Morgan Dollars New York Bank Hoard

Years ago, (1990's), I was a communications system installer. I was running phone and computer wiring in a bank downtown. I had a particularly difficult run, through old stone foundation walls out towards the street side of the bank. There was a small door, about 4' tall with a padlock on it, and thinking it may be a way to get wires to the area on the other side of the bank I got access to it. Behind this was a dank room, actually under sidewalk above. To the left was a combination wheel in a steel door...hmmm waddaya think? The old bank vault. I asked if they ever used it anymore, and they said it hadn't been opened in nearly 40 years, but now nobody had the old combination. It was assumed that at the time the room was walled off, that safe had only been used to store records, the main safe in the building dates from the 40's. But yea, I sure did envision BAGS of old silver, hidden underneath the old rotting file boxes...Note to self, take on-line safecracking course!

There was another door with a padlock on it leading into an area UNDER the street as well. It was then I found out about the tunnels all over town, used during the Civil War to hide runaway slaves and for inter-business commerce. Had access all the way over to the old Ice House and Railroad station. Most all has been filled in or torn up for utilities now. Doors like this was usually a city maintenance access.