Nestled on the outskirts of a sleepy little village in rural Connecticut, this charming craftsman-style home has lain empty for at least two decades. Barely a soul has passed its threshold during this time, but photographer Bryan Sansivero managed to get hold of the keys in 2021 to capture the overgrown property before nature well and truly reclaims it.

Click or scroll through to take a look around the forlorn abode and discover its secrets...

Approaching the property from the main road, you'd be forgiven for missing it entirely. In this photograph captured by Bryan Sansivero, the house is almost completely obscured by greenery and getting to it involves battling through dense overgrowth.

The facade is worn and weathered, but some of the attractive original features remain more or less intact, including the decorative scallop siding.

A battered old reclining chair sits on the front porch. The decking appears to be rotting in parts and white paint is peeling away from the clapboards, which are also plagued with damp by the looks of it.

Some of the eaves of the roof have collapsed and the window next to the front door is cracked. The property clearly hasn't been maintained for an exceptionally long time.

Built in 1920, the humble one-and-a-half-storey, three-bedroom cottage was snapped up in 1927 by the parents of the most recent resident, who were immigrants from Lithuania. A bona fide time capsule, the 1,400-square-foot home is packed with furniture and knick-knacks from way back when.

Stepping inside, the first room you encounter is the parlour... 

Taking pride of place in the room is a comfy three-seater sofa. Rocking a sunflower pattern in vibrant orange and yellow, it's the sort of couch you might remember sitting on in your grandparents' home if you're of a certain age – these kinds of busy floral prints were especially popular in the 1950s and 60s.

Not one but two TV sets grace the parlour, though it's likely one of them belongs in the master bedroom or another room.

Despite the mess, the room doesn't actually seem to be in as dire a state as you might expect considering the exterior, with the wallpaper in so-so condition and the floorboards undamaged.

A walker can be seen in the room. Placed next to an armchair, it was no doubt used by the most recent resident. Born in 1919, he served in the Second World War in Europe and was captured in December 1944 by German forces during the Battle of the Bulge.

The young soldier was then transported to Stalag VII-A, Germany's biggest prisoner of war camp.

The GI remained there until the camp's liberation in April 1945. Wounded either in the battle or during captivity, he was later awarded the Purple Heart, and lived with a lifelong disability.

But Simal didn't let this stop him working and enjoying pastimes, including gardening, hunting and fishing – plus watching TV, of course. This beauty is a 23-inch Zenith Chromocolor from 1971.

Glancing at one of the walls in the room, you notice a dinky wooden clock, stopped as you'd expect and frozen in time like the rest of the cottage.

The design, which features an acorn finial and decorative scrolls and columns, is Arts and Crafts in style, so probably dates from around the time the property was constructed, or even before. 

A Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ painting hangs on the opposite wall, above the TV. The family who lived here originated from Lithuania, a staunchly Catholic country, and like many of their compatriots it's likely they were devout followers of the faith, as this religious image would indicate.

Staying in the parlour, a vintage rotary dial desk telephone rests on a side table. This particular model is the SC-500D by Stromberg-Carslon, which was the go-to for many country households in the 1960s and 1970s.

Whereas Bell was number one in urban markets, Stromberg-Carlson was the first choice for rural dwellers, and it was known as the 'farmer's friend'.

The next room you come to is the retro kitchen. Another relic of the mid-20th century, the space is as retro as they come.

In the corner is a 1968 Frigidaire Custom single oven and stove. Pans and a kettle sit upon the burner rings, making it look like the former owner left for good midway through rustling up a meal.

In the kitchen, the clutter is overwhelming. The countertops opposite are positively covered in detritus, from old detergent bottles to random pieces of cutlery, crockery, ornaments and other odds and ends.

That said, the cabinetry is in pretty good shape, and probably only needs a sanding and lick of paint to restore it to its former glory.

According to Sansivero, the bathroom in the cottage was so tiny and piled high with debris it was impossible to photograph.

In any case, it would appear the most recent owner performed his daily ablutions at least some of the time in the kitchen, if this toothbrush holder and cup filled with spent razors are anything to go by.

A yellowed newspaper, which was probably printed in the late 1990s, advertises a local furniture liquidation sale. It is placed on an Art Deco Formica and chrome dinette table.

These tables were all the rage in the 1950s, with this one a classic example from that era. It certainly looks like it's had years of use, given the ring stain and other marks.

Next to the kitchen is what appears to be a small dining room, or a storage space for some of the home's many knick-knacks. Numerous cupboards and a chest of drawers fill the room.

Like the kitchen cabinetry, they are very messy; along with the flaking ceiling, they lend the room a ramshackle vibe.

Out in the first floor hallway, there's a fancy display cabinet, which would have been used to store and show off the family's glass and china.

The most recent owner's mother passed away in 1947 and his father died in 1955, leaving him the property, which he shared with his wife, who he appears to have married after the war.

Following several decades together, the veteran's wife passed in 1986, leaving him alone in the property. The couple had no children, which may explain why the house has now been left abandoned.

Also on the main floor is a bedroom, with clothing, books and other objects piled up around the room.

Now let's head upstairs and look around the master bedroom. A pretty space, the walls are clad in New England-style wood panels painted a dusty blue.

A colourful crochet blanket covers the metal-framed bed, and an American flag doubles up as a curtain for one of the windows. 

Resting on a chair next to the bed is an oversized photo, which looks like it was taken in the early part of the last century. Possibly a family member, the bespectacled gentleman in the pic is posing in overalls, so it's likely he was a farmer or labourer of some kind.

Behind the photo are a pair of wooden crutches. These almost certainly would have been used by the home's most recent resident.

There's a dressing area on the other side of the master bedroom kitted out with a swish vanity. Art Nouveau in style, it most probably dates from the early 20th century.

Adjacent to it is a chair, upon which a vintage suitcase and bag embroidered with a traditional Chinese scene have been placed.

Several old photos are arranged on the vanity. One shows the former GI in his army uniform, while another depicts a young woman, possibly his wife.

Also on the dressing table are an old oil lamp and chic vintage handbag with a bamboo handle and gemstone-encrusted clasp closure.

The couple's wedding photo is placed to the side of the dressing table. Judging by the clothing, particularly the style of the dress, it looks like the shot was taken in the late 1940s, which would make total sense as the couple are said to have married after the war.

To the left is a small photo, which could be the ex-serviceman as a young child, with his father.

Another photo shows the most recent resident in his army days, working on what appears to be a drilling project of some kind. The picture is placed above a very curious shot of a monkey chained to a wooden building, which was also presumably taken during the Second World War.

Following his wife's death, the decorated vet stayed in the property for a considerable length of time. He passed away in 2001.

The former GI spent his last days in a nursing home, which means the cottage was vacated before 2001, and has therefore remained empty for over two decades.

Now let's exit the property through the back door and explore the overgrown grounds, which span an impressive 4.6 acres.

While the house has thankfully remained in one piece, the same can't be said for the garage, which has completely collapsed. Parts of the roof have fallen on two classic cars that belonged to the most recent resident, causing considerable damage.

The vehicles look like they date from the 1970s. Fully restored, they could be worth a decent amount of money.

Peering into one of the vehicles, you can just about make out the steering wheel, dashboard dials and old-school analogue radio. Whether there was an issue with the estate is anyone's guess, but it's hard to believe anyone would abandon these potentially valuable cars, not to mention the many photos and other mementos the cottage holds.

Exactly why the property has been left this way is a mystery...

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