The Winchester Mystery House

winchestermysteryhouse ^

[pabianice]

In 1862, Sarah married William Wirt Winchester, son of Oliver Fisher Winchester, Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut and manufacturer of the famous Winchester repeating rifle. The couple’s life together was happy, and they moved in the best New England society. However, in 1866, disaster struck when their infant daughter, Annie, died of then mysterious childhood disease marasmus. Mrs. Winchester fell into a deep depression from which she never fully recovered. Fifteen years later, in March 1881, her husband’s premature death from tuberculosis added to Mrs. Winchester’s distress. It is said, she ultimately sought help from a spiritualist...

...However, the medium also claimed that there was an alternative, Mrs. Winchester was instructed to move west and appease the spirits by building a great house for them. As long as construction of the house never ceased, Mrs. Winchester could rest assured that her life was not in danger. Building such a house was even supposed to bring her eternal life.

[SunkenCiv]

Note: this topic is from 4/14/2015. Thanks pabianice.

Noticed it while looking for the older stories on the 130+ year old Winchester rifle.

• Experts are still baffled by 132-year-old rifle found leaning against a tree in the Nevada
• Mystery deepens: Who left 130-year-old rifle in NV desert?
• Archaeologists find 1882 rifle leaning against Nevada desert tree
• Rusted, 132-year-old Winchester rifle found against tree in Nevada national park
• Mystery 132-year-old rifle found in national park
• The mystery of the 132-year-old Winchester rifle found propped against a national park tree
• 132 Year-old Winchester rifle found against a tree at Great Basin National Park
• Billy the Kid tintype photograph sells for $2.3 million at Denver auction

On a related note, where will you be vacationing, if anywhere, in 2015?

[dware]

I visited the Winchester Mystery Mansion back in 2002. Very fascinating, but I didn’t see any ghosts. I did, however, find the seance room and the stairs to no where 2 of the best parts of the tour.

[blam]

I used to live just down the street from this house.
I went there a couple times too.

[sauropod]

Pretty cool looking place. Next time i am out that way, i will have to check it out!

[colorado tanker]

We already went. We toured Gettysburg, Antietam, the Air and Space Museum Annex and a bunch of places in Washington. We found a restaurant called Founding Farmers. Very casual and inexpensive by Washington standards, but everything was great.

[Ditter]

I have seen this place on one of the TV channels. Where did her money come from, I have forgotten?

[CAluvdubya]

that’s too close to Santana Row for me . .

What's wrong with Santana Row?

[rdl6989]

Her husband founded the Winchester firearms company. She went senile in her later years, during the heyday of seances etc. and she was led to believe the spirits wanted her to keep adding onto the house. I think the builders were swindling her out of her fortune.

[rdl6989]

you owe me a new keyboard.

[Ditter]

Yes, I remembered about Winchester Arms after I asked the question. Isn’t that always the way? ; )

[married21]

I went there, back in the 80s. It made me kind of angry that a woman of means who could have lived well in so many different ways chose to do the most in-grown project possible with her money. She didn’t build a school or a hospital or even a racetrack. She didn’t even throw parties for friends. At least it was full employment for tradesmen. That is the best that can be said. God had a better plan for her, but she preferred the occult. Disgusting.

[Politicalkiddo]

Did a report on it in high school. It is very fascinating, but it’s so darn expensive. Otherwise, I would go all the time.

[Politicalkiddo]

Man, the seance room freaks me out. It was very depressing to walk into. She was truly one disturbed woman.

[SunkenCiv]

I love the name:

http://www.wearefoundingfarmers.com/

[SunkenCiv]

If she’d live a little longer, the walk would have been even shorter. ;’)

[ßuddaßudd]

What's wrong with Santana Row?

Its too close to the Winchester Mystery House . .
I was being facetious a few months ago..