Historic Home-Winchester Mystery House
By Jane T ~ October 25th, 2009. Filed under: House Tours.
The Winchester House may be more odd than mysterious but ghosts, spirits and haunted mansions are what mysteries are made of and the Winchester house is all that and more — much more. If legend is accurate, the house is a testament to one woman’s heart-wrenching grief and her never ending quest to remain alive.
Welcome to the former home of Sarah Winchester [above left] heiress to the Winchester Rifle empire. Legend has it that following the tragic deaths of her infant daughter in 1866, and husband William in 1881, she sought solace from a psychic who told of a curse on the family. The spirits of those who died from the Winchester weapons were seeking vengeance. The only way for Sarah to remain alive was to move west, build a house and never cease building or the spirits would come after her.
The famous door to nowhere opens to a two-story plunge.
And build she did. In 1884 with an estimated $20 million dollar inheritance plus a 50% interest in the Winchester Company that provided her $1,000 a day, Sarah purchased a Victorian home in San Jose California and began to add on. For 38 years she kept local carpenters employed around the clock adding room after room, twisting hallways, trap doors, stairs leading to nowhere and doors opening onto walls so the spirits would become lost and unable to find her.
A door (one of 950 in the home) opens onto a wall and stairs lead to nowhere.
View through a door shows a window in the floor overlooking a kitchen (one of six).
A skylight window in the floor (one of 52 in the house).
Her fascination with the number 13 can be seen throughout the house. (L) 13 coathooks in the seance room’s closet and (R) every sink drain had 13 holes.
One of the many bathrooms – each had a window in the door.
It may have been filled with oddities, but the home’s modern day conveniences were uncommon for the era: indoor plumbing, toilets and shower, steam and forced air heating, gas lights that operated at the push of a button, and three working elevators. All bathrooms had windows in the doors to (according to a former guide) provide light and allow Mrs. Winchester’s nurses to attend to her in her later years.
Above: The Ballroom’s parquet floor was constructed from six different hardwoods. Partial view of two kitchens and one of the home’s 40 bedrooms.
A undated photo of the home and its carpenters.
Construction began in 1884 and ceased 38 years later on the day Sarah died.
Cost to build: $5,500,000 – total rooms: 160
Sarah Winchester died in her sleep on Sept. 5th, 1922 at the age of 83 in this bedroom (one of 40 in the house).
Following her death, the home’s lavish original furnishings were auctioned off . It is said to have taken workmen weeks to remove the contents because they kept getting lost in the labyrinthine hallways. Period pieces like this Eastlake chair and Persian carpet [above] have been donated to the home, now a registered California historical landmark .
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October 25th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
I have heard about this house–it is an amazing story!
October 25th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Oh, thank you for sharing this lovely house. I’ve heard of this house and have always wanted to see it.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia
October 25th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
I’d heard of the house too but I didn’t realize how big it is or the Winchester connection. Thanks.
October 25th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
I remember seeing a documentary about this house. Enjoyed!!
Thanks so much for this great post!
October 25th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
That was fascinating!! What a history! I can’t believe the number of kitchens, bedrooms, etc. So many odd things!!
October 25th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
great feature – brings back some memories – we visited the Winchester house several years ago on a California trip
October 25th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
I remember visiting this home as a child…I grew up in Hayward ! Fun to see the pictures…it is an eerrrrry home !
Kammy
October 25th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
We lived in San Jose for a year and loved our excursion to the house. Ten years later we took our then east coast 5 year old son to this. So interesting.
October 26th, 2009 at 12:53 am
I’ve always been intrigued with the Winchester House. I just love the window in the ceiling of the kitchen. If I could have done it during our remodel we’d have a windowed ceiling too.
October 26th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Great tour, I have seen the house on TV, but your tour is much better more pictures. Great blog and thanks for visiting.
Sandy
October 26th, 2009 at 10:26 am
O, I have toured this house….and also have a posting ready for Halloween about this amazing house….
October 26th, 2009 at 11:44 am
Heavens, I’m known for getting lost easily. I would never have made it in a house like that! Very unusual though. Sounds like a rather eccentric individual. But hey, better than a cookie cutter house!
Brenda
October 26th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
What a neat house! I’d love to tour it and the grounds. Enjoyed your post.
October 26th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Oh, Jane, that is quite a story and interesting house! Can you imagine all the people and animals haunting her. I don’t think I’d want to even live near that place!
Wonder if the psychic knew who she was when she came to see her.
October 26th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
I have lived within 50 miles of this most of my life and never been to see it. You have inspired me to want to go. Thank you!
October 26th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
Fascinating! Kinda creepy too, but what a beautiful house…thanks for sharing it.
October 26th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
I used to live in Sunnyvale, and I have been to the Winchester house! What a great post.
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October 26th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
So glad everyone enjoyed the tour.
As I am based in the San Francisco Bay Area, it was especially nice to “meet” those of you who either live or have lived here.
*Bonnie– I have inspired myself to visit the house!
*bj– I’m looking forward to reading your post on the house.
Thanks to all for the nice comments ~ Jane T.
October 30th, 2009 at 10:49 am
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