Neighbors have more power over us than we imagine, they can impact the way we feel about our own home! A friendly neighbor can make us associate safety and comfort with our home while a bad neighbor may discourage us from loving the home we live in. While some people move out of their homes as a way to escape a bad neighbor, others suffer in silence and hope that their next door mate decides to move to a different town or better still, a different planet. But some people take a third route to find a solution for their problems like this elderly man from Florida who had had enough of his neighbor’s antics.
The Lost Peace
It was a quiet neighborhood in Osceola, Florida so when one man moved in on a plot, the neighbors didn’t think anything of it. But soon his actions started affecting the neighbors, more specifically, one elderly man who went by the name Oliver Lynch. Shocked by the neighbor’s actions, Lynch decided to take matters into his own hands to save not only himself but also his property from this newbie. But where did it all began?
Not A Pushover
Oliver Lynch was a 79-year-old man who had been living in the same neighborhood of Florida for over 25 years. Needless to say, he was very comfortable in his home and surroundings but someone was about to change that for him. Even though Oliver was a senior with morals, he was not some weakling who could easily be pushed around. He had his limits that were about to be tested by a strange new neighbor.
Standing Up For Himself
Lynch was a local and knew how things worked in the area. He knew he will have to fight if he wants things to go his way. Nobody thinks about an elderly man, so it was up to him to get the respect he deserves. Lynch explained about his point in an interview where he said, “I just hate being bullied”. But as the world realized, he didn’t just hate it, he was ready to do something about it too and that’s what made his story breaking news.
New Neighbor On The Scene
More powerful words from Oliver came during the interview, “I have a little fight left in me, and I hate to see somebody bulldoze over me.” Speaking these words was a man whose peers would go to extreme lengths to avoid confrontation to maintain respect for their age. The need to stand up for himself arose for Lynch when one day a new neighbor moved into an empty plot to build a home. As Lynch would later realize, the two were not meant to get along.
The Turning Point
A new neighbor moving in to build a house didn’t raise any concern but that changed quickly. As Lynch came back home one day, he was met with a strange sight. The neighbor had left cinder blocks in the middle of his driveway. The old man decided to brush if off but soon realized his mistake. Things took a turn when his new neighbor claimed that part of Lynch’s driveway was the land he now owned. But Lynch was having none of it, this was his driveway and he wanted it back.
Things Got Worse
The situation was much worse than Lynch had thought. Before he could make much sense of the things that were happening to him, his neighbor had the cinder blocks cemented into the driveway. The old man had no way of removing them even if he wanted to. There would be significant damage to his driveway if Lynch attempted to remove the blocks forcefully. With things going this route, Lynch knew he had to take stern steps to solve this problem he was facing.
A Sea Of Confusion
Oliver Lynch had seen a lot in the 79 years he had lived but never in his life had he expected to be in a situation like this. He had not imagined something this bizarre to happen even in his neighborhood, let alone to him. It was a strange confusion in his head but more than being baffled, Lynch was angry. As he later recalled, he said to himself one day, “What’s he going to do with these extra few yards of concrete?”
A Quest To Find Proof
Since the cinder blocks were cemented into the driveway, it became clear that there was no immediate way to resolve the issue. But Lynch wasn’t ready to be bullied by this new neighbor. He was a strong man who knew how to regain what was rightfully his. It was important for Lynch to find proof that it was his land that his neighbor was claiming. After tirelessly looking for the documents, Lynch finally found records that clearly stated he was entitled to two 12-foot driveways. But was it going to be this easy?
Not True To His Identity
With the way things were going, Lynch was increasingly certain that his neighbor was a hypocrite. As he explained, “he was a minister or something like that, [A] God-fearing man. But I don’t think that’s very Christian-like.” Lynch couldn’t wrap his head around his neighbor’s unchristian behavior when he works for the church. He believed that someone who considers himself a man of God cannot be so unreasonable in their approach to societal matters like this. This man’s profession and character didn’t match one bit and Lynch was concerned about it.
Some Help Is Required
Things weren’t looking up for Oliver Lynch since he was running out of options. His neighbor didn’t seem to be budging which left Lynch with just one way out- approach the county and hope that an official would come to his aid. By this time Lynch had understood that approaching his neighbor for the matter of his driveway would not be easy but it had to be done. He was going to talk to this strange man about his cinder blocks and it was going to happen soon.
The Media Takes Over
Nothing seemed to have worked for him till now. In complete desperation, Lynch reached out to the local media and luckily for him, the media agreed to do a story on his ongoing fight with his neighbor. In their attempt to help this old man get back a part of land that is his, the media tried to contact Lynch’s neighbor. But the man did not respond to any of their calls and messages.
Breaking The Story
When the media broke the news, Lynch’s neighbor came out looking like a pretty bad person in the public eye. People felt bad for Lynch since he was suffering at the hands of his neighbor. Just like Lynch, the public was also confused about the neighbor’s actions. They even spoke against him since they felt that he was being unjust to an elderly man. Being a religious person, his schemes against Lynch made the public furious. All in all it must have been an embarrassing experience for the neighbor.
Not The Ideal Neighbor
The entire neighborhood was left wondering about this minister’s intentions. Since they all agreed that any person would want to be integrated with their new neighbors, they couldn’t fathom the reason of this man’s actions. While most of them were concerned about Lynch’s situation which was clearly unfair and unjust, not all of them had the same worry. Some were fretting about the bad name their neighborhood was getting because of this one strange person. It wasn’t an ideal situation and something had to be done.
Media Round Two
Majority of the public was on Lynch’s side but that wasn’t changing anything. The neighbor was adamant even after numerous appeals from the locals. Lynch understood that his words were falling on deaf ears and he needed media to make him heard. So he decided to call the local WFTV station once again in hopes of a better result. Lynch was going to be pleasantly surprised this time.
Time To Talk
After so much chaos and controversy, Lynch was finally making some progress. He got through to his neighbor for some one-on-one talking after what probably felt like an eternity to Lynch. It wasn’t just an old man waiting for answers but the whole neighborhood and even the local media was interested to hear what this strange neighbor had to say. Everyone was listening but what was he going to say?
Laying The Proof
After struggling for so long, Lynch was finally having a conversation with his neighbor. It was his final chance to prove his point and he took it. He expressed his concern to the neighbor and even produced the records proving the property was his. Lynch’s plan had worked and things were on the course of being solved. After a long discussion, the neighbor was ready to move the cinder blocks from the old man’s driveway. It was a long wait but Lynch’s persistence had won him his land back.
One Big Misunderstanding
Once the matter between the two parties came to an agreement, Lynch revealed to the public that his neighbor didn’t want to create such a scene. He realized how damaging this episode was for his image in the community. He felt bad for the inconvenience Lynch had to go through and explained how this was all one big misunderstanding. After all that Lynch had to experience, this wasn’t the answer anyone was expecting.
Let Bygones Be Bygones
Once Lynch had made peace with his neighbor, the public breathed a sigh of relief. Everyone who was hoping for Lynch’s struggle to end was thrilled to see that the old man had won the battle. The neighbor may have been in the wrong but finally Lynch was able to let go of the negative opinions he had formed about his neighbor. Perhaps the two next door neighbors can start afresh and strike a friendship.
Hope For The Future
After all the bad memories that Lynch had accumulated with his neighbor, it was easier for him to hold onto grudges against him. But since the two will live so close to each other for the foreseeable future, making friends would be a better move than making enemies. Nobody knows how friendly the two men will be in the days to come. But one thing is clear, a little perseverance, communication and support from the community is all it takes to resolve conflicts.
Some Lessons To Learn
It may not be clear if Lynch and his neighbor have a friendly bond but there are many things that one can learn from their story. One of the major lessons that we’ve learned is to stand up for ourselves, especially when the other person thinks they can trample us. But the biggest take away from this story is the value of forgiveness. The way Lynch didn’t have hard feelings for his neighbor even after he had to go through so much is worth appreciating.
Digging A Hole Into Jealousy
When Wayne Martin started digging a hole in his backyard, his neighbors probably assumed it was a giant swimming pool. This is already enough to make someone jealous but what Martin was actually doing was far from anyone’s imagination. Martin didn’t fill the hole with water, instead he brought something unexpected into his yard that had no business being in a swimming pool. As his creation began taking shape, his neighbors felt envious and wanted it for themselves. But what exactly was he working on?
An Unusual Delivery
The neighbors were already intrigued with a giant hole in Wayne’s backyard but their eyes popped out when one day a whole shipping container was delivered to him. This unusual delivery was the foundation to Wayne’s project as they would later realize. Wayne Martin was lucky to have found a shipping container of that size for a reasonable price. As is crucial for every DIY project, keeping the cost low is very important so when he found this container, Wayne was over the moon while his neighbors were scratching their heads.
Not Quite Right
Wayne had dug a huge hole in his backyard but after the container arrived, he knew something was off. Soon he realized that if he wanted his project to work out, he needed a much bigger hole. He picked up his tools and got to work. He kept digging until he reached the desired size and then poured a layer of pea gravel on the fresh earth he had uncovered. This step was essential not only to have a flat base to work on but also to protect the soil from rain.
Not Fully Equipped
Martin’s plan was to get the shipping container into the hole that he had dug. But he quickly realized that he didn’t have the equipment to actually make this work. Will he abandon his plan and accept defeat? He may not have the equipment for this job but he could always borrow. He contacted various companies before finally stumbling upon a septic company that agreed to lend their crane truck to Wayne. He had to shell out an insane amount of money for it but it would be totally worth it.
Falling Into Place
So much could have gone wrong but when Wayne used the crane truck to lift the shipping container, he realized that it fit perfectly into the hole with a little bit of a wiggle room. Everything seemed to be falling in place, just like putting together pieces of a puzzle. All the efforts he put into digging that hole were finally paying off. But the job wasn’t done yet. Before he could enter the container and transform it how he had planned, he needed to make sure that the outside was safe.
Opening The Doors
Before moving on with his project, Wayne needed to fix the entry of the container. While shipping containers feature double doors on one end for entry, he didn’t fancy the idea of double doors and instead had his heart set on a single door. He ended up sealing the double doors on the container and cut another door on the other side. He installed a swinging door on this entry and made sure that it swung inward. The entry of his grand project had to be perfect.
Step By Step
Once the door was done, Wayne realized the entry to the container needed more work. While he could easily use a ladder to reach his container, he wanted it to be easily accessible for the people who knew about his secret venture. He finally decided to create steps which would not only be easy to use but will also be more permanent. He mixed some concrete and laid down the steps, making sure that the top stair was at the same level as the top of his bunker. It had to stand the test of time.
Pillars Of Support
Wayne’s plan was beginning to come to life but he was scared about the vulnerability of the structure. Nobody imagines a giant 20-foot container to move, so was Wayne’s fear irrational? The container may not move on its own but the ground could easily shift, leaving the structure unbalanced. Wayne played it smart when he installed two I-beams across the top of the structure. This way the container takes the weight of the earth and the earth won’t collapse around the container.
Flooding With Ideas
The structure was in the ground so it was essential to protect it from the elements. Wayne understood that the first rain would flood his creation if he left it like this. He had worked so hard on this project, how could he let this happen? Wayne came across a sump pump, a device that could prevent the structure from flooding. He buried this equipment in the gravel to provide the necessary drainage that would keep the container dry and safe. This was a crucial step to ensure that the creation would last for many years.
Covering It Up
While Wayne could have left the bunker as it is, he didn’t want it on show for the world. He knew he needed to cover it up when he first brought in the I-beams which were going to play an important role now. Wayne brought in wooden and metal beams to lie on top of the container as if creating a roof for the structure below. This was a tough job since the ground was full of dirt and giant rocks that slowed the progress. He had to use a jackhammer to break them apart and build a roof that was stable.
A Roof Over His Head
With the beams in place, the next step was to put a lid on the structure. Wayne decided that corrugated iron was the perfect choice for this. He laid sheets of metal across the framework to give it enough stability to bear the weight of the people walking on the ground above. After all, he didn’t want anyone to fall into the hole and land on his precious structure.
A Test Of Patience
The container was buried, the roof was solid and the stairs were smooth. So what was he still working on? His neighbors watched in wonder as Wayne worked tirelessly. Being a perfectionist, Wayne was not satisfied just yet, after all it was his grand project. He had his mind set on surrounding the entire entrance of the container with cinder blocks. It was easier said than done! Each of the blocks had to be cemented and then placed perfectly to align with the entrance. Wayne’s patience was being tested with this painstaking job.
Pump It Up
Things were beginning to make sense for the neighbors as they understood that the structure Wayne had been working on was going to be a home of some sort. But how did they reach this conclusion? Wayne had installed 12-inch air vents on his prized container! He understood that it wasn’t possible to last very long in the underground container without fresh air. A PVC pipe was also built into the roof that seemed like it would work as a chimney. Clearly, Wayne had planned to spend a lot of time down there.
Safety First
Wayne’s dream was beginning to come together as an awesome project but he still had doubts about its structural integrity. It was very important for him to make sure that people were safe every time they went in and out of the container. Since there was a gap between the stairs and the entry to the container, he felt that this was the riskiest part of the entire structure. To ensure complete safety, he brought in reinforcements around the entryway. More beams were brought for a stronger structure.
Bury The Lead
The neighbors were thinking that Wayne was done with the safety precautions and the design but they were about to be surprised. The perfectionist inside him wanted to secure the structure completely and since the ground could move in winter when it freezes, Wayne brought in something strong. From the roof to the sides, he encased the container in concrete. The 6 inches of concrete created a smooth surface to walk on. This not only strengthened the structure, but also camouflaged it among the surroundings. Nobody would notice a thing now!
Stairway To The Secret
Wayne has spent hours making the roof supports but he knew he wouldn’t need them once the cement had dried. With beating heart he removed them and when the structure didn’t fall, he knew he had done it right. But it wasn’t finished just yet. Since the stairway was the only part that had to face the elements, it needed more protection. He already had cinder blocks installed at the entryway but he brought in more for added safety. He wanted the entry point to stand out even more and coincide with his grand plan.
Leaving No Trace Behind
As the construction was completed, Wayne stood back and noted that it was impossible for anyone to tell that a whole container was buried in his backyard. That was his plan all along, he wanted to keep it a secret from the world. The structure had almost blended with the surrounding, leaving just the entrance in sight. He planned to go a step above to conceal the entrance by arranging plants and flowers around it. But why was he going through so much trouble to build a grand structure and then hiding it?
Don’t Whine For Some Wine
It isn’t clear what everyone was expecting from this container but surely nobody thought it would be filled with wine. What a bummer that would be! But the more one thinks about it, the more sense it makes. Wine is best stored underground and with the cool atmosphere, it would last for generations. Wayne was also housing his own brews in the underground cellar making the neighbors jealous. But was this the secret he was hiding?
More Than Meets The Eye
Wayne had created so much storage space that stocking on wine seemed like a great idea. But one could fill it up with Christmas decorations and other seasonal stuff that takes up precious space in the house. But more than a storage space, the container could double as a bunker for Wayne and his family if a natural disaster hit. Since the container was equipped with electricity and food, it would be a perfect hideout during a storm. The best part was that his emergency room wasn’t taking any space since it was underground!
A Plan Open To All
One needs a bit of money and some resources and they can also create a bunker like this. It was Wayne’s masterpiece and he could proudly keep it a secret. Instead, he shared the plans of his container structure with the world. He shared the specifications of his bunker, noting the aspects that builders will need to pay close attention to when they try to recreate it. He even promised to share tips that he learned on the way.
Some Tips From The Expert
Wayne was very happy how his underground bunker turned out and was ready to help others in their quest to build something like this. After spending months creating such a strong structure, he had some advice for others. One of his most relatable suggestions was to add handrails down to the stairs for security which would work remarkably in cold regions where the stairs get icy and slippery. Another idea was to build a small overhang over the entrance. This could be a great help in areas that faced rain and snow.
Not The Only One
Although Wayne’s idea made news and inspired people to create their own safety bunkers, he isn’t the first one with that plan. During the Cold War, the federal government recommended people to create bunkers and shelters in their basement or buried in backyard. People were being guided to use as much concrete as possible to ensure a strong roof. That was a time of great need but the shelters weren’t designed that well. Today people have more resources and information, so are they utilizing it to make bunkers?
A Booming Business
Clyde Scott, who owns Rising Bunkers, a bunker building company in Texas revealed that his business saw a boom in 2017 after Americans grew uncertain about the future. Tension with other nations and fear of nuclear war has prompted a lot of people to build a safe bunker for their families. After the pandemic hit, a lot of these people were prepared to spend up to 6 months in their underground bunkers for fear of civil unrest. Many of these bunker owners are millionaires who constructed luxurious bunkers but how much did Wayne spent for his modest structure?
Calculating The Cost
Building a bunker that can provide safety in times of distress is no easy feat. It takes a lot of physical labor and material. Wayne ended up spending $12,500 on his DIY bunker which is extremely reasonable for the protection it provides. Wayne did most of the work himself and even used his own tractor to dig the hole and fill in the soil. These things brought down the cost of construction significantly. But not all people have the skills to DIY a project like this so what are their options?
In Your Budget
The CEO of Utah Shelter Systems, Paul Seyfried says that his bunker business has been busy in recent years. His customers are from all over the country with the majority being in New York, California and Texas. As for the cost of his shelters, Seyfried said, “The smallest shelters start at around $50,000. The largest shelters we build, a 12 [foot] by 50 [foot] usually runs right around $100,000.” These numbers are way higher than the cost of Wayne’s project but one cannot forget the amount of tough labor he put in.
A Bunker For All
A lot of people have been drifting towards buying or building a bunker. Whether it is their fear of a nuclear war starting this decade or a precaution against civil unrest, people sure have been investing in bunkers. Irrespective of your driving force and budget, you can ensure the safety of your family with a structure like the one Wayne has built. It is all about working out your options and choosing the one that suits you best.
