Angry spirits, a fortune built from death and psychic mediums? The Winchester Mansion is the spookiest remodel of all time, but how does that relate to Maverick Home Remodeling? When you’re thinking about remodeling, it’s crucial to align your intentions, vision and what you are willing to invest. If anybody can teach us something about the intention, vision and investment of remodeling your home, and because it is officially spooky season, we believe that person would have to be Sarah Winchester.
Her childhood and early adulthood were pretty standard for an upper-middle-class gal in the 1800s, so we’re skipping to Sarah’s marriage. She was boo-ed up with none other than William Wirt Winchester, who happened to be the only son of automatic firearms manufacturer Oliver Winchester. Known as “the gun that won the West,” the Model 1873 Winchester amassed a fortune that in today’s money would be the equivalent to half a billion dollars.
Sarah’s lousy luck began the day she became a mother. Her daughter, Annie Pardee Winchester, died just 40 days after her birth from a rare disease, marasmus, that won’t allow for proteins to metabolize in the body. Some people said Sarah never recovered from the death of her child. William and Sarah remained married until his death 19 years later. When William died, Sarah inherited all of the wealth and stakes he held in the Winchester empire. Not only did she possess the modern-day equivalent of about $500 million, but she also had a daily income of $26,000 a day from her inherited stake in the company.
This is where things get hair-raising and spine-tingling. So, something we haven’t mentioned is how Sarah felt about this money. The lady didn’t care for the guns, ironically. She felt a lot of guilt about all the lives that, in her opinion, had been cut short by the rifles, and she did something any reasonable person would do. She traveled to Boston to find a medium who would tell her what to do about the numerous victims that built her wealth.
The spiritualist told Mrs. Winchester to atone. She could expect a life full of torment unless she moved West, built a house, and appeased any angry spirits. His words were, “If you continue building, you will live. Stop, and you die.” So, that’s exactly what our girl did! This is that intention piece we talked about. She intended to amuse frustrated ghosts, which is an interesting reason to remodel with an obvious intention!
But what was her vision? Build, build, and then build some more. Her crew of carpenters worked split shifts so that construction was happening day and night, every day of the week. She wanted something to keep the ghosties entertained and far away from her. To confuse her spectral guests, she directed contractors to build a sort of obstacle course. Stairways would lead to nowhere. Secret passages were tucked everywhere. One door opens to the great outdoors on the second story. And so, the once farmhouse became a 7 story, 160 room, 24,000 square foot mansion.
And the investment? Over 5 million dollars in the early 1900s would be like $155,435,795 today. PHEW! Guess the ghost’s unfinished business included a lot of commas. Today, you can visit The Winchester Mystery House. And, this haunted mansion even hosts special tours on Halloween and every Friday the 13th.
Considering a remodel? Ask yourself if you’re as serious as Sarah. Do you have a detailed vision of what you want? Do you know what you hope to accomplish with the remodel? Great! Who you gonna call? Maverick Home Remodeling, Inc.!
