SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA

Jaycie’s Bunny Hoppin’ News: Winchester house

By: Jaycie Lillie, 3/27/23

We took a guided tour of the Victorian mansion, The Winchester House which was built by Sarah Winchester.

Our tour guide’s name was Brenda. The house started as an eight-room farmhouse which became a 160-room mansion after 28 years. There were several doors that led to nowhere [a wall or a 3 story drop to outside] and all the tricks and death traps were to confuse the spirits that were after her.

Doors to Nowhere...

Stairs to the ceiling:

When Sarah’s husband died, she was so depressed she went to a medium and the lady told her that all the spirits of those killed by Winchester rifles were after her. She moved West and built a mansion but never finishing just as she was told by the medium.

She decorated her house with beautiful stain glass windows by some NY company with a long name that rivaled Tiffany.

Sarah’s favorite design was a spider web, and she incorporated her favorite number, 13, into many design aspects throughout the house.

Sarah was a mere 4 feet 10 inches tall and that was the height of our tour guide and Jett. 😂

She put in easy risers (mini steps) for her arthritis. I took four steps at once. There were regular stairs but only for her workers. You can see on the photo, drawn in black on the wall, shows the comparison to normal stairs.

Sarah had so much furniture it took weeks to move it out after her passing. None of the furniture is original but they are from the same time period.

Sarah's Bedroom:

Twin Dining Room:

She had a room where she would meet with the spirits and the bell tower would ring at twelve every night to call the spirits. She would the trap them in that room till two in the morning when the bell would release them. Only Sara was allowed in and out of that room. There is one way in and 3 ways out. One exit is the entrance of course, the second is an 8-foot drop into a kitchen sink, the third exit is a door that locks from the inside and there is no latch on the outside. Once you go out you can’t return but the way we went in. A little boy volunteered to go first. We all followed. Some doors were very squeaky! We saw the bell tower:

There was a hydraulic elevator in the conservatory. There was also a water draining system to water the plants in the conservatory.

There was also a window in the floor which was odd!

Another water related feature was a shower! There was only one shower in the house which was Sarah’s that she put in once her arthritis set in. It is not like a modern shower but pipes with leaks that spray out. It was designed for her height and especially for her.

There was so much more information, but I cannot tell it all! Too much! Overall, it was a very interesting and mysterious tour! I loved all the beautiful Victorian décor and gardens!

Thanks for reading!

Jett’s Wild Flight: SHUT OUT!

By: Jett Lillie, 3/28/23

We slept in and got ready for an amazing day. We drove to a science museum (Technology Museum of Innovation) in San Jose. I got to design and build my own bridges and catapults and test them out.

We ate lunch and then I got to ride in a jet pack space chair! It was so cool!

I also coded with my dad and lastly, we shopped in the gift shop. Later we chilled out at home and got ready for the Sharks hockey game that night. Off we went leaving my mom and sister behind to do "girl stuff."

Our view:

In the first period I got on the jumbo tron!

After the first period the Sharks were up 1 to zip. We got a drink and then the second period started. When it ended the Sharks were still up 1 to zip. In the last and 3rd period the Sharks scored 2 goals on the Winnipeg Jets! I know what you’re thinking… I should be going for my fellow Jets. But nope, I’m glad they got destroyed!

Go Sharks – my new favorite hockey team (and blanket)! What a shut out!