Llanada Villa is as blissful and lovely as it can be; but it is just the busiest place you ever heard of. There are not any idle people here—after the first day. Singing hymns and the constant sound of hammers expanding my estate through all eternity is mighty pretty when you hear about it in the village. Eternal Rest sounds mighty comforting in the village, too. Well, you try it once, and see how heavy time will hang on your hands. Llanada Villa is the very last pace to come to to rest in!—and you do not be afraid to bet on that! A broad handsome evergreen- and palm tree-lined avenue, in a charming valley. Late April: a fragrant, even rather giddy spring, after a bitter and protracted winter. The very air trembles, rich with warmth and colour. The estate in is as impressive, as stately, as any one has ever seen: this is really a mansion, boasting of wealth, the sloping elegant emerald green lawns protected from the street by wrought-iron fences, and thick evergreen hedges. Everywhere there are azaleas, that most gorgeous of spring flowers—scarlet and white and yellow and peach-coloured, almost blindingly beautiful. There are newly cultivated beds of tulips, primarily yellow; and exquisite apple blossoms, and cherry blossoms, and flowering trees, which my niece, Daisy recognized but could not identify by name. This is truly a spectacle…without a parallel on Earth. By the 1850s, Americans had become nervous and disoriented by the Industrial Revolution. The advances of the 1830s and 1840 were successful. The steam engine, canal building, railroads, trolleys, steamboats, urbanization, and immigration had transformed everyday life. #RandolphHarris 1 of 5

More and more, we were shocked to see Americans working in factories and living in cities. As progression became a way of life, everything around us was unfamiliar, machine-made, and unpredictable. The increasing pace of change caused a backlash, a “future shock” reaction. A conservative longing for the good old days of yeoman farmers, traditional rural family life, and old-time religion found its expression in the Gothic Revival. The more archaeologically correct High Victorian Gothic of the 1860s and ‘70s. The more archaeologically correct High Victorian Gothic gave way to the Aesthetic Movement (called Modern Gothic in its day). The Aesthetic Movement succumbed to the Queen Anne style, which was the culmination and last gasp of the cozy, picturesque medieval, country-house moment that Downing began fifty years before. All of these styles have physical traits in common: the irregular massing, the picturesque silhouette, the asymmetrical façade. However, more important, they all have a message in common: the home as an escape from urban stress, the free-standing house in its own plot of land to confirm the stability of property, and the Englishness of the American heritage to balance the tidal wave of immigrants reaching the United States’ shores. While one could have bought for $1,000 a five-room Stick/Eastlake Queen Anne cottage with an ornamented bay window and imitation black walnut interior panelling, it cost more over $9,000 to complete my elegant Grand Ballroom, which was built almost entirely without nails. The silver chandelier is custom made and from Germany, and the walls and parquet floor are made of six hardwoods—mahogany, teak, maple, rosewood, oak, and white ash to really razzle dazzle the guests. #RandolphHarris 2 of 5

While I did consult the Godey’s Lady Book and browse through more than 450 house styles, the spirts seems to have an idea of the type of Victorian home they wanted me to build. While in my Blue Séance Room, sketches came to me of fanciful gingerbread clapboard, with a dizzying array of towers, gables, spindles, verandas and balconies. Embellishments were added to trusses, porches with decorative supports, a lot of spindle work, and dormers with wide overhands were some of the other quintessential Victorian architectures the spirits seemed to relish. The detailing was reminiscent of rustic European architecture such as Swiss chalets or Tudor cottages. Botis—the seventeenth Spirit, a Great President, and an Earl was particularly vocal about the construction of Llanada Villa, he said, “Every house should have two or more tints; the cornice and verandas should be of a contrasting shade with the body of the house, while the shutters should have a dark tint.” He was really fond of the healthful colour sea-green. Botis told me that, “With proper contrasts in veranda and shutters is very pleasing.” The parlour was a very important room to me. A parlour is essentially a sitting room, drawing room, living room, but the proper term is “parlour.” The parlour, or parlour of life, represents the most important aspects of Victorian life. We could not have been Victorians without our parlours. Here families assemble, we meet our guests and entertain ourselves and others through conversation, playing games, putting on plays, viewing stereographs; we sing and enjoy music, write letters, and engage in the paramount parlour activity, reading. #RandolphHarris 3 of 5

Home life was paramount. The love of the family, the love between husband and wife, and above all, a mother’s love for her children, were felt to be an extension of God’s love, and therefore home was a “little Heaven on Earth.” In the parlour, there was a fireplace, the center table was covered by an elegant cloth, and there was a beautiful French provincial sofa. Not many furniture stores had “model parlour,” so I just did what was comfortable for me at the time. This custom room was a true seven-piece suite, consisting of a sofa, upholstered armchair, an upholstered armless chair, and four smaller chairs with upholstered seats and backs. Rosewood, mahogany, maple and oak were used in the furniture. There was also a piano in the parlour (although I had a Grandball Room), marble-topped tables. Tidies covered chair backs. The mantel, tables, and shelves, in addition to windows, were covered by lambrequins. Lace was also used to soften the glare and to provide a pleasing contrast to the heavier velvet curtains. Portieres were used to cover the doorways, and helped to eliminate drafts when hung loose to cover the closed door or entranceway. Because I spent so much time in door, the carpenters built 600 rooms, and nine stories, which consisted of over 350,000 square feet on 738 acres of land, but only a tenth the size of The Winchester Factory Castle. Richly ornamented ceilings, walls, and floor filled the interiors with colour and a sense of the Europe. The interior effect emphasized the views through the intensely ornamented and colourful spaces, which were juxtaposed in the view’s eye. The scenography was reminiscent of a giant illumination recalling the fantastic watercolours in which Mr. Hansen blended invention and archaeology to evoke and resuscitate the historic atmosphere dear to my late husband William Wirt Winchester. We also made references to other times and cultures, notably in the Japanese Bedroom, which was richly decorated and furnished. #RandolphHarris 4 of 5

Of course, many society leaders competed by buildering larger and ever more authentic Victorian homes, English-style manor houses, villas, palaces, gardens, stables, and coaches. I staffed my mansion with trained footmen, coachmen, gardeners, butlers, valets, ladies’ maids, housekeepers, chef, governesses, tutors and chambermaids. My mansion was the setting for summer balls banquets, galas, teas and receptions. Llanada Villa also employed some of the best staff, shops for exotic food, florists, tree nurseries, carriage makers, and harness makers to meet the needs of the estate. I had appropriate costumes, gowns, and accessories for every occasion. The butler had responsibility for the first floor, the housekeeper, for abovestairs; the cook for the six kitchens, with the assistance of the assistant cook, who was responsible for feeding the household staff; the laundresses, cleaned the family clothes; the laundresses’ assistants, for linens (staff laundry was sent out); the coachman, for the stables; and of course, the head gardener, for the grounds. The chef made $130 a month, the butler $105; the house keeper $145 and the gardener and footman $85. The elevators were an absolute necessity to get the house running. When this modern palace is completed, it will rival beauty and richness the mythical palace of Aladdin. Many observers called it “the most remarkable dwelling in the World,” and “without a doubt the most mysterious, costly, and, perhaps, the most beautiful private residence in America.” Every inch was decorated with Parisian Beaux Arts ostentation, a profusion of lions, cherubs, and goddesses. Oh, but the architects were not done. Soaring above the mansion was an ornate domed tower reaching nine stories, so pleased with itself that it continued to an open cupola. The overall effect was as if a lavish wedding cake had been designed in the daytime by a distinguished chef, and overnight a sorcerer added a few extra layers. #RandolphHarris 5 of 5

The Winchester Mystery House

Amongst the 161 rooms that still exist at The Winchester Mystery House, there are also four stories and many nooks to be explored. However, there are only 110 rooms available for guests, the private areas of the mansion are reserved for the immediate family. One of the most comfortable spots in the mansion is the morning room. There are also many mysterious doors hidden out of whimsy, perhaps with an eye toward security. Spirit Leraje, the Fourteenth Spirit and your 30 Legions of spirits, I awaken the powers of darkness which dwell within you all by the power of the blood of the three headed Dragon Zohak that you may serve to empower Mrs. Winchester’s great work! Through serving the greater cause of dark magick which break the shackles that bind the Blackened Fire of spirit, may you be uplifted and liberated! Awaken to empower Mrs. Winchester’s great work of counter creation as an Apostle of the Lord of Darkness eternal and as a warrior of the Path of Smoke! Through the gateway of blood, smoke, and Blackened Fire receive life from the deepest depths of Arezura, in the name of Zohak, and by the power of Angra Mainyu it is done!  Memetohsaref ansav tayh mathsravayhtiah, hsueyniam ehargna itidiorat, adzam ehruha arhtoanhsx uhov mehsa imanirfa ahtay taymaj ahta dhzam abrek em-asaj mergnazah achsear iamha uhov mehsa uhov mehsa uhov mehsa uhvo mehsa uhov mehsa uhov mehsa.

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