Created: 3/30/2008 11:50:48 AM 
By Ashley Coleman First Coast News
JACKSONVILLE BEACH, FL -- When Paul Gruenther isn't selling homes, he is searching for treasures.
"It's an adventure. Everybody loves a bargain," he said.
Gruenther scours garage sales every weekend and he often finds valuable artifacts, antiques and furniture. His entire home is filled with the purchases. But it was a piece of history that recently caught his eye.
He bought a little leather book of hymns at a garage sale for 50 cents. Handwritten inside, is the inscription "William N. Franklin, Sams Creeks, Maryland, September 19, 1885."
"It's more of a treasure in terms of what its value is to people than what it is in terms of money in somebody's pocket," Gruenther said.
After doing some research on the internet, he discovered that Franklin was one of the founding members of Sams Creek Church of the Brethren in Maryland. He married 348 couples and served in the ministry for 30 years.
Gruenther was amazed at how much history was inside the little, tattered book.
"Once I got on the internet and started looking, it's one of those pleasant surprises that sometimes you get."
He called the church and told the Reverend about the book. Gruenther said the man was excited and will tell the congregation about it today.
Gruenther plans to mail the book to the church this week.
In two years, the church will celebrate its 150th anniversary and will add the book to its collection of historical artifacts.
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