actually, linoleum was not a new product in your house's lifetime. Certainly, it may not be original if other houses in your area never had it.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linoleum

Lack of control is my middle name according to DH. I'm always removing a bit of this or that to see what is under something. It drives him nuts BUT for me it helps me plan my mode of attack on a project.
The last one I did that I got scolded for was to peel back the wall paper on the stair well. Mind you I have two rooms already in the midst of wallpaper removal plus a rental house that I'm ripping the bathroom out of to the studs.
I just wanted to see if maybe someone had left a nice surprise behind the wall paper like maybe a mural. Instead all I got was a few lousy Roman numbers and a few arrows telling the wallpaper pro where to start. At least I did find out the paper in the stair well and upstairs hallway was all done by a pro so removing it should not be a major problem like the music room was.

BTW I find my best finds when I'm not looking for them.
There's a beam up in the attic that I passed nearly every day for a year. I was arranging the attic storing stuff from the move ect. I never in all that time noticed the writing on that beam till one afternoon I had gone up to check on the roofers work. I happened to shine a flashlight just right and noticed pencil writing on the beam. It was the name, address and ages of the PO's kids playmates from back in the 60's.

Keep trying eventually the house will give up a few secretes.
In the mean time you could add a few of your own for the next owner to find. I never do a repair or alteration with out leaving a date behind or some clue as to why it was done. Every wallpapered room that I've de-papered I save a piece of the paper for the houses history book. I figure when the next person takes over they'll have a better idea on just how loved this house was and what kind of things it went thru.

Saintp, don't you wish you could send a memo to the people from a long time ago- please don't toss, put in basement I'll want those Cuban tiles later? I'm a "picker", if I see a peel or something beginning to come up, I have to pick it a bit to see what's there. So far no huge gems- but under the wallpaper in the butlers' pantry I discovered written "X and X sittin in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G, first comes love-" X and X are now grandparents! Mostly my picking has found calamities, like mold from a slow leak in the roof... still can't help myself. Good luck with that floor!

Carol, you are doing a great service to your house, it's a great idea to have a history book. I will now hope to do the same. I think the family that lived here before us would feel so good to know that was happening and it would be great for my kids too. Thanks for the idea!

Yep, been there, done that!

But, once out of all those times, I did find a letter slot in my front door. It was under painted-over masking tape (one side), and painted-over screwed-down steel plate (other side).

Here is a link that might be useful: Eastlake letter slot

Wow! Cool find, Slateberry51!

I think most old house affectionados long to find that trunk of historic valuables up in the attic long forgotten (ie: like in the show, If Walls Could Talk), but most of us come into homes with most of those valuables missing or too damaged too save.

I have found a few things that I got excited about -- probably non-old home owners would care about. I found the original ironing board that goes to the built in bungalow ironing board closet. It was being used as a support for the central heat/ac unit. When I had it replaced, I discovered the board.

I also found two plain glass inserts that fit my kitchen cabinet doors. Only two and no wood frame - just the glass with masking tape edges.

In the attic, I have also found lots of left over wood from flooring to moulding trim to pieces of toungue/groove bead board. I have no idea where some of this came from, but it's nice to have the extra for repairs.

With this "find" -- I feel like a complete moron -- I found in the garage the original bungalow kitchen nook table. I literaly never noticed it as it was against the wall of the 1925 garage and covered with 'stuff'. I had thought it was just another work bench.

It has the arts&crafts wood curve angles and a formica top. The odd thing is, I do not have a kitchen nook. So, I don't know if it actually went in my kitchen or if it was given to POs from a neighbor.

It is definitely a historicly appropriate piece of architecture that matches my house. But, I don't know what to do with the table? It does need some work, but I've never been a big fan of formica. So, it sits in the garage.