Hidden door bookshelves are often equated with mystery and intrigue. The case of Winchester House is no different. Located in beautiful San Jose, Calif., this mansion has 160 rooms, including 40 bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, 40 staircases and three elevators. Sarah Winchester married William Winchester the manufacturer of the famous Winchester repeating rifle. After her child and husband died Winchester moved to California to visit a niece and would later begin a 38-year long project of building the Winchester house.
Winchester felt that she was being haunted by the souls of all those that died by Winchester rifles designed by her husband’s family. She went to see a spiritualist that told her that if she wanted to keep the ghost at bay and not become the next victim she needed to continually add to her home that she was building. She took the advice and hired carpenters to work around the clock.
So how does this relate to invisidoor alternatives and secret hidden bookshelves? The following excerpt was taken from The American Weekly in 1928.
“When Mrs. Winchester set out for her Séance Room, it might well have discouraged the ghost of the Indian or even of a bloodhound, to follow her. After traversing an interminable labyrinth of rooms and hallways, suddenly she would push a button, a panel would fly back and she would step quickly from one apartment into another, and unless the pursuing ghost was watchful and quick, he would lose her. Then she opened a window in that apartment and climbed out, not into the open air, but onto the top of a flight of steps that took her down one story only to meet another flight that brought her right back up to the same level again, all inside the house. This was supposed to be very discomforting to evil spirits, who are said to be naturally suspicious of traps.”
The Winchester is an incredible piece of architecture. Hundreds of rooms are sealed inside the beautiful and mysterious Winchester House. Who really knows how many secret passageways actually exist. To learn more about the Winchester House click here.