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| Story of the Winchester Mansion
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I'm the type of person that has a fasination for big homes and the stories behind them. One of my favorites would have to be the "Winchester Mansion" and how it came to be. I'd like to share the story the way that I remember it, and maybe you'll find it just as fasinating as I do.
Septermber 1839 Leonard and Sarah Pardee of New Haven gave birth to a child named Sarah Pardee. Sarah was the belle of the city, known for her beauty, personality and charm. Standing only 4 feet 10 inches didn't deduct anything away from her, it seemed as though men were drawn to her petite size. As Sarah was growing up another young pominite man was starting to mature. William Wirt Winchester the son of Oliver Winchester, a shirt manufacturer and businessman. In 1857 William took over the family business which made the volcanic "Winchester Rifle." September 30 1862, at the height of the civil war William and Sarah were married in an elaborate ceremony in New Haven. Four years later Sarah gave birth to little girl they named Annie Pardee Winchester. Shortly after birth little Annie contracted "Marasmus" and died 09 days later. Sarah was shattered by this event she hid within herself and teetered on the edge of madness for sometime. It was nearly a decade before she returned to her normal self, she and William never had another child.
Not long after Sarah returned home to her family, another tragedy struck. William was struck down with Pulmonary Tuberculosis and died March 7th 1881. As a result of his death, Sarah inherited $20 million dollars. (An incredible amount in those days) But her new found wealth did not ease her pain. Sarah grieved deeply for her lost husband and child. Eventually a friend would suggest talking to a spiritualist. "Your husband is here" said the medium and made a discription of William Winchester. "He says for me to tell you that there is a curse on your family, which took the life of him and your child. It will soon take your life too. It is a curse that has resulted from the terrible weapon the Winchester family has created. Thousands of persons have died from it, and now they are seeking vengance."
Sarah was then told to sell her property in New Haven, and move toward the setting sun. She would be guided by her husband, and when she found her new home in the west she would know it. "You must start a new life" said the medium, "and build a home for yourself and the spirits that have fallen from the terrible weapon. You can never stop building this house, continue building and you will live. Stop and you'll die."
Sarah sold her property and didn't stop traveling til she reached Santa Clara Valley in 1884. Here she found a 6 room home under construction, which belonged to Dr. Caldwell. She convienced him to sell the house and the 162 acres it sat on. Sarah tossed out any of the plans for the house and started building whatever she choose to. She had her pick of local workers and craftsman, and for the next 36 years they built, rebuilt, altered, changed, cunstruced and delmolished one section of the house after another. She kept 22 Carpenters year around 24 hours every day. The sounds of hammers and saws would be heard throughout the day and night.
As days, weeks and months passed the house continiued to grow. Rooms were added to rooms, and then turned into intire wings, doors were joined to windows, levels turned into towers and peaks, and the place eventually grew to a hieight of seven stories. Inside the house 3 elevators were instaled, as were 47 fireplaces. There were countless staircases that led to nowhere, a blind chimney that stops short of the ceiling, closets that opened to blank walls, trap doors, double back hallways, sky lights that were located one above another, doors that opened to step drops to the lawn below, and a dozen other oddities. Even all the stair posts were installed upside down, and many of the bathrooms had glass doors on them.
It was also obvious that Sarah was intrigued with the number "13". Nearly all the windows contained 13 panes of glass; the walls had 13 panels; the green house 13 cupolas; many of the wooden floors contain 13 sections; some of the rooms had 13 windows and every staircase but one had 13 steps. This exception is unique in its own right.......... it is a winding stair case with 42 steps, which would normaly be enough to take a climber up 3 stories. In this case you only climb 9 feet because each step is only 2 inches high.
While all of this seems like maddness to us, it all made perfect sense to Sarah. In this way she could control the spirits who came to the house for evil purposes, thats why the house was designed into a maze, to confuse and discourage the bad spirits.
The most tragic event accured when the great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 struck. The top three stories of the house had collapsed into the garden below, and would never be rebuilt. Sarah became convinced that the earthquake had been a sign from the spirits who were furious that she had nearly completed the house. In order to insure that the house would never be finished, Sarah boarded up the fronth 30 rooms of the mansion so the construction would not be complete. The exspansion of the house begain once more.
The number of bed rooms increased from 15 to 20 and then 25. Chimneys were installed all over the place, though strangely they served no perpose. On September 4 1922, after a confrence session with the spirits in the seance room, Sarah died in her sleep at age 83.
I was a young boy when I came across this story. My mother and I used to watch "Americas Castles" and this happen to be one of the homes they were showing. I just simply fell in love with it, and its story. I do plan on one day making a trip out to Santa Clara Valley and taking a tour of this beautiful peice of work. If you'd like to see pictures of the mansion view my photos. Thankx and hope you enjoyed
Shane |
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Posted by caughtureyes21 on 2008-02-19 11:32:10 | Rating: | Views: 167
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OMG!
I LOVED America's Castles as a kid!
the story of the "Winchester Mansion" was always one of my favorites too...sooooo creepy :)
I would love to do one of those "ghost hunter" shows there! Or....maybe not, yikes! ;)
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Posted by Shannon
on 2008-02-19 12:49:26
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Shannon its funny that you mention doing a "Ghost Hunter" show there. I've always wanted to do that as well. But I'm affraid I wouldn't be able to do it alone! Thank you again for the comment.
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Posted by caughtureyes21
on 2008-02-19 14:42:25
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I seen this story on "weird US". Loved her story, so artistic and sad.
<3
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Posted by LadiLucifer
on 2008-02-20 09:26:00
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I love history, and stories like this one. Thanks.
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Posted by BitterSweetheart
on 2008-02-28 19:34:27
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