A New Hampshire man who reportedly lived a quiet life in a rundown trailer while wearing shabby clothes left an astonishing gift for his small hometown after passing away.

Geoffrey Holt, a secret multi-millionaire who died at 82, lived in Hinsdale for decades.

Holt, a former mill worker who generated wealth through smart investments, left $3.8 million for the town’s residents after his passing in June.

According to the Daily Mail, Hinsdale has approximately 4,200 residents.

Most residents knew Holt as “the caretaker of his mobile home park, Stearns Park.”

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“He owned barely any furniture, shunned TVs and computers and slept on a bed with legs that went through his floor,” Daily Mail writes.

Daily Mail reports:

An unassuming New Hampshire man who lived a threadbare existence has stunned his local community by gifting them $3.8 million following his death.

Secret multimillionaire Geoffrey Holt, 82, lived quietly in the town of Hinsdale for decades until passing in June.

His home was a rundown trailer and he was often seen sporting tatty clothes and riding around town on a lawnmower since he had no car.

But now it has emerged the groundskeeper was sitting on a fortune, which he generously chose to share with his town after his death.

‘I don’t think anyone had any idea that he was that successful,’ said Steve Diorio, chairperson of the town select board who’d occasionally wave at Holt from his car.

‘I know he didn’t have a whole lot of family, but nonetheless, to leave it to the town where he lived in … It’s a tremendous gift.’

“Holt, who earlier in life had worked as a production manager at a grain mill that closed in nearby Brattleboro, Vermont, was savvy with his money and would find a quiet place to sit near a brook and study financial publications,” the outlet added.

According to Edwin Smith, Holt’s best friend and former employer, one of Holt’s first investments into a mutual fund was in communications before the invention of cell phones.

Holt didn’t know what to do with the money when he realized a couple million dollars was in the bank.

Smith said his advice to his friend was “remember the town of Hinsdale.”

The Associated Press added:

His will had brief instructions: $3.8 million to the town of Hinsdale to benefit the community in the areas of education, health, recreation and culture.

“I don’t think anyone had any idea that he was that successful,” said Steve Diorio, chairperson of the town selectboard who’d occasionally wave at Holt from his car. “I know he didn’t have a whole lot of family, but nonetheless, to leave it to the town where he lived in … It’s a tremendous gift.”

The money could go far in this Connecticut River town sandwiched between Vermont and Massachusetts with abundant hiking and fishing opportunities and small businesses. It’s named for Ebenezer Hinsdale, an officer in the French and Indian Wars who built a fort and a grist mill. In addition to Hinsdale’s house, built in 1759, the town has the nation’s oldest continually operating post office, dating back to 1816.

There’s been no formal gathering to discuss ideas for the money since local officials were notified in September. Some residents have proposed upgrading the town hall clock, restoring buildings, maybe buying a new ballot counting machine in honor of Holt, who always made sure he voted. Another possibility is setting up an online drivers’ education course.

Organizations would be be able to apply for grants via a trust through the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, drawing from the interest, roughly about $150,000 annually.

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