By Haley Mitchell Godwin

When Jeffrey and Michelle Jeffcoat of Rutledge first set foot in their newly acquired historic home, they knew they were stepping into a space filled with stories waiting to be uncovered. 

Among the finds were two forgotten trunks tucked away in a corner, relics of the lives once lived within the structure’s walls. According to Michelle, the trunks were much more than just storage for her family.

“The trunks make me wonder about the deep history they hold,” said Michelle. “What hands [carried] it to its next destination? What did these trunks see and where did they go? I think with trunks someone’s whole life could have been in there. From traveling to finally making a home, everything someone could have owned would have been in that trunk.”

The trunks, with their aged leather and worn metal clasps, are relics of a time when such containers were not only functional but a family’s most treasured possession. According to Michelle, trunks were once commonplace in every home, holding everything from family heirlooms to the essentials for life’s journey.

Michelle and her mother were recently gifted a trunk from her grandparents — a precious family heirloom filled with memories from the past. Opening it revealed quilts, yellowed documents and faded photographs — each item a thread in Michelle’ s family history.

“Everything in the trunk was cherished,” Michelle said. “People used to travel or move with everything they owned packed inside. Losing that trunk meant losing what little they had. It was their suitcase back then, but today, those old trunks hold so much more. Once they reached a place where their owners put down roots, the trunks became a way to store things of real significance — things we still treasure today, things we aim to preserve and pass down, so history isn’t lost and can feel tangible.”

For the Jeffcoats, these trunks represent the resilience and resourcefulness of those who lived before them. The couple said they envision filling the trunks with items that will one day bridge the gap between generations.

“I often think about what I plan to leave behind in the trunk,” Michelle said. “Maybe baby footprints, wedding mementos, letters — things that tell a story, that give a glimpse of who we are, just as the items in these trunks help me connect with the past. One day, someone will open these trunks again and find a piece of our story waiting for them.”

Although restoring a historic home comes with its challenges, the Jeffcoats are embracing each step of the process with patience and vision to keep the memory of the trunk’s owners alive.

“We want to keep everything as original as possible,” Michelle said. “Of course, there are things that have to be updated—wiring, heating, cooling—but our goal is to preserve the spirit of this home. We want to honor the Hamilton family and the people that these trunks represent.”

As Jeffery and Michelle move forward with their restoration, they do so with a deep appreciation for the past and a hopeful vision for the future. To the Jeffcoats, restoring the home is about more than fixing up walls and woodwork, the work is a labor of love aimed at preserving the stories of the past while creating a foundation for the future.