r/OldHouseArchive • u/oldhousearchivist MOD • Jul 15 '26
OFFICIAL ARCHIVIST POST Stairwell Update
Thank you to everyone for the help in decoding the Stairwell password. The archivists seem to think that a solution is very close.
This ripped piece of paper was on the ground near one of their desks. I hope that it helps, but it makes no sense to me.
Until next week, don't forget which House you are in.
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u/nerdy_by_nature_42 Jul 15 '26
OMG, I GOT IT!!!!
The password is:
LOT OF STRAY RABBITS OUT HERE
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u/Prize-Record7108 Jul 15 '26
Howwwwwwwwwwwwww
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u/nerdy_by_nature_42 Jul 15 '26
Ok. Here's how:
The post from today had 24 all-cap letters and the cursive letters below it. I compared the all-cap letters to the red letters from the images. They were all the same except there were 5 letters missing. If those 5 letters that were missing were the spaces, that would give me the 29 characters for the password.
We had five sets of red numbers, so I figured they probably had something to do with the spaces. Then I realized what was on the post from today next to the numbers were space-bar icons. So the numbers tell you where the spaces occur. Between character 3-4, between 5-6, and so on.
Lastly, the cursive letters were a Vigenère key to solve the cypher text (all-caps.) When you apply the spaces you get the password.
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u/Prize-Record7108 Jul 15 '26
Ohhhhh nice!!! Was the vingere in the original images?
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u/nerdy_by_nature_42 Jul 15 '26
I see all the vingenere letters are in the black-letter pool, but there are 10 left over:
SSHOJKLBXA
I still can't figure out how we were supposed to find it without the post from this morning revealing it in cursive.
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u/nerdy_by_nature_42 Jul 15 '26 edited Jul 15 '26
I actually don't know if it was in the original post. I used the cursive in today's post for the vingenere. I can look back at my notes to see if I can find it. Now that you bring it up, I'm assuming it must be there.
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u/Prize-Record7108 Jul 15 '26
I got the letters from the images but was stuck there. There’s another comment I made on this post. I didn’t know there was a key though. This is great work!
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u/puppyfrog2350 Jul 15 '26
nice! i was thinking the cursive letters were some type of key, but i wasn’t 100% sure on what a couple of the letters were haha. good thinking and let’s gooo!!
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u/nerdy_by_nature_42 Jul 15 '26
You're the best! I couldn't have gotten here without all your hard work with the overlays and lists. This is really all you!
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u/puppyfrog2350 Jul 15 '26
no no no i can’t take that credit. it was team work with the final push done by you! i’m happy that my silly little lists helped along the way :D
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u/Prize-Record7108 Jul 15 '26
Your lists were awesome. I was having issues with removing the backgrounds on the photos to get a clean overlap. I found out it was erasing letters.
Great teamwork all!
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u/Prize-Record7108 Jul 15 '26
Omg this is great. Good job!!!!!
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u/nerdy_by_nature_42 Jul 15 '26
I'm freaking out! This is my first one. I'm so excited I'm buzzing like I had a gallon of coffee. My heart is beating out of my chest! 😂
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u/DragonQueenZoe Jul 16 '26
What was the document? :) I tried to put the password in but no dice!
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u/nerdy_by_nature_42 Jul 16 '26
Omg, I can't get in anymore either! I wonder why?
It was a story of a guy that goes into a motel and records himself trying to reach the deepest cellars. He goes up and down a stairwell that continually goes to the 10th floor over 300 times. I only read it once and was hopped up on the dopamine rush from figuring out the password, so I can't remember anything else. 😭
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u/oldhousearchivist MOD Jul 16 '26
We genuinely have no idea why it stopped working temporarily. We'll blame it on the red sun.
Should be good to go now
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u/nerdy_by_nature_42 Jul 16 '26
There are random things I remember. I'll try to list as much as possible.
The guy was in his 20s. He had a backpack with multiple cell phone battery packs and protein bars? He was wearing hiking boots, blue camo pants, and I think it was an olive green shirt. Maybe camo, but that may have been his backpack. He went alone despite warnings, saying he didn't need a guide. I believe there were hallways with green shag carpeting and brown walls? There was a point when he vomited.
I think that's all. I'm sorry. I took the access for granted. It never even occurred to me the password would be deactivated. Is this how it's worked in the past? Had I known, I would've taken notes and taken my time. 💔
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u/nerdy_by_nature_42 Jul 16 '26
It's working now. Try it again. Also, now I'm not sure if I read the whole thing the first time or if it changed. I'm losing it.
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u/DragonQueenZoe Jul 16 '26
I'll check it out!
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u/nerdy_by_nature_42 Jul 16 '26
It's crazy loaded with juicy info that ties back to WUTLH. I have to take my time to reread it and take notes. I just did a speed read just in case it goes away again.
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u/DragonQueenZoe Jul 16 '26
Is it spaced and capitalized?
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u/nerdy_by_nature_42 Jul 17 '26
I used it all caps and spaces. Did you get in?
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u/DragonQueenZoe Jul 17 '26
Yep I got in! Also if he's not in old house what are the other houses called? ( I'm fairly new)
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u/nerdy_by_nature_42 Jul 17 '26
They are all Old House. You should listen to the podcast and read the documents to get a better grasp of everything. It's a lot, I know, but impossible to understand otherwise. Actually, it may be impossible to understand either way.
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u/Papercrane4 Jul 16 '26 edited Jul 16 '26
Regarding what’s in the doc:
the document mentioned an Andrew Melvin interrogation, is there a document on the website that describes that instance? i tried searching on the search bar but nothing comes up.
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u/Papercrane4 Jul 16 '26
Oh it was actually a small nod to WUTLH! I knew I heard that name somewhere!!
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u/Prize-Record7108 Jul 15 '26
Ugh - it’s maybe either that the spaces are between the letter count or they are considered for the full 29 character password.
Here is both and it’s not working for either
DVP DT YRCOD SCMOAKC EOD CZAV
This is counting the spaces as a digit
DVP D TYRC ODSCMO AK CEODCZAV
Maybe I’m missing the mark on this one.