Posted on 04/14/2015 1:04:24 PM PDT by 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.
If you’ve got some time to kill and are in the area, it’s quite fascinating.
I’ve been there many times. Several as a kis in the 1960’s and again as an adult a couple of times.
Over the 30 years I’ve been the tour hasn’t changed. Not even the script.
The Hearst Castle is a fascinating place. I enjoyed the tapestries. I have wondered since then if anyone has ever picked an orange there. It was a no-no at that time. I was ever so tempted!
“”If you’ve got some time to kill and are in the area, it’s quite fascinating.””
It is and interesting ideas also - not the kooky ones but having a method of watering house plants on the upper levels so the water dripped down to the gardens below..no waste. As I recall from the our visit in the ‘70s there was a car collection also, wasn’t there? One story was told that upon her death, a nearly new automobile was found stored in one of the many outbuildings. It was amazing to look out windows on the upper levels over all the various type roof tops which resembled those of an entire village and not of a single house.
Well worth the visit if you’re in the area.
On the website at the link are many of her innovations... I had forgotten all but the watering of plants...
“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...”
Methinks that the medium had a relative who was a contractor out west.
Maybe they bought a multimeter from radio shack like all the guys on those “ghost hunter” shows.
People should reply “It’s a mystery.”
I don’t recall the cars but at my age & memory that doesn’t mean anything. The stairs to nowhere and the haphazard sprawl fascinated me. In terms of car collections, did you ever see Harrah’s collection in Reno? We saw that in the 70s sometime.
This turned out to be true! As soon as she deceased, construction on the house ceased.
"...worth the time. Great gun collection there too." - llevrok
Agree.
The collection of Tiffany glass is also remarkable. I'm personally not a fan of the style, but there are a few windows in storage which are beyond breath-taking to see...so long as one doesn't trip up/down the peculiar and unusually short and narrow staircases.
Funny this should be here. I have been in the last 3 days planning on a trip there.
However, I would advise anyone, though I’ve never been, NOT to go on or around Halloween.
It looks to be a madhouse.
For myself, I prefer to go when it is a little less crowded. I think it would be more enjoyable then.
My one question to anyone who has been: Is there a bathroom on the site?
rich kid starves to death in the US in 1866? what’s with that? autopsy?
“”In terms of car collections, did you ever see Harrah’s collection in Reno? We saw that in the 70s sometime.””
Hey - you are probably no older than I am and I thought I recalled a car collection at the Westminster House. As you say, as this age, we can’t be held accountable for our memories...except the good ones!!!
Yes, we have seen the Harrah’s car collection and that had to be in the sixties when we lived in Sacramento. The trip to the Westminster House was after we moved to Southern CA and a flight from OC to Fort Bragg with a stop at the San Jose Airport on the way home to see that...
I always say we didn’t stop and smell the roses often enough so all you young ‘uns pay attention and don’t let the years pass you by.
“”My one question to anyone who has been: Is there a bathroom on the site?””
I don’t recall any but there must be. Our daughter was quite young when we were there and I can’t imagine we went anywhere without her needing a bathroom. I would say very likely....
Several times, back in the 60’s when I lived in Saratoga as a child. My best friend was a tour guide there when he was in high school.
There was also the story that she kept the construction going to alway have some hunky men around to “take care of the plumbing”. No kidding.
Her name sure lives on in my house!
The first time we saw it I lived in another state. Then we moved to San Jose and since we were so close we saw it again. :-)
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