Woman Mobilizes Internet To Find Navy Author Of "Near 200 Letters" Found In Secret Room In Her Attic

May 18, 2022 by apost team

In January 2022, a woman found more than cobwebs when spring cleaning her 67-year-old house in Henrico County, Virginia. Like any doting homeowner, Anna Prillaman spent her free time lovingly fixing up her place in Near West End, which she shared with her dog, Alfie. "It's like my passion project." Prillaman told reporters. "I love this place."

Although more than just a house-proud Gen Xer, the athletics teacher also knew that there could be more than good bones in the old build. "I am an 80s baby, so I watched 'Goonies.'" Prillaman said, recalling the moment she uncovered a hidden passage in her attic. Judging by the dust, the door could have been latched shut for decades. "I [was] thinking there could be treasure back here, could be a map, there could be gold coins." What she found wasn't the long, lost treasure of One-Eyed Willy but something reminiscent of a truly bygone era. 

Behind the panel, Prillaman uncovered boxes and boxes of handwritten letters, penned presumably by the home's previous occupants. Written in neat script and void of emojis, the letters tracked the love story of a young couple who'd met while attending a nearby high school. Prillaman tentatively read the exchanges between the two, whom she soon learned were named Betty Sue McGhee and Vance Herschel Long. Not wanting to spy on their private exchanges, Prillaman still managed a peek. "I read one of those letters and it is absolutely a love story." She said. Moved by their love, Prillaman then decided to take to social media to find Betty Sue. 

"Neat find today," Prillaman wrote casually in a public Facebook post. "Two boxes of letters from a navy guy to a woman...Who knows if they ended up together but it's darn near 200 letters so I'd hope so for ole dude's sake." The internet fell in love with the discovery, and soon hundreds were sharing and commenting, proposing possible leads as to who Vance and Betty Sue were. Prillaman hoped to find at least their relatives in her search. "Even if the two writing one another are no longer with us, I'd love to find the family to pass them on. I know I'd cherish these if these were my grandparents corresponding." She wrote. 

On her motivation for playing Sherlock to the two love birds, Prillaman said, "It was clear [the letters] needed to be in the right hands." However eager, she was also hesitant to pour over every word given they weren't "meant for [her] to read." Still, Prillaman shared a tender segment from one letter, "When we're not together I know just the right words that I would use in telling you everything. But when we're together all I can think of is 'I love you.'" This sentiment was enough to propel Prillaman. 

Attaching a photo of one box, she posted, "DM me if you know a Betty Sue McGhee (maiden name I'm sure) or navy guy with last name Broyles [misspelling in original post]. Letters written in and around 1955." With breadcrumbs to work with, the Facebook sleuths soon uncovered a Dalton Long. Across the country in Portland, Oregon, the young man turned out to be the couple's grandson. When asked if he was interested in the letters of "'B' and Pop," Long responded, "I would love them."

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What mysterious treasures have you found in your house? Let us know — and be sure to pass this article on to friends, family, and fellow Facebook sleuths!