The only way you can sift through and discard stuff within 1 week is to toss everything without regard for what it is, why its there, and whether you should keep it or ditch it. These things take time because you never know when you're going to come across something of real value; either sentimental or monetary.
Just pluck along, Bill. A little each day, sort it out best you can. You may just find something your Pops squirreled away from your childhood that will bring back a flood of memories. Like that first woodworking project you made. Or a special Mom's day leather etch... Something.
Wilbur - You do know stored newspaper is a MAJOR spontaneous combustion hazard, right? Get that out of the container pronto and into a recycle center!!!
Thank you Cal, You are right on. I Can't just "Load It Up & Haul It" & It's not just trash, if it was, I could just bag it up and put it out for the Trash Man. Since I have started working on this, I have come across 4 Military phones, like you would have seen used on the tv show "Mash", but I have no idea if they still work or not. Could just toss them, but I am wondering if they might have enough value, to try to sell? I came across wrenches & screwdrivers that I remember my Dad having on the backwall of his workbench, at my Granddad's Motorcycle Shop, up until around 1963-64 and I setup a spot on the pegboard here, for those, to Remember Him. I have found the old style door knob and lock mechanisms that you simply drilled a hole for the knob shaft and attached box mechanism with the little "rocker style" lock. And, in digging through the junk, I have found things like a large air powered nail framing gun, an unassembled (in a tattered box) universal power tool stand and a support leg that goes on the tongue of a trailer. I have located several antique tools. He had 4 of the standard 2 door metal cabinets, like used to be used in some offices, years back (had several shelves that are adjustable) and 2 of those had many cans of spray paint and such. And there were some cans of brush paint as well. And knowing that stuff is ruined, I have to find the closest place that takes hazardous materials. There is also an incredible amount of nuts, bolts, screws, nails, pieces of boards, metals, wire and who knows what else. Bear in mind that this area is basically a 2 car garage, that is twice as long and Dad had a dividing wall, that is 2 pieces hung on a rail, so you can open it up, use it a 1 space or close it and use it as a separate garage & shop area. And the house was fully furnished, so it didn't help that we have our own things and whatever needed to be taken out of the house, ends up in the garage, until I can do something with it. In The end, I only have a few things that I will be wanting to keep, from the past. Again too, I don't have a truck, but will be moving things out, on my trailer. I have given a number of pieces of furniture & such, to a Cousin, who I am really close to and I know the things are in good hands. At any rate, I am still working things out and trying to arrange things, as I go, in a way to make the best use of space.
Thanks to all, for the input. I only wish I had taken photos of what I started with, so it could be better understood what I am dealing with.
