$200,000 in old bonds found in basement

A Portland, Ore., man said he discovered nearly $200,000 in decades-old U.S. bonds in his basement and tracked down a descendant of the original owner.

Nicholas Grod said he was cleaning his basement when he noticed that a homemade shelving unit had a leg that did not seem to belong, KATU-TV, Portland, Ore., reported Wednesday.

Grod said he kicked the leg away and discovered a box containing U.S. war and postal bonds dating back to the 1940s. He said the bonds are worth nearly $200,000.

The homeowner said his research identified the owner of the house at the time the bonds were purchased as Wilbert Petterson. He said Petterson and his two daughters have since died, but he was able to track down a grandson of Petterson, Thomas Fagg, living in Tulsa, Okla.

I was really specific with him, too, to say, ‘You know, this is not a joke. I’m not just prank calling you,’ Grod recalled.

Fagg said a package from Grod, including the bonds and pictures of his family that Grod had uncovered during his research, arrived Feb. 1. He said he hopes to visit Portland this summer so he can thank Grod in person and shake his hand.