instagram, explaining that a massive rainstorm had flooded their newly purchased home, leaving more water than the ground could absorb. “This is what we found in the walls of the finished basement when removing ruined sheetrock,” she wrote. The video quickly went viral, drawing attention from hundreds of thousands of viewers.
The incident prompted numerous jokes on social media, with many referencing the classic song “99 Bottles of Beer.” Comments included: “Lmao 99 bottles of rum in the wall,” and “98 bottles of rum in the wall, 98 bottles of rum…” One user remarked, “You bought a house from Captain Morgan himself.”
The story came full circle when the previous homeowner reached out after seeing the viral video. “The person who did it saw the video and said there are hundreds more,” Cathy revealed. “But also that he is now three years sober.”
Watch the video here
Other bizarre home discoveries
The Aukamps’ discovery is not the only recent example of unexpected finds in home walls. In February, residents in Santa Rosa, California, found 700 pounds of acorns hidden by pests in their walls. In May 2023, a first-time homebuyer in Centennial, Colorado, discovered snakes living in her house walls.
The Aukamps’ story highlights the surprising and sometimes humorous realities of homeownership, as well as the unexpected remnants of previous residents’ lives.