The House with Gold Hidden in the Wall -- on This Year's Homes Tour

A New West Heritage Homes Tour Feature

What if your home had a hidden treasure—sealed behind a wall for years?

That’s exactly what happened at the Arthur and Nettie Laughlin House, one of the featured homes on this year’s New Westminster Heritage Homes Tour.

The House with the Golden Wall could easily be the title of a Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys mystery—but it is, in fact, the true story of what happened at this Massey-Victory Heights home in the early 1980s. The current owners received a letter on September 27, 2024, addressed simply to “Resident/Owner.” It was from Kent Whitehead, who grew up in this very house.

In the early 1980s, young Kent heard an unbelievable story: the previous owners had hidden a cache of gold coins and bars somewhere inside—and then forgotten about it. After months of searching every corner of the house, from vents to fireplaces, he found nothing.

Then one day, the former owners returned.

According to Kent’s letter, the couple went straight to a wall beneath the staircase. Carefully prying away the tongue-and-groove cedar boards, they uncovered rows of containers hidden inside the wall cavity—each filled with stacks of gold coins or solid gold bars.

For the young boy watching, it was unforgettable.
“My ultimate childhood fantasy had come true,” he wrote. “[The former owner] gently placed [a gold bar] into my hands… and I immediately dropped it. The weight was more than I could have imagined.”

The story—now known in his family as 'the house with the golden wall' --has become part of local lore.

 A Mid-Century Modern Home with Stories to Tell

Beyond its remarkable story, the Laughlin House is a striking example of mid-century modern design.

Built in 1959 by local contractor Walter Laughlin, the home was reportedly designed on the back of a napkin. Its low-pitched roof, long horizontal windows, and Arizona sandstone detailing reflect the era’s emphasis on clean lines and integration with the landscape.

Inside, the home features:

• Open-plan living spaces and vaulted ceilings

• A dramatic sandstone fireplace wall that anchors the structure

• A rare indoor planter—originally a goldfish pond with an automatic water system

• Original details such as marble mosaic flooring and Westminster chime doorbells

After serving as a rental property for many years, the home was carefully restored by its current owners, who preserved its mid-century character while updating it for modern living.

See It for Yourself on May 31

The Laughlin House is just one of 11 private heritage homes, along with historic Irving House, open to the public for one day only on the New Westminster Heritage Homes Tour.

From hidden gold to Hollywood connections and remarkable architecture, this year’s tour offers a rare opportunity to step inside some of the city’s most fascinating homes—and uncover the stories they hold.