Sarah Winchester
Sarah Winchester (サラ・ウィンチェスター, Sara Winchesutā), née Pardee, is a character featured in the fifth chapter of The Lives of Eccentrics series, Winchester Mystery House.
A widow who amassed great wealth after the death of her husband, William Winchester. Believing that the ghosts of the soldiers killed by the rifles manufactured by her family's company were seeking to kill her, she used her wealth to construct the Winchester Mystery House, a maze-like mansion that was endlessly constructed for 39 years.
Appearance
Personality
Sarah Winchester is a well-educated and happily married young woman who was loved by all those around her. However, after suffering numerous tragedies including the loss of her beloved husband, her one-month-old daughter, parents, and other family members, Sarah becomes stricken with grief and heartache. Despite her immense and growing wealth, Sarah was left all alone and with no tears left to cry.
As she neared ending her own life, Sarah met a fortune teller who convinced her that the spirits of those killed by Winchester rifles were cursing her and causing the deaths of her family. Following the fortune teller's instructions, she used her vast fortune to build an intricate mansion filled with hundreds of rooms, secret passageways, staircases that led to nowhere, and other architectural oddities that she designed herself. She believed that the confusing layout would confuse the spirits and make it harder for them to find her. Sarah also became obsessed with the number thirteen, which she believed was unlucky. As a result, she made sure that there were thirteen of everything in each room, from windows to steps to bathroom fixtures. As Sarah's paranoia grew worse, in an effort to protect herself, she switched places with her butler James so that she could hide and remain concealed within the house. James had devoted himself to Sarah and had been in love with her since her husband had died. However, Sarah was unable to reciprocate her feelings, in fear of losing him as well.
In her later years, Sarah expressed regret for following the fortune teller's instructions, saying that she had been tricked. The construction of the mansion could have also been a means for Sarah to cope and grieve with the isolation caused by the tragic deaths of her family. Sarah built several grandiose dance halls in the mansion, however, none of them were ever used. It's thought that she built them so that she could one day use them to dance with her family.
History
Winchester Mystery House
Gallery
Sarah and her daughter Annie
"Vengeful spirits are conspiring against you!"
Trivia
References
