The Winchester Mystery House

"Winchester Mystery House, Near San Jose Before the Earthquake"

Edna: I think I'm going to sue these folks over at The Winchester Mystery House website. I clicked on that link expecting that it was going to be all about my boys on that TV show, Supernatural. But I'll tell you what, there was not one picture of Sam or Dean Winchester to be found anywhere on that site!

I guess it was interesting and all, reading about that spooky mansion out there in California. I won't go into all the details here, but it was built up by the wife of William Winchester, the son of the man who owned the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. When he died in 1881, his wife Sarah inherited his fortune and a huge share in the gun company. Sarah Winchester, in her grief, spent the next 36 years continuously building a mish-mash of rooms and staircases. The place was like a labyrinth, and it's said that she consulted the spirits when making the building plans.

Today, the house itself (now four stories high after the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, and numbering at approximately 160 rooms) is designated as a California Historical Landmark. There have been some reports of haunted happenings at the house, including footsteps, cold spots, and strange moving lights. To read more about the Winchester Mystery House, go here.

So what do you think Margie, should we have Cousin T pack up the car and head on out to San Jose and visit that place?

Margie: I'm all for that, Edna, but I'll be driving. Hold on and let me get my pistol, box of salt, and silver bullets.

I hope I don't shoot you by mistake, Edna. What a shame.

Edna: Just for that, I'm going to make you stay in the car while I take the guided tour. And I'm not going to buy you a souvenir shot glass at the gift shop either, you harpy. Cousin T, what souvenir would you like, dear?

Cousin T: A pair of earplugs.