In another life, I had dreams of becoming an architect. So it would stand to reason that a trip to Southern California would naturally include a visit to the Winchester Mystery House. And, because it’s just the way I think, the first (and best) idea I had for the theme “Doorways to Enchantment” was of the mansion’s (in)famous “door to nowhere.”
From the editor’s introduction to the story:
The Winchester Mystery House is a gorgeous, weird, creepy, wonderful place. Heir to the Winchester rifle fortune, Sarah Winchester believed the only way to quiet the ghostly voices of the people killed by that rifle was to keep building on her house. To that end, there are doorways that lead nowhere, staircases that dead-end, and other disorienting features. It’s spectacular—if you’re ever in San Jose, California, go. You won’t be disappointed.
You won’t be disappointed by this story, either…
Combining my own architectural doodling, a review of the commonly-known history behind the house, and a magical story theme, led me through that otherwise unusable door and into Sarah Winchester’s secret life.
I hope you enjoy The Door to Nowhere, along with the many other wonderful stories in Fiction River: Doorways to Enchantment.
