 |
| The Winchester Mystery House from Wikimedia Commons |
The Back Story:
The mansion is located in San Jose, California. It was the personal residence of Sarah Winchester. She was the widow of firearm magnate William Winchester. The Queen Anne Style Victorian mansion is renowned for its size, its architectural curiosities, and its lack of a master building plan. Since its construction in 1884, the property and mansion are claimed by many to be haunted by the ghosts of those killed with Winchester rifles. The Winchester Mystery House is called one of the “Most Haunted Places in the World” by Time magazine. It draws international paranormal investigators and psychics. Both employees and visitors have experienced the unexplained and the ghostly.
What Happened?
Folklore says that after a series of tragic family deaths, Sarah consulted a Boston Medium. The medium told Sarah that she should leave her home in New Haven and travel west. Once there, she must continually build a home for herself and the spirits of people who had fallen victim to Winchester rifles. The medium claimed to have been channeling the spirit of William Winchester when she told Sarah this information. After that, Sarah came to believe that her family and fortune were haunted by ghosts. Under Sarah's day-to-day guidance, construction on the mansion proceeded around the clock without interruption (until her death on September 5, 1922). Upon her death, all work immediately ceased.
Folklore says that after a series of tragic family deaths, Sarah consulted a Boston Medium. The medium told Sarah that she should leave her home in New Haven and travel west. Once there, she must continually build a home for herself and the spirits of people who had fallen victim to Winchester rifles. The medium claimed to have been channeling the spirit of William Winchester when she told Sarah this information. After that, Sarah came to believe that her family and fortune were haunted by ghosts. Under Sarah's day-to-day guidance, construction on the mansion proceeded around the clock without interruption (until her death on September 5, 1922). Upon her death, all work immediately ceased.
Paranormal Occurrences:
The Ghostly Handyman
One of the ghosts frequently seen is a man with jet-black hair. He is believed to have been a former handyman. He is usually seen repairing the fireplace in the ballroom or pushing a wheelbarrow down a long and dark hallway.
The Invisible Hand
Early one morning, a tradesman was working on a section with several fireplaces known as the Hall of Fires. This was before the tours started for the day. So, the house was very quiet. He was working up on a ladder when he felt someone tap him on the back. He turned to ask what the person wanted. No one was there. He convinced himself that he had imagined the tap and returned to work. Next, someone pushed against his back. He had enough. He got off the ladder and left the area.
The Heavy Sigh
A tour guide led visitors to the Daisy Bedroom. This is the room where Sarah Winchester had been trapped during the 1906 quake. The guide was about to begin her narration when a very clear “sigh” came from the small hallway outside the bedroom door. She thought that one of the guests had fallen behind. She turned and ask the person to enter the room. No one came in. She stepped into the hallway to check. As her eyes adjusted to the darkened hallway, she observed the shape of a small person, slowly emerged and glide around the corner. Quickly, she follows the form around the corner. She saw nothing; but, she heard another deep sigh. She believes that is was Sarah Winchester. She thinks Sarah was upset to find people in her favorite bedroom.
