Man's Leg Sinks in Backyard of 1900s Home—Then They Find a Buried Structure
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A post about a strange tale of an unexpected discovery in a historic backyard has captivated Reddit users.
Shared by user u/YogurtclosetOld2511 in the r/centuryhomes subreddit, the post titled "My husband's leg went through the yard" has amassed over 3,100 upvotes and hundreds of comments since it was posted a month ago.
"Let me introduce y'all to our latest curiosity, The Grasshole," the Redditor wrote, alongside photos showing two feet beside a gaping hole in a grassy yard and a close-up of the unexpected void.
According to the post, the poster's husband was walking casually through the yard when his right leg plunged into the ground—up to above the knee. "Amazingly, he didn't get hurt," they noted, reassuring readers that they plan to "HAVE IT INSPECTED."
The post arrives amid a broader trend in homeownership. According to a survey conducted by home design site Houzz, money spent on home renovation surged by 60 percent between 2020 and 2023. Median renovation spending climbed from $15,000 to $24,000, with more than half of homeowners spending $25,000 or more on upgrades in 2023. As homeowners continue to invest in modernizing older properties, surprising discoveries—like this one—highlight the architectural quirks of century-old residences.
According to the post, a recently retired city engineer also weighed in, advising the couple that the hole is likely harmless, but recommending it be filled with concrete or whatever a plumber may advise.
The poster shared additional context about the mysterious void. "The specs/more context," the post reads. "Metal aperture is about 18" across. Depth measured at 10'. Hole widens after several feet—cannot tell how expansive it is."
Their home, built in 1900, sits near the outer edge of city utilities and was surrounded by farmland until the late 1950s. The original builders likely relied on independent systems before the arrival of municipal infrastructure. The post suggests that the hole could be a relic from that time. "Best guess is it's an old cistern or remains of a septic system," they wrote. "I'm planning to comb the city's historical documentation for more info."
While urban mysteries like "The Grasshole" may be unusual, they're not entirely uncommon in century-old homes, where forgotten septic tanks, cisterns, or root cellars occasionally resurface.
"There's also a very good chance the previous owners (of 30+ years) didn't know it existed," the Redditor added. "Whatever they capped it with was covered by grass and finally deteriorated."
Interestingly, the hole had previously become a dumping ground—albeit accidentally. "House came with a comically large (6' corner to corner) fire pit constructed of pavers, which of course had all cracked, because they are pavers. We decommissioned that monstrosity, and tossed it into The Grasshole. The ash coated the rustic stone masonry that lines the belly of this beast."
'That's Wild'
While the couple waits on a professional assessment, the Reddit thread drew theories from fellow homeowners and curious observers.
U/meatballglomerulus said: "That's wild. Did y'all cover it with something in the meanwhile so it doesn't become a haunted toad hole?"
U/kbn_ wrote: "My money is on old septic tank but without seeing down into it, really hard to say for sure. It could also be a cistern or even a well, but the cement looks too modern for that type of a shallow fresh water feature. Glad your husband's leg is okay!"
U/tbs3456 said: "10' is really deep for a septic tank. My moneys on cistern/well."
U/ChildhoodSea7062 said: "I wonder if you have a bomb shelter on the property."
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via the Reddit messaging system.
A stock image of a man walk through a grass field.
A stock image of a man walk through a grass field.
Getty
Do you have a home-related video or story to share? Let us know via life@newsweek.com and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Woman Is 'So Done' with Mother-in-Law After 'Constant Boundary Stomping': 'It Began When I Got Pregnant'
Once her son was born, she writes, her mother-in-law stopped respecting her boundaries A woman says her mother-in-law "ruined" her relationship with her — and it began when she got pregnant. In a post shared to Reddit, she writes: "I used to love spending time with her. It was like having a bonus mom. We would hang out, grab coffee, call or text each day. Nowadays, I just feel annoyed when her number pops up or when she comes over." "It began when I got pregnant. Surprise, surprise. It started with her buying us furniture for the baby, despite me clearly asking her to postpone the purchases for just a few days until I've had time to review the items, like we had always done in the past," she continues. But the mother-in-law bought the items behind her back and made her feel guilty for not wanting them. "She also tried convincing us she spent a week researching it all, for her dear grandson deserves only the best," she adds. "It was only a few months later when we told her parts of it were missing that she admitted she never even saw the furniture prior to blindly purchasing it at the store because it was on discount." Once her son was born, she adds, "a year of constant boundary stomping" began. "She constantly gives unsolicited advice. She thinks her way of doing things must be the only correct way, as if nothing has changed in the past 30 years since she had a baby," she writes. "If I dare to point out certain things have changed, she gets offended and defensive, like I insulted her parenting choices by not blindly following her word." Th situation escalated when her mother-in-law went behind her back and tried to sign up her son to a childcare facility without consulting her or her husband. While the mother-in-law apologized, she later brushed off the situation, and now the woman writes that she is "so done." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Others on Reddit are weighing in on the situation, with many urging the woman to take a step back from her mother-in-law. "I can't believe anyone would be that mental to send private documents and sign a grandchild up for childcare. Firstly why does she have access. Secondly, doesn't the school check who's the legal guardians. That's pure insanity. I hope you withdrew the fake application," writes one commenter. Adds another: "You need to have a serious conversation with [your husband] and make it clear that under no circumstances should his mom be around the baby until she changes her behavior or agrees to respect your boundaries. You can't control her, but you can control how you respond and it starts with drawing a hard line." Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Newsweek
Pregnant Rescue Dog Gives Birth, Moment She Attacks Owner Caught on Camera
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A couple who brought in a pregnant foster dog experienced a brief scare after the mother went after the woman, trying to protect her babies. JJ Knight and his partner, Ella, quickly stepped in to foster a pregnant St. Bernard named Daisy. Her previous owner surrendered her due to being unable to fund her birth. They were told Daisy would give birth in a few weeks, but only four days into fostering, the day arrived. She gave birth at the veterinarian's office after the couple took Daisy there for a health check. They learned she was underweight, low on calcium, and had been overbred; this became her third litter in three years. They transferred her from the vet's office, which was closing, to the emergency vet mid labor, as they did not feel comfortable bringing her back home knowing she still had low calcium. "Once the puppies started feeding on her, they could deplete her calcium levels so much, she could end up having a seizure," Knight told Newsweek via email. Daisy gave birth to nine puppies, and despite the health scare, both momma and her babies all survived. They received the all clear to go home, where the couple had a whelping pen ready for her to use. Screenshots from a July 7 Instagram video of a St. Bernard mother attacking her rescuer while trying to protect her puppies. Screenshots from a July 7 Instagram video of a St. Bernard mother attacking her rescuer while trying to protect her puppies. @thegoldenkobefamily/Instagram While caring for this mother and her pups, Knight and Ella noticed Daisy change, almost giving up on her babies, which the couple thought could be because this was her third litter in three years. She stopped feeding the puppies. She kept leaving the whelping pen. Daisy became protective, but not caring, Knight said. That's when Daisy went after Ella one day when she came in to check on them. Their July 7 Instagram video, posted to the account @thegoldenkobefamily, showed a feeling coming over Daisy as she attacked Ella, barking and snipping. "It was strange because we were with her the whole time during the birth, and helped her, and she was more than happy to be helped," Knight said. "Once she had given birth, she was happy for us to place the puppies on her teat for milk, happy for us to come and feed her." Because the puppies were not getting enough food or stimulation, the couple consulted experts and was advised to separate them from Daisy. They began bottlefeeding all nine puppies every two hours, which they said became the hardest nights of their life. Luckily, the couple received help. Another foster parent took in five of the puppies, with another St. Bernard mom who accepted the new babies as hers. Someone else brought in Daisy and a few other pups. Knight and Ella kept three to hand-feed. And now, all nine puppies and Daisy have been adopted. Looking back on Daisy's moment of attack, Knight said Ella didn't take it to heart. "It was scary at the time, but she was just being a protective mother," Knight said. But this incident led Knight and Ella to be more cautious around Daisy, taking precautionary steps to make sure she didn't feel the need to become protective of her babies around them. Knight said they've received hate on Instagram for the incident, with many comments stating the warning signs were there and they meddled too much. But Knight explained the whole story couldn't be told in a three-minute reel. They shared a longer YouTube video, with the help of their strategist Leroy ter Braak, to explain the situation. "We know we did things wrong, but we got as much help from professionals as we could," Knight said. "And at the end of the day, we managed to save Daisy and help her deliver nine healthy puppies, who all survived, so we were really proud and happy about that."
CNET
4 hours ago
- CNET
The 7 Must-Try Air Fryer Accessories Every Chef Needs
It doesn't matter whether you're rustling up an appetizer or cooking a full meal, the humble air fryer can do the job. It's true that sometimes the air fryer can be a victim of its own versatility, and sometimes it's relegated to cooking quick and easy meals. But if you pair it with a useful accessory, you might be surprised at just how capable that unsuspecting air fryer is. In fact, get things just right, and the cooking possibilities are basically endless. There's an entire air fryer community on Reddit where members share recipe ideas as well as their favorite tips and tricks for using their air fryers to their full potential. Among the numerous posts, users also ask for suggestions about which air fryer accessories are worth investing in. I took the guesswork out and tested many accessories, so you don't have to. These seven items are a great place to start if you want to elevate your air frying experience. Amazon Tongs If I could recommend only one item to pair with your air fryer, kitchen tongs would be it. I use them nearly every time I use my air fryer. They are perfect for flipping chicken wings or chicken thighs during the cooking process or removing hot food from the air fryer after it's finished cooking. You'll want to make sure to purchase tongs with silicone tips so that they don't scratch your air fryer and the non-stick coating that the majority of the baskets have. $9 at Amazon Amazon Metal rack with skewers Depending on what you're cooking and the size of your air fryer, a double rack can add more cooking space and allow you to cook more than one type of food at a time. The metal skewers, which sit perfectly on the top rack are ideal for cooking both vegetable and meat kebabs. $14 at Amazon Amazon Baking pans Baking pans can open up the possibility of creating additional types of food in your air fryer, such as breads, casseroles and cakes and minimize the mess created inside the appliance. The handle on the bread pan makes it especially easy to lift out of the air fryer. While these baking pans are on the smaller side, they are perfect for cooking meals for two, reheating food or even making a delicious dip. You can choose between 6-, 7- or 8-inch pans. $17 at Amazon Read more: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know About Air Fryers (but Were Afraid to Ask) Amazon Hot plate gripper Although I was initially skeptical about this tool, I am now thoroughly impressed with its capabilities after testing it. This handy metal claw-like gripper is great for lifting hot dishes out of the air fryer that don't feature a built-in handle. They work especially well with pans and bowls that have a lip. $13 at Amazon Muffin holders Make delicious muffins, rolls or egg bites in this silicone baking accessory. The seven-cup mold is compatible with air fryers baskets that are 5 quarts or larger. The holders are also nonstick, ensuring easy removal after cooking. Amazon buyers love how easy the molds are to clean. (Tip: You can place the mold in the metal pizza pan while it cooks, then use the hot plate gripper to remove it from the hot air fryer with ease.) $8 at Amazon Amazon Meat theromometer A meat thermometer is a must in my household, especially when I'm cooking chicken. If you want to try cooking an entire roast chicken in your air fryer or any other meats, the thermometer will let you know when the food has reached a safe temperature to eat. Chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit, while beef and pork should reach at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit. $15 at Amazon Amazon Silicone basket liners These liners can make the clean-up process after cooking much simpler, and they are even dishwasher safe. They are ideal for cooking food directly on the liner or for pairing with baking dishes to make removing the dishes from the air fryer a breeze. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that these silicone baskets are quite thick, so if you do cook directly on them, you may need to increase your cooking time. They are compatible with air fryer baskets that are 6 quarts or larger. $10 at Amazon Air fryer recipes to try
