Sarah Lockwood Winchester
If you look beyond the stories of Sarah L Winchester, you'll see that she loved beauty and architecture. There is such attention to details it's unbelievable. I took over 400 pictures of this home. There are so many things that were left behind after her death. Things that were going to be used in future projects, but never were. Construction on the mansion stopped the day of her death. She paid each employee daily so when she wanted to fire someone she could, so when she died, there was no more income.
She also, had orchards and produced dried fruits and sold plums to grocers. She used electricity as soon as it became possible. Her home was the first to have an indoor sprinkler systems throughout the home, that still works. And she thought of ways to recycle things, so that they would not be foolishly thrown away.
She may have consulted with mediums and spirits but I think there was more to her than that.
The number 13 was used a lot in her home. And she loved daisy's.
My son and his girlfriend went along with me, and enjoyed themselves. I do recommend you see this home if you can.
10 comments:
The house looks very beautiful, but when I see such mansions it always comes to my mind how much good could have been done with the money, if the people who had built them would have been just a little more moderate in their styles. I wonder if she gave money to the poor, too!
What interesting facts! So sad to see all that awesome architecture just sitting there. Neat :)
All the best,
Allison
Them Victorians were excessive in their decorating and Miss Winchester made up for the lack of those that weren't.... and it's sad that the unfinished projects she had planned out now collect dust and gazes from visitors behind ropes. Excessive compulsive?...or just a genius whose time came to early? Maybe she took the statement "Idle hands are the devils workshop/playground" to literal! Can't wait to pick her brain when I see her on the other side of this life.
=^..^=
This is one of the many places I hope I get to visit one day. Thanks for sharing your story and photos ;o)
I love that one window with the lead that looks like a spider web.
I wonder what her neighbors thought of her while she was alive.
I can't remember, did she have any children?
I wonder if the voices she heard were from Spirits or if she had some sort of mental illness that wasn't known about back then.
It's also strange that she would invite mediums over to contact the spirits but then she would try to drowned out the spirits with the sound of building.
Do you recall what she died from?
There really is a lot of history there and even without the strange house she was a very interesting person.
Hugs,
Joanne
P.S. Oh yes, I think I remember, wasn't she said to be haunted by the ghosts of those killed with guns her husband invented or something like that?
Sounds like she was probabley lonely and not a very happy person. :( I wonder if the excess of the beautiful architectural pieces & stained will be ever be sold? Again, thanks for sharing.
Glenda
I have always been fascinated with the Winchester mansion and have watched many tv shows about it. I loved seeing your pictures and details about your visit there. Our house is a basic ranch that was built onto before we moved in and then we built on a sunroom, so I sometimes call it the Winchester house. Have a nice day! Twyla
Hi Glenda,
I have probably toured that house 4 times and am just as fascinated each time. She was one incredibly clever and creative woman. One of those people you would have loved to interview.
Lisa & Alfie
I've toured there too. I haven't been back for several years. You have inspired me to go again.
I agree with you about her creative, resourceful, and intelligent side. That is exactly what impressed me when I first went through her home ages ago.
Thank you for sharing your visit with us
Tina
Hi Glenda :)
A fact about me... I'm related to the Winchesters, not Sarah, but her husband's family. I think his uncle, if I remember correctly. It's been a while since I worked on our family tree. Anyway, would you believe I never toured it? I wish I would have when I lived near there. My mom did though and at one time had the nickname 'the Winchester woman', because she was always working on her houses LOL
Great post!
rue
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