Page 16 - IAV Digital Magazine #505

iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine
What's Inside This Mystery Safe? Orleans Co. Farmer Says It Should Stay Unknown
By Tanner Jubenville
Barre, N.Y. (WHAM) - Kirk Mathes was out of town when a large safe was discovered in one of the fields on his Barre farm. He says deputies had to disperse a crowd that was on the side of the road last Thursday, trying to open it.
"They took a sledgehammer to it, knocked off the dial and handle," said Mathes. "They worked on the hinges, kind of beat it up."
The safe, which he estimates weighs between 500-600 lbs. and had to be trans- ported by heavy equipment, sits in one of his barns. It's still unopened, and he's not sure who put it in his field.
But on it was a note saying whomever could open it, could keep what's inside.
"Some wise guy or kids. We got some crazy kids here in Barre," Mathes said, "Real jokers, so I guess it’s a mys-
tery as to how it got there."
Since last week, the safe has gen- erated conversa- tions online and around town about what might be inside. Mathes has his guesses, but like others, doesn't know for sure. He says the
question about what is inside should stay unan- swered.
"My personal feeling is, leave it as a mystery," said Mathes.
He says the debate about what's inside has been a welcome
distraction for many.
"If you open it, the show is over. In these times, with the virus and the politics, it might get people a chance to set their problems or troubles aside and have a lot of fun talking about
it," Mathes said.
Now, there are plans to make the mysterious safe part of a future-planned history museum for the Town of Barre.
"It could be hold- ing millions of dollars. It could have confetti in there. You have no idea, so just dream," said Cindy Vanlieshout of the Barre Betterment Committee, which is helping with plans for the museum.
Mathes says, for now, the safe will go into hiding.
"I don’t know where we’re going to hide it – but as soon as you leave, we’re gonna," Mathes told 13WHAM's Tanner Jubenville.
iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine