The dawn broke clear and cold, with the sky so intensely blue, the eyes ached, just looking at it. The wind had died, and when the sun rose in golden splendor, its warmth came as a welcome surprise. My home rose in the most delicate and fantastic beauty, and mirrors a dream of richness, pride, and opulence found only in a fairytale. The size is probably unequaled by that of any other edifice in the valley. It is a house known for its artistic treasures, and is easily the most interesting private residence. With the fanciful gingerbread clapboard, multiple planes, balconies, high, gabled roofs, its dizzying array of towers, turrets, and bay windows crowned by finials; gables, cupolas, cornice, spindles, columned portico, pediments, verandas, overhangs, handmade shingles, crests on the roof, domers, and projections, all accompanied by its decorative trim add to the free spirit of Victorian architecture and reflect the moral rectitude and values of the population. The steeply pitched roofs hearken the High Victorian Gothic architecture. Due to the myriad of vertical, diagonal, and horizontal wooden pieces, on the exterior, some believed that English architect and writer Charles Eastlake produced this home. However, its characteristics are more clandestine than one could possibly imagine. The detailing is certainly reminiscent of rustic European architecture. The Brilliant color green was not only selected for it is pleasing to the eye, but for its restful and calming nature. It also introduces color into the landscape, symbolizing prosperity and fertility. #RandolphHarris 1 of 8

The inspiration for such magnificent edifices has virtually no precedent in America; it came instead from the Old-World sources. Sufficient it is now to say that uniformity is the last thing on Earth sought after.  The cornice and veranda are of contrasting shade with the body of the house, while the shutters have a darker tint. The half-timbered motif and symmetrical Renaissance designs embrace the reign of Queen Anne during the 1702-14 era. The architecture is riddled with the shadows of centuries of secrets, forbidden thoughts, psychological romances, which ramble through the labyrinth. The front doors, which welcome guests into the parlor, are made of Santo Domingo mahogany and are emblazoned by art glass windows, giving the allure of encrusted jewels. This catches more of the spirit for the grand drama and noble ceremonies. Cabinetmaker John Henry Belter produced the balloon-shaped chair and sofa with curving edges and detailed carving, it the Louis XV manner, which went along perfectly with the two corner tables supported by gilt cupids. The Sevres vases glisten from the wall-cabinets, genuine Persian rugs of the finest quality and color, and rare old hangings of velours. Heavens, my husband would never forgive me for paying two hundred and fifty thousand dollars last year for an old sliver goblet, but it is part of the motif that makes this a luxurious nook of the house. As guests go up the beautiful mahogany stairs and pass along the gallery, looking down on a hall such as few palaces contain…it puts them in mind of a scene of the most royal and impressive Baroque masterpieces. #RandolphHarris 2 of 8

Goblin tapestries have been brought from France by my ancestors. There are rare and costly pieces of Dutch marquetry, doors of rare East Indian wood, Limoges enamel of extremely rare and exquisite workmanship. The many skylights, not only allow for air and light to flow through the home, but also to give it the feeling of a moonlight ride in a gondola, while Heavenly music flows from the Grand Ball Room. The creatively shaped rooms and appendages of the house fully represent the expanding and diverse nature of American life. Furniture has been imported from Europe, and the Grand Ball Room, made of rosewood, white mahogany, teak, maple and oak, resemble an entire apartment from a palace in Belgium. The Murano chandeliers were replaced by a handmade silver chandelier from Germany.  Of course, I searched beyond Europe to find furniture in Morocco, hangings in turkey, bowls on Mount of Olives and fans in Japan. The artistic unity of my World travel has been dedicated to acquisitive journeys for creating a museum of find the finest artifacts. This home is state of the art, with 13 bathrooms, indoor water closets and hot air furnaces. Nine kitchens, 47 fireplaces, secret passage ways, a nine-story tower, custom made stairs and some of the most creative features the mind can thing. Of course, I have some of the most creative architects. The final gallery culminates with a couple of the finest collections: James Tissot’s splendid oil painting October, featuring an elegant young lady tucked amongst golden autumn foliage, and the hypnotic stare of the little girl in William Bouguereau’s Crown of Flowers. On the opposite side of the elevators from these are two small galleries, the first of which displays a fine collection of Impressionist pieces by Monet, Cezanne, Sisley, and a gloomy Degas along three Renoirs, whose Vase of Flowers overflows with vibrant colors. #RandolphHarris 3 of 8

Rodin’s bronze, The Call of Arms, grabs attention in the center of the room away from the cool forms of his white marble sculpture of The Sirens. The second gallery here hosts art which stands-out by Philippe de Champaigne, Edouard Manet, Diego Velazquez, and Jacques-Louis David, whose The Oath of the Horatii turns one’s face towards the Horatii, the three sons of Horatius of Rome, and shows them swearing before their father to fight to the death of the Curatii, the three sons of Curatius, who have been picked to represent Rome’s enemy, the Albans. And behind the proud father, the women weep. A table made from ebony that had been imported from Africa, and six Italian chairs carved from the same piece of mahogany, along with two white-oak chairs that would not break if thrown from the fourth-floor balcony, were in one of the several dining room, which the frequent pleasant little dinner-parties of four to six couples, where held. The entertaining, and conversation was general, which made my new home the key to serenity and delight. My guests were served caviar, truffles, and pheasant stuffed with pate on gold plates. Bringing together the whole little community were enjoyable amateur dramatic performances, followed by light refreshment and a couple hours’ dancing. My husband had been the owner of one of the most magnificent steam yachts afloat and was a constant party giver. Of course, the resulting satisfaction was continued focus on his business. If man of wealth had any obligation to society, that responsibility was pure and simple efficiency in business. Men who were in the midst of creating their own fortunes, business success was the focus of their entire lives. #RandolphHarris 4 of 8

However, when it came to the Winchester rifle, “The Gun that Won the West,” to a cowman, outlaw, peace officer or soldier, the Winchester was a treasured possession. A man would sell his soul to own one. William had become a recognized model for the strict, no-frills businessman who never borrowed or speculated, who kept all transactions on a cash basis, who held all his associates to a strict meeting of obligations, and who spared no energy from the affairs of his own firm. In this light, Mr. Winchester embodied the virtues that men of wealth respected. My husband was an adequate model of an upper class that welcome wider responsibilities. He bought out and absorbed competitors, improved his products, while at the same time gaining control over the suppliers and distributors. As the foremost public responsibility of the man of wealth was capable management of his own firm, charitable giving followed soon after. And William certainly accepted the obligation, “I consider it just as much my duty to give to benevolent institutions as to pay my butcher’s bill,” he would say. One of his favorite charities, amongst several, was the Winchester Clinic of the General Hospital Society of Connecticut, for the care and treatment of treatment of tuberculosis patients. He also honored Anglo-American literature and aided the poor and printing workers locally. As well as building parks, and teaching low-income workers to save money and become property owners. The rich, the happy the cultured, are put under a conscious moral servitude to every form of distress and accept it with great honor. After the death of my husband, I made it my mission in life to build the most beautiful, orderly, and harmonious house which blossomed out of the most perfect art. The best artists I could find contributed the creations of their genius to the adornment of my home in many other shapes than in that of the oil paintings and in a gilt frame. #RandolphHarris 5 of 8

The most genuine and best mahogany was used creating the stairs, paneling the walls, ceilings, floors and for the fireplace mantels, and the inlaid paneling, painted friezes, rosewood tables, porcelain vases, silver tea sets, brocaded walls, stained-glass windows, and  paintings brought this 600-room mansion alive with the decorative artists movement. However, all this seemed of little importance after six renegades appeared so suddenly. Four housemaids were so startled that they were speechless. Not a word was spoken as the men dismounted. The women were seized, and each was clubbed unconscious with the muzzle of a revolver. Without regard to the cruel horn, each of the women was flung belly-down across a saddle with one of the renegades mounted behind her. The renegades rode off taking the women as captives. I have never seen anything so mournful, so terrifying. The farmers believed it to be a means of drawing some of the men away, so they could attack the mansion. That is when much of the recorded activity began. In the weeks after, strange, loud, indescribable noises began to emanate from the walls and servants felt cold flashes in the house. One December evening, a housemaid was in the attic. Although she was alone in the house, she distinctly heard a voice say, “No, don’t do it!” Then there was a pause, then “Stop!” She called downstairs to see if the carpenters or myself had returned, but got to answer. A few seconds later, the frantic voice came again calling, “Stop!” Although the house was closed up against the cold December breezes, two doors on the floor below slammed shut. #RandolphHarris 6 of 8

A few weeks later, one of the house maids was napping in the afternoon with the shades drawn. She awoke in semidarkness to see what she described as a lady sitting in her rocking chair at the end of her bed, wearing a long, dress with long sleeves and hair done up in a bun. The housemaid gathered enough courage to test the apparition, or perhaps to test her own sanity She asked, “If there is anyone in here besides myself, knock twice.” Silence. She started to breathe a sigh of relief. Then, from somewhere in the room, she heard two, distinct knocks. Again, she asked the question, again no response—just the image of a lady in her rocking chair not four feet from her. the image. Then, after a moment, the apparition slowly faded away into nothingness. She sprinted downstairs, and though the servants tried to calm her down by telling her it was a dream, she knew that she had been fully awake—she had been talking and heard at least one response to her question. The housemaid checked the clock and decided that she would nap for a bit before she returned to work. “I couldn’t have slept more than 30 minutes when I felt what I knew to be the touch of one of the missing women’s lips on my cheek,” she said. “It was a kiss of such sweetness and love that it could only have come from one of them. I opened my eyes and sat up. I had left a small lamp on in the room, and there, in the dim light, I could distinguish a kind of mist that had assumed human shape. Although I could not make out any distinct features, I knew it was one of the missing housemaids I felt a strong emanation of pure love flowing to me from the vaporous form. Then it floated out of sight through the ceiling.” The four women had been found nearly 200 miles away. They had succumbed to their injuries. #RandolphHarris 7 of 8

Throughout the rest of the Winter, strange, unexplainable events continued to occur. Footsteps of an army marching in the rooms could be heard; periodically a whiff of flowery perfume; the front doors would shake violently with no one there. And there were the sightings—one housemaid saw the reflection of a black blob behind her, passing through the closed door of her room and into the hallway. This was possibly one of the shadow people. A male apparition was seen on the first floor, and periodically a water facet was found running in the tub when no one had turned it on. On morning, I was awakened at 2 A.M. by the sound of a large number of horses trotting by the house, but there was no one outside. At that moment, I knew my home was truly haunted. The lawmen hunted down a dozen outlaws and gunned them down. Two immediately five immediately perished. Four of those who rode away were hit. My path led through one of the strange uncanny wildernesses. And then, a I peered, curiously, a new terror came to me; for away among the dim peaks to my right I had descried a vast shape of blackness, giantlike. It grew upon my sight. It had an enormous equine head, with gigantic ears, and seem to peer steadfastly down from the second floor. There was that about the pose that gave me the impression of an eternal watchfulness—of having warded through unknown eternities. Slowly the monster became plainer to me, and I gazed fearfully. I was strangely conscious of something not altogether familiar to me. I was afraid that this creature would devour me, ravenously. #RandolphHarris 8 of 8

The Winchester Mystery House

Strange disembodied voices and cold spots have been reported as well as strange lights that seem to have a mind of their own. There are also the apparitions of four ladies wearing white dresses and that of a soldier. https://winchestermysteryhouse.com/

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