Winchester House: Mystery in Every Nook and Corner

Picture this: A beautiful Victorian garden replete with flowers, shrubs, trees and everything else a garden ought to have, plus a palatial Victorian construction right in the middle of it. Now imagine that this magnificent mansion houses 40 bedrooms, 6 kitchens, 13 bathrooms, 47 fireplaces and hundreds of doors and windows, to list just a few of its features. Presently, a four-story house, it is said to have had as many as 7 floors before the earthquake that rocked California in 1906. Labelled California Historical landmark 868, this stately structure is known by the name Winchester Mystery House and is better known for much more than just its size and architectural style.

Situated less than 6 miles from Downtown San Jose, this structure is home to doors that open into walls, stairs that go right up to the ceiling, and a cupboard that opens to several rooms of the house. Many visitors to the mansion and some of the staff who work on the upkeep of the house are said to have sighted apparitions, so much so that two years ago, when Travel Channel made its list of Top 10 Creepiest Places in the world, Winchester Mystery House found a place there, and even ranked second.

Winchester Mystery House

Now a major tourist attraction in San Jose, CA, Winchester Mystery House was once a home. What was once a farmhouse was turned into what it is today by Sarah Winchester, who was the wife of the second president of the Winchester Rifle Company.

There are several tales attached to this house. The most popular story relates that when Sarah Winchester lost her husband and infant daughter to untimely deaths, she approached a medium who told her that these misfortunes were the doings of those people who were killed by the Winchester rifle and that they were out to get her, too. And that being the case, the only way she could keep them at bay was to have construction going on in the house continuously.

Mrs Winchester is said to have gotten down to business right away and had carpenters working on remodelling the house and making additions to it. Their job, we hear, went on all year round, as long as she lived. Hence, the numerous rooms, windows, doors, stairs, et al, that this house is known for.

A few days ago, Travel Channel aired a repeat of its Most Creepiest Destinations, and when it came to `Number 2,’ there was this psychic who said there seemed to be several ghosts in the building, most of them workers who were still hammering away in an attempt to keep the construction going on.

Watching this part of the programme only intensified the urge to go see it for myself. I was also reminded of another story, also in connection with the mystery house that had appeared in the local newspaper last year, around Halloween, if I am not mistaken. In it, a psychic was quoted as mentioning the presence of the spirit of the person who used to drive the Winchster carriage, and had I wondered what it would be like to go see this place.

Last Sunday, hubby and I — along with our little one, strapped into a baby carrier, made our way to the Winchester Mystery House and did that mansion tour I eagerly looked forward to. Our tour guide, Nicole, took us through the corridors and doors of this majestic mansion and showed us Sarah Winchester’s carriage, the bedroom in which Sarah Winchester died, her famous 13th bathroom, some of the other bedrooms, several bathrooms, some kitchens, the 4-floor chimney, a room with one entry and 3 exits, one of which opens into a kitchen 8ft below, and some other unusual attractions in the house.

We were told that Sarah Winchester had begun her construction in the year 1888, and all this building that took place here went on till 1922, when she died of heart failure. In the 38 years of continuous building, she is said to have spent a whopping $5.5 billion (good for her that she was left with the Winchester fortune). Nicole also told us that the room with 3 exits was where Mrs Winchester had had her interactions with spirits.

It is believed that the house had no blueprint and that the constructions were the commands of the spirits she spoke to. During her conversations with them, she would just draw out the plan on whatever she could find, sometimes even pieces of cloth. The craftsmen who worked for her were not allowed to question the work she asked them to do, or give suggestions of any kind. If they did try to, it meant the end of their employment there. Difficult as she was, Sarah Winchester paid her workers on a daily basis so that she could hire and fire people as she wished.

It is also believed that Sarah Winchester had 13 carpenters on the roll. This wealthy lady seemed to have taken the spooky `number 13′ very seriously, only adding to the mystery of her house. Nicole pointed out that the ceiling panels had 13 parts, there were 13 bathrooms, and the 13th one had 13 windows. Then there is a chandelier with 12 bulbs that had a 13th one added to it. Mrs Winchester is also said to have made her will in 13 parts and signed it 13 times — in 13 different places!

Why 13? Nobody really knows. Some people say the features in this house are so bizarre because it was planned by spirits, others say this was a means to confuse the ghosts who were targeting her. Which one of these is true, nobody can say. Now, if she had done all this to keep the ghosts at bay, or even confuse them, as the other story goes, why did she have meetings with spirits in a room that was meant for that alone? Why is it that some people say they have felt energies and seen apparitions, while others see nothing paranormal? With Mrs Winchester long gone, there will always be a whole lot of questions and no real answers. Her `Mystery’ house just might remain a mystery!

Would you like to go see this place? I believe they even have some night tours. So on Halloween night, maybe? 😉

If you’re interested in architecture, you might also like:
The Grand Rooms of Hearst Castle’s Casa Grande
Lalith Mahal Palace- Steeped in History, Royalty and Splendor
& more such attractions.