The Metal Box
In the community of Glassboro, NJ, sits a two-story building on the corner of the intersection of Main and High Streets. Constructed in the late 1920’s it has lived many lives and many lives have passed through its’ doors. Over the years, it has housed a 5 & 10 variety store, a cab company, a clothing outlet, a small boutique shop, and apartments. The building is now the home of my company, Land Dimensions Engineering, and where the story “begins.”
I came to Glassboro in August of 2003 due to the growth that Land Dimensions was experiencing and the need for larger accommodations. We found them in a 1926 historic bank building located on East High Street and set to restoring it, not only as an office but for posterity. However, this would not be our final location. On the opposite corner of Main and High Streets sits an equally old two-story brick building which housed “Sid’s Discount Outlet,” owned and operated by Sid Myers and whose business has been a part of this community since the late 1970s’. After a few years of negotiations with Sid, this would become our new office, and in the spring of 2017, we would relocate once again. It is now known as “The Real Estate Building” and it would be here that I would make an amazing discovery.
The Discovery
It’s the start of a new work week and I’m asked to meet a contractor for an estimate on renovations. The former “Sid’s Discount Outlet” first floor, will become our new office. As I await the contractor, I realize that I have never really had the opportunity to explore the space and take a moment to look around. This part of the building actually has two separate basements, one of which I had never been in and wasn’t sure how to access. As I begin to explore, I notice a back door at the rear of the store that I knew would lead outside; however, I still couldn’t find a door that would lead to a second basement. Approaching this rear exit door, I notice to the right there was a second door with two signs that read “Danger” “Do Not Enter.”
Naturally I had to open the door to see what was behind it, and there it was, the stairs to the second basement. I assume people were unaware that this was a basement, and immediately behind the door were steps, which promoted the need for the sign. Probably a good idea! I found the light switch and the oldest, rickety stairs I had ever seen. Making my way down the stairs I look around and find it empty, with the exception of an old wooden workbench with a metal box and its’ lid open.Intrigued that this was the only thing down there, I started to look at the contents and realized they were letters. Perhaps they belonged to the former owner Sid, and he had forgotten they were there? I picked up the box and made my way back upstairs to have a better look at the contents and for a name as to whom these items may belong. As I started looking through the box, in addition to personal letters, were a few old paperback books, a writing ledger, correspondence from the military, a small phone book, and two auto insurance policies, among a few other things. As I read the name the letters were addressed to, I realized it wasn’t Sid.