The source of Sarah’s immense wealth was the Winchester Model 1873, the ‘Gun That Won the West.’ However, this prosperity came with a heavy toll. After the tragic loss of her infant daughter and her husband, Sarah sought guidance from a medium who claimed her family was cursed by the spirits of those killed by their weapons. To survive, she was told she must move West and build a home that would never be finished, ensuring the noise of construction would keep the spirits at bay.

The house became a chaotic, illogical structure designed to confuse the supernatural. Key features included:

• Staircases to nowhere: Stairs that lead directly into ceilings.
• Doors to voids: Doors that open into empty space, leading to dangerous drops.
• Dead-end hallways: Corridors that loop back to their starting points.

Sarah lived in constant motion, never sleeping in the same room twice to evade her ‘nightly visitors.’

Sarah’s obsession with the number 13 governed every aspect of the mansion’s design. This numerical fixation was woven into the fabric of the house:

• Windows were divided into 13 panes of glass.
• Candelabras were specifically designed to hold 13 candles.
• Her private seance room contained 13 hooks for her ritual garments.

This obsession reflects the deep psychological toll of her perceived curse, similar to the mysteries found in The Voynich Manuscript.

For decades, the mansion grew like a living organism. However, the 1906 earthquake dealt a devastating blow, collapsing the seven-story tower and trapping Sarah inside. While others might have seen a natural disaster, Sarah interpreted the event as a sign from the spirits. This event serves as a reminder of how quickly history can be reshaped by catastrophe, much like the collapse described in The Last Cry of the King of Ugarit.