Abandoned 1850's Victorian Mansion with Secret Tunnel | Ohio Urbex 2020

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  • čas přidán 24. 08. 2020
  • This huge Victorian Mansion was built in the late 1850's or early 1860's by a county Judge and farmer. Another amazing abandoned place in Ohio with rich history and legend of tunnels used for the underground railroad.
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Komentáře • 1,2K

  • @robinallen5773
    @robinallen5773 Před 3 lety +177

    I know where this house is I grew up very close to it in a 1980 my family nearly bought it and took several long tours of the house...but even then at that point the state of disarray and decay was very evident...What’s even more interesting Is that when I met my husband six years ago we were talking about the house and come to find out his father lived there for the first part of life...a very wealthy but dysfunctional family in that county owned that home and several other magnificent homes in the area as well as large tracts of land of which my husband’s father family leased it from and farmed the land around it for almost 20 years...We were there about two years ago as well but we went at night time...it is absolutely a completely different vibe...final note you missed the Spring House which is where my husband’s father said they kept all their meats and cold items and it would stay cool throughout the summer and always had water in the springhouse so something to check for if you go back...you were correct about the outbuilding it was the kitchen and there is a secret staircase that you missed as well...

    • @eagillum
      @eagillum Před 2 lety +10

      Oh wow

    • @doctilly3539
      @doctilly3539 Před 2 lety +5

      What city/county is this located? Love the history of this place. What is the plans for it now. I hope NOT homes that will roof top to roof top!

    • @clairehynus1620
      @clairehynus1620 Před 2 lety +5

      curious was town it’s in as well! i also live in southern ohio

    • @wendycrawford1792
      @wendycrawford1792 Před 2 lety +10

      Robin Allen. Hello. Fascinating information!!! So disappointed that we missed the secret staircase!! With the fireplace in the basement l always understood that it would have been the original kitchen. The outbuilding kitchen--would that have been the summer kitchen or the only kitchen? What would the basement with the fireplace have been used for. Also, I’m thinking this house may be older than 1860- the style, the simplicity, the fireplaces and the basement fireplace. Thank you❤️

    • @bakerinthehouse5346
      @bakerinthehouse5346 Před 2 lety +7

      Ooo do tell about this staircase.

  • @GrannyRachel
    @GrannyRachel Před 3 lety +91

    I am now restoring a house built in 1885. It has been abandoned over 23 years and the roof leaked in 3 places all that time. It is an act of love. A LOT of work but it will be beautiful when I'm done

    • @absolutelynonameslef
      @absolutelynonameslef Před 2 lety +1

      How many hundreds of thousands is the budget for this project?

    • @mizstories9646
      @mizstories9646 Před 2 lety +1

      I would LOVE to buy a house like that. I can for sure say that I would never buy a new home or have one built. If I had the budget to do that I would much rather buy an old home and restore (not Judy remodel) it. I get actually sad when I see old victorian homes bought, then be gutted and remodeled into a modern looking house. Boo! There are so many ways to keep the original architecture and unique aspects of the house while making it look nice

    • @GrannyRachel
      @GrannyRachel Před 2 lety +3

      I'm doing most of the work myself. I did have to have new gas lines, plumbing and electric put in and the roof fixed. Other than that I'm doing it myself. Repairing plaster, stripping beautiful wood, repairing the window sashes and weights. The outside is stripping old paint with a heat gun, sanding, using wood filler (on oak siding), resanding, wiping off dust, priming and painting. There are 98 spindles on the porch to be stripped, primed and painted. Can you believe the city was going to tear it down???? Grrrrr

    • @73beetle19
      @73beetle19 Před 2 lety

      I’m happy for you. I always wanted to buy a historic home and fix it up. My wife doesn’t want anything to do with it.

    • @dianenichols4924
      @dianenichols4924 Před rokem +2

      I love to hear you are doing that, 7 years ago after prayer for many a years, I was able to buy back my old family home that my father built it was in ruins but I had a lot of help and in 9 months made it livable my husband and I have done much more to it in the past few years it's funny back in the day it was the most beautiful house in our area then it became the worst and now it's even nicer then it was growing up here so tho it took time I don't or never will regret fixing it up.

  • @johnnyhotrod2608
    @johnnyhotrod2608 Před 3 lety +261

    I have to say, 11 years ago I bought an ancient house here in Ohio that I believe was built about 1829. The other day I discovered an "anomaly" in the basement. I have searched this old hose many times before and carefully measured distances and walls and have found there are definitely large cavities inside some areas. I have found hidden secret hiding places to stash items but so far all were empty. I found all those when I first bought the house. I discovered a small room through a secret entrance many years after living in the house that surprised me! I believed back when I first bought the house that there may be or have been a room under the front yard and/or the porch area. After the discovery the other day, there HAS to be! I have to move all the junk in that area to gain access now to find a way inside! This story could get real interesting fast!

    • @kixyoung3607
      @kixyoung3607 Před 3 lety +20

      Oh I am incredibly intrigued by this

    • @ericgregory3005
      @ericgregory3005 Před 3 lety +22

      Film it!

    • @stellarjayatkins4749
      @stellarjayatkins4749 Před 3 lety +9

      Any updates yet??

    • @johnnyhotrod2608
      @johnnyhotrod2608 Před 3 lety +65

      @@stellarjayatkins4749 Yes, I have discovered an access hole the other day thanks to cobwebs waving in a breeze coming out of the small hole going into the ground in front of the house. NOW I'm on to something. Unfortunately we just got dumped on with over 12 inches of snow and freezing weather down to 0 degrees with wind chill factor. No digging probably until spring. I need to do some clearing in the basement to get at the wall. Lots of stuff piled up and a huge full shelf unit against that wall that needs moved. This is getting exciting over here (down here in the basement).

    • @searchingsara7924
      @searchingsara7924 Před 3 lety +8

      Updates please!

  • @terrysigmon3119
    @terrysigmon3119 Před rokem +10

    The house I grew up in here in Ohio was part of the underground railroad. Upstairs in a bedroom there is a bookshelf and when you take out the shelves there's a door hidden on the right side. It was so cool when we found it as kids. It gave us another small room.

  • @stargazer4508
    @stargazer4508 Před 3 lety +91

    Anything this beautiful should be restored, especially if it is connected to the underground railroad. We are losing our historic buildings and many rare woods in the process.

    • @StallionFernando
      @StallionFernando Před 3 lety +3

      It's not part of the underground railroad regardless it should be restored, it's not just history but art as well.

    • @alanp3334
      @alanp3334 Před 2 lety +6

      It is beautiful, but it would cost a heartbreaking amount of money to restore. A lot of the timber would need to be replaced entirely.

    • @lalani888blue
      @lalani888blue Před 2 lety +2

      We've lost real craftsmanship ~ Quality and character. Trade's long gone. We have so much to learn from these old relics... globally.

  • @gloriahanes6490
    @gloriahanes6490 Před 3 lety +140

    Restored a property which was in worse shape than this one, it takes a special person to love a discarded home and bring it back to life. Fifteen years ago, restored a Victorian from 1825 and completed in 1840 belonging to the first Mayor of Jackson, James C. Wood.

    • @Denise23451
      @Denise23451 Před 3 lety +8

      It breaks my heart to these any old home or building in this state. I hope someone will fix it up again.

    • @wrosebrock
      @wrosebrock Před 3 lety +5

      Lots of solid wood to re-purpose also

    • @andychris7647
      @andychris7647 Před 3 lety +1

      Oh that sound nice Gloria, how are you doing with your your family I hope you’re safe from the crazy covid?

    • @StallionFernando
      @StallionFernando Před 3 lety +2

      That's awesome, wish I had the funds and knowledge to do something like that. I wanna have my own Victorian one day, God willing.

    • @banerjee2arias167
      @banerjee2arias167 Před 2 lety +5

      yes Ive seen it done by a team of three, with an extra hand here or there on a spare weekend and it is entirely possibly even on a shoestring budget between 3-4 years. It takes an incredible amount of love and appreciation, dedication, tools, research, tons of elbow grease and a can do attitude!

  • @Missfireblossom
    @Missfireblossom Před 3 lety +104

    Loved the explore! Just by the by, that's not a widow's peak. A widow's peak has to do with a person's hair line. You're probably thinking of a widow's walk, a New England thing where there was a narrow walkway on the roof from which a person could see ships in the harbor. What this house has is called a cupola.

    • @lorileew2337
      @lorileew2337 Před 3 lety +8

      Thanks for the information.. Someone else said it's also called a Widow's Walk as well..

    • @tamilugo3886
      @tamilugo3886 Před 3 lety +1

      You're correct I was thinking the sane thing .

    • @tamilugo3886
      @tamilugo3886 Před 3 lety +1

      Same I meant. Lol

    • @JGumaerTesta
      @JGumaerTesta Před 3 lety +1

      Widow's Walk

    • @mmb659
      @mmb659 Před 2 lety +1

      The difference between cupola and widow's walk is that the latter is opened? I think cupolas have a roof and walls.

  • @donnadouglas5680
    @donnadouglas5680 Před 3 lety +193

    This home must have been stunning in its day. Makes me sad it was let to rot way.

    • @cindy4964
      @cindy4964 Před 3 lety +10

      I agree. What I hate worse is when a very old building built way back then gets demolished. To me its heartbreaking. I love the old places. Seems like alot has happened in this place.

    • @dreamkloud8945
      @dreamkloud8945 Před 3 lety +3

      It was a plantation home for slaves what's good about this...🤷‍♂️

    • @Caleb-fo9zx
      @Caleb-fo9zx Před 3 lety +14

      @@dreamkloud8945 Ohio is located well above the Mason Dixon line! All of Ohio was part of the union they didn’t farm with slaves.

    • @angelmmm1237
      @angelmmm1237 Před 3 lety +1

      As a a

    • @dixiecyrus8136
      @dixiecyrus8136 Před 2 lety +5

      @@dreamkloud8945 duuude, it's in Ohio. They were not confederates. They were union. This is where the people ran to escaping slavery. There were many houses with secret closets to hide and help in Ohio for Ms Tubman's underground railroad. This is probably one of them.

  • @nicolemegyeri5267
    @nicolemegyeri5267 Před 3 lety +384

    The trim work in that place is gorgeous and the top porch is amazing. Someone needs to restore it back to its original place.

    • @pattihainline1573
      @pattihainline1573 Před 3 lety +45

      Would take alot of money & alot of time! As most of the wood work is very damaged! The stairs have no railings! Probably someone took them as they too were probably very sturdy & ornately carved! And things are missing off the fire places those too probably very beautifully carced artwook too! Very sad something so old & beautiful just rotting more & more as time goes on! 😒😒😒😒😒😒

    • @nenitarocreo2836
      @nenitarocreo2836 Před 3 lety +3

      @@pattihainline1573 f

    • @jimsnyder6516
      @jimsnyder6516 Před 3 lety +1

      @@pattihainline1573
      has AVC aardvark aai vas’s c

    • @ravrachael69
      @ravrachael69 Před 3 lety +10

      Its too damaged. It would have to be duplicated

    • @Alexcooks.8
      @Alexcooks.8 Před 3 lety +2

      It is beautiful as this historic bando some places should stay as a bando it’s beautiful and historic

  • @pamelafoster2839
    @pamelafoster2839 Před 3 lety +35

    That outbuilding would have been the summer kitchen so the house didn't get heated up when it was hot outside.

    • @annettepora8091
      @annettepora8091 Před 3 lety

      Also to eliminate risk of fires for wooden homes.

  • @j.d.1488
    @j.d.1488 Před 2 lety +5

    Man if I was super wealthy I would make restoring these homes with such great architecture and craftsmanship a personal hobby.

  • @butterflies9383
    @butterflies9383 Před 3 lety +77

    If there was a tunnel it was probably closed off by bricks. Some of the bricks behind the furnace looked suspect. Lots of houses from that era had tunnels that connected to other houses. The historic houses in my area have them.

    • @gloriahanes6490
      @gloriahanes6490 Před 3 lety +9

      Found all over Ohio and Michigan and yes many of the tunnels were bricked off as these tunnels are no longer safe for passage.

    • @kristingallo2158
      @kristingallo2158 Před 3 lety +2

      There's tunnels under the playboy mansion too. Wonder what they were really for?

    • @faithingod9554
      @faithingod9554 Před 3 lety

      What were the tunnels used for?

    • @kristingallo2158
      @kristingallo2158 Před 3 lety +5

      @@faithingod9554 probably hookers and cocaine

    • @butterflies9383
      @butterflies9383 Před 3 lety +5

      @@faithingod9554 they connected to other houses. I don't know why. Some of the houses are late 1700s to early 1800s. Maybe they used them for hiding stuff or people.

  • @MolotovSandvich97
    @MolotovSandvich97 Před 3 lety +149

    I had always heard it was an Underground Railroad house, but the rumored hiding spot was in a barn that no longer exists on the property. If you’re facing the shuttle barn and the house is on your left, there’s a dirt bank where the hill goes up. Apparently that’s where they used to hide runaway slaves. I’ve been in that house a ton of times, but not since the tree fell in. Really sad to see it decay so far.

    • @urbanxplorer50
      @urbanxplorer50 Před 3 lety +8

      i would really love to shoot photography in this house but do not know where it is located and would love to someone to take me to this house and show me around. i love exploring old places and have the up most respect for them and always keep the location to myself so they do not get destroyed by vandals. so molotov if your up for taking me out to shoot some photography of this amazing house i would really appreciate it a lot philip niklas you can contact me at my email philip@ohioexploration.com

    • @healthyamerican
      @healthyamerican Před 3 lety +7

      i would imagine there were plenty of places to hide on that property, even if there weren`t a secret tunnel or room

    • @amandafield3569
      @amandafield3569 Před 3 lety +3

      @@urbanxplorer50 me too. Wish i had someone i could explore them with. :)

    • @renegade5130
      @renegade5130 Před 2 lety

      What is it located? I'm in Cincinnati

    • @dabug4929
      @dabug4929 Před 2 lety

      @@renegade5130 u find out

  • @lizdelisle1912
    @lizdelisle1912 Před 3 lety +64

    I’ll never understand how houses like this are allowed to rod like this when so many people are homeless. It’s also very weird to see what was left behind from people who lived there with children.

    • @p.a.889
      @p.a.889 Před 2 lety +2

      The owners progeny didn't have many children. Caucasian women in America are having a hard time bearing children 😞it must be karmic reckoning 🤷🏿‍♀️....

    • @kellyhenderson9972
      @kellyhenderson9972 Před 2 lety

      @@p.a.889 🤨. Anyway … it probably has more to do with property taxes and maintenance costs. Roofs on old Victorian houses are in the thousands to maintain. Especially specific roofs like a Mansard or low hipped roof like this Italianate would have. You can spend up to 100 grand on materials for a Victorian mansions roof.. and you need to hire a contractor that has worked with century homes too. The tunnel in the basement is probably part of the Underground Railroad to Canada. A lot of Victorian houses in the northern US would have secret tunnels for this purpose of transporting former slaves to safety.

    • @richardmulkey1772
      @richardmulkey1772 Před 2 lety

      @@p.a.889 i wouldnt get too happy...non whites cant maintain what we created....have fun freezing

    • @kellyhenderson9972
      @kellyhenderson9972 Před 2 lety

      @@nekoti.8-2 I know here in Canada if you have a heritage home , the province will give you an allotted amount towards restoration costs , I think it’s the same in the US. But I don’t believe you get enough to make a dent. Better than nothing I guess. There was a heritage Craftsman bungalow across the street from me that actually burned down at 430 am this past Saturday , it was under renovation. There had been a man in the ten years I’ve lived here that actually lived there up until he died a couple years ago. He was a hoarder so they had to gut the place down to the studs and restore it from scratch. It’s apparently had four owners in less than two years. A few people in my apartment complex think it was arson / scam.

    • @9chilidog
      @9chilidog Před 2 lety

      @@p.a.889 stupid reaction. Whites don’t have problems conceiving. Rich people usually wait until their old to have kids, and some wait too longZ

  • @ryancopenhaver462
    @ryancopenhaver462 Před 3 lety +179

    I can only imagine what the house looked like back in its heyday. There has to be some pictures at the historical society in the town, if they have one.

    • @OnceOccupied
      @OnceOccupied  Před 3 lety +53

      There are. I actually worked with a historical society after we made the first video. I should probably follow up and see if they made some progress in protecting the place. It’s definitely not getting any better 😿

    • @ryancopenhaver462
      @ryancopenhaver462 Před 3 lety +4

      @@OnceOccupied cool, hoping there was would be nice to see them. Thanx for the video.

    • @canislatrans8285
      @canislatrans8285 Před 3 lety +4

      @@OnceOccupied Could you copy and post pics to your instagram?

    • @OnceOccupied
      @OnceOccupied  Před 3 lety +4

      I did make sure you’re looking at the right Instagram handle. It’s @ooccupied

    • @OnceOccupied
      @OnceOccupied  Před 3 lety +5

      It is not for sale and is owned by the farmer that has his farm on the property.

  • @chadlong598
    @chadlong598 Před 3 lety +82

    For sure outdoor kitchen . My aunt has a large house in Washington court house built in 1869 with the original outdoor kitchen and carriage house still in tact .

    • @je8480
      @je8480 Před 3 lety +3

      Was gonna say the same

    • @HeritageWaysKatie
      @HeritageWaysKatie Před 2 lety

      That is awesome! I grew up in a southern middle TN 1830 home. In mid OH now.

  • @robertphillips6296
    @robertphillips6296 Před 3 lety +114

    Instead of building new, should we not save what we already have!?

    • @OnceOccupied
      @OnceOccupied  Před 3 lety +21

      I couldn’t agree more. Nothing beats the character of an old building

    • @Bread996
      @Bread996 Před 3 lety +6

      Go ahead and pony up the millions. This one is a list cause. Nice to appreciate it for what it is.

    • @toxictophat4194
      @toxictophat4194 Před 3 lety +2

      Its what im doing house im looking at has been empty 15yrs

    • @chrisfree6372
      @chrisfree6372 Před 3 lety +9

      When it costs much much more to save these homes.. that is where the problem is.. and then .. of course energy efficiency... i know someone with a home from the 1800s and it costs them $1000 a month to heat it in the winter...... and required extensive electrical upgrading as well as plumbing $$$$$$$$$$$

    • @vickibaker8372
      @vickibaker8372 Před 3 lety +4

      Too expensive to do all the repairs

  • @brokenglass849
    @brokenglass849 Před 3 lety +20

    I remember seeing the first video you did of this house, and I'm loving it all over again. I can't imaging what it would cost to operate a house of this size. It would most certainly require at least one full time domestic...a live-in would make the most sense, and there's plenty of room for that. Not a predictable floor plan; lots of nooks and crannies. Talk about a post for storm watching; that cupola is amazing. Thanks for taking the time to point out all the details.

  • @karenmcabee9619
    @karenmcabee9619 Před 3 lety +80

    I was able to explore this in the summer of 2019 with permission of the owner. My brother wanted to metal detect the property so I went along to explore the house. I am not an urban explorer by any means. Just curious since I’ve grew up admiring this place. I found your first video and was shocked and saddened by the condition. Definitely more damage (decay) and graffiti when comparing this video to what I saw in person last year. As for the widow’s peak as you call it, I remember it being a bell tower. The story handed down to me from my mom was that “watchers” stood guard in the tower watching to the west towards the creek. This is where the slave parties would come up state using the rivers and streams to guide them. When the watchers saw the glow of a lantern, they’d pull the bell cord to signal if it was safe for the slave party to come to the house. I was told there was never an actual tunnel. The stream was the tunnel. But within the home was supposedly hidden compartments to hide the slaves if danger approached. I do not know how much of this is true as it was story handed down to me. The building behind the house to me like a smoke house. There is also a well house (or spring house) to the north of the garage. Covered fairly well by foliage. The property is split by house and farm. The house is owned by not the farmer who owns the barn and the land. The farm is still a working farm with livestock still on the property and the land is actively used for agriculture. I noticed a very strong smell of fuel oil in the basement where the two tanks are. I believe they are rusted out and are leaking fuel oil. Unfortunately the house is far to gone to save. When checking property deeds, the last selling price was 1.4 or 1.7 million I think in 2017 but I’m going off of memory.

    • @teahousebakery5123
      @teahousebakery5123 Před 3 lety +4

      @@destinyangel7713 Exactly! I wonder what the owner will do with it, just allow it to rot? It could be such a beautiful place.

    • @karenmcabee9619
      @karenmcabee9619 Před 3 lety +4

      @@destinyangel7713 I haven’t researched it other than asking someone every once in awhile. I’ll have to reach out to my cousin who is friends with the current owner. But just seeing as it is I think it will continue to deteriorate. I think I read a comment from the filmmaker that the ownership is help up in a trust. Both owner of the house and owner of the farm are big names around here and own a lot of farm land in the area.

    • @stratcat4450
      @stratcat4450 Před 3 lety +7

      @@karenmcabee9619 thanks for all the great history on the house this youtuber didn't bother you give. Until he showed the carved initials I couldn't guess if it was actually as old as even 1908. What's left of the woodwork and cabinets don't look that old. I used to own a historic house in Michigan that was deeded in 1900 but there were initials in the attic dated 1875. The house was built by a cousin of earnest Hemingway. The man was the local lumber barren and surely seemed to put the best in that house! It wasn't a mansion but still huge. Also 3 story like this one but as it should be from that time it was balloon framed(meaning the wall studs run from the foundation up to the roof in 1 piece). The basement was 10+ feet deep with a shabby kitchen for the servants to cook and a tiny manual dumbwaiter to to proper kitchen. If I ever won the lottery I'd get another old house like that,just not in the freezing north, ha ha

    • @greearbelly
      @greearbelly Před 3 lety +4

      Where in Ohio is this house?

    • @apriljasso9731
      @apriljasso9731 Před 3 lety +1

      @@stratcat4450 the house I was born and raised in Saginaw is like the one you're describing. My dad got it for a few thousand dollars from a friend in the late 70's and it was falling down. He fixed it up himself all throughout my childhood and made it comfortable ❤❤❤❤ these old houses are near and dear to my heart.

  • @benfellows7469
    @benfellows7469 Před 3 lety +12

    It’s a shame someone gave up on that home. It’s beautiful and perfect.. that widows peak is amazing and so high in the air. It shows you how big the house really is!

  • @laceyjane4285
    @laceyjane4285 Před 3 lety +11

    That house has so many windows. It felt like it had a great feel to it. I can only imagine what a wonderful home it once was.

  • @OneVancatPlaceVancat
    @OneVancatPlaceVancat Před 3 lety +19

    Next time, put your eyes on your knees and you will see the small archways where people had to crouch down to go into the tunnel, First one is on the left side of the furnace and across the room and behind the furnace, there is a continuance thru another knee hi archway.
    Its not a railroad passage like the union station, with seats and a big clock over the entrance.
    Just a crawl thru the wall.

  • @Chrisss2112
    @Chrisss2112 Před 3 lety +7

    I’ll bet that place was fabulous back in the day. Love seeing homes with transom windows, servant stairs, floor to ceiling windows, widows peak, and second story porches. 👍❤️😊

  • @OneVancatPlaceVancat
    @OneVancatPlaceVancat Před 3 lety +34

    underground tunnels were often too low to the ground to walk thru in an upright position.
    You just kept breezing past the access points tho.
    Was a hands and knees proposition in most places along the escape route. Ehhhhh...

    • @annerobison8101
      @annerobison8101 Před 3 lety

      Will this property be torn down ie mainly the house?

  • @ImLisaMoore
    @ImLisaMoore Před 3 lety +46

    I think you should've checked out the fireplace in the basement. It looked like boards covering the back wall of that.

    • @derekduffie2428
      @derekduffie2428 Před 3 lety +6

      The back side of that fireplace was the garage. The tunnel went from the house to the bank barn, so I was told. The barn was on the other side of the house. So I don’t know if that was a good place for a tunnel or not.

  • @nikki5095
    @nikki5095 Před 3 lety +9

    This is so relaxing to watch. It makes me feel like I'm just wandering around and exploring the place with friends. Thanks for posting. :)

  • @gmamah9559
    @gmamah9559 Před 3 lety +5

    I can't imagine how beautiful this home was in it's prime. The woodwork!

  • @maureenconsiglio6355
    @maureenconsiglio6355 Před rokem +1

    I like the way you do the tours of these abandoned mansions. You focus on the house, itself...not the garbage left stewed inside! Thanks for doing such a Great job!

  • @tinadurski4717
    @tinadurski4717 Před 3 lety +5

    I watch many urban explorations, but just today I found your site! And you are now my favourite. I love how you also talked about the architecture, and show much of the structure. Please, keep it up 😉👍

  • @lisarobertson8485
    @lisarobertson8485 Před 3 lety +24

    I used to want to own this beautiful house when I was a child. It used to be so gorgeous.

    • @rexluminus9867
      @rexluminus9867 Před 3 lety +4

      Really. You were a dreamer, how nice.I wish that you come to enough $ money so it would be yours one day. Cheers.😉😂

    • @2maestra_poetica
      @2maestra_poetica Před 3 lety +1

      This house is so badly haunted...

    • @ab7886
      @ab7886 Před rokem

      @@2maestra_poetica Would love to hear a story of why.

  • @Michelle-fh2dp
    @Michelle-fh2dp Před 3 lety +11

    Most country homes in those days had separate kitchens because of fires. Even my great grandparents had a separate kitchen from their home. They were born in 1878 and 1880.

    • @andychris7647
      @andychris7647 Před 3 lety

      That sound interesting same here, hi Michelle how are you doing I hope you’re safe from the crazy covid?

  • @debraellison6255
    @debraellison6255 Před 3 lety +5

    So glad you went back. Sometimes we wonder what became of a property. This is one of my favorites. I wish I had the money to restore it back to its original state. I would love to had seen it in all its glory. Thanks for your time.

  • @jeremyd1298
    @jeremyd1298 Před 3 lety +15

    What a fantastic piece of history! Just gorgeous back in its day I'm sure! I've been watching urban exploration videos for a long time and this house and your filming and narration are the best, or darn close to the best I've ever seen! Just subscribed! Thanks for the historical tour!

    • @lalani888blue
      @lalani888blue Před 2 lety

      Whoever designed this beautiful piece of architecture...Really was very gifted.

  • @glennbossierbillling7315
    @glennbossierbillling7315 Před 3 lety +5

    Simply beautiful. I love the way you film. It's like being there. Thank you

  • @ShannonTucson
    @ShannonTucson Před 3 lety +2

    You are amazing at urban exploration. You showed us windows, door jambs, crown molding and didnt overlook a thing. Excellent job.

  • @Lastfirst333
    @Lastfirst333 Před 3 lety +2

    Omg the Christmas lights up in the widows peak, cool! The view of the farmland is amazing.

  • @dianeburnejko2908
    @dianeburnejko2908 Před 3 lety +4

    These old homes are magnificent! So sad to see them rot. I wish I could have the means to have found them & restored each & every one back to it's original glory! Thanks for sharing the videos so I could visit & connect with these old treasures 👍

  • @jdexploresfan3628
    @jdexploresfan3628 Před 3 lety +4

    That is a really dope old house. Would love to have seen it back in its glory days. Thanks for the awesome video 😃👍

  • @marilynbennett533
    @marilynbennett533 Před rokem +2

    Beautiful, would love to see it restored, hate seeing old places deteriorate, they were once so beautiful and well built. Love love LOVE old historic or just plain old homes and buildings!!!!

  • @dulceamaya1492
    @dulceamaya1492 Před 3 lety +2

    Very beautiful home. I can imagine how it looked in the 1800's, and the views, I can just sit next to the window or porch and just stare at it. Amazing video, thank you so much for your hard work.

  • @angiewanders7272
    @angiewanders7272 Před 3 lety +6

    I love this house. I bet it was absolutely beautiful back in the day. Awesome video!!!!

  • @runtbuskit9203
    @runtbuskit9203 Před 3 lety +3

    It really breaks my heart that these beautiful historical places are left to rot like this. It's been a dream of mine to rebuild this home or a replica of it.

  • @sharonm8929
    @sharonm8929 Před 3 lety +1

    Love this house! Thank you for panning slowly so that we can feast our eyes. Wish I had the money to buy and restore.

  • @joshlee375
    @joshlee375 Před 3 lety +3

    Thanks for letting us adventure with you! Id love to be able to follow you around. My heart would be jumping for joy! Y'all take us places we would never see. I'm on your heels buddy, turning every corner with you. Merry Christmas 🎄!

  • @cincyzoe
    @cincyzoe Před 3 lety +71

    First, I want to complement your style of recording your video. I love it when an explorer takes the time to give their viewers time to look at the building and it's contents. So, thank you. I love looking at vintage architecture, which it art within itself. However, I do need to correct you on something. The walk at the top of old houses, like this one, is called a 'widows walk'. A widows peak is a natural human hair growth. If you don't know the history of widow walks, look it up, it's a very cool part of vintage architecture. Again, thank you for your lovely videos.

    • @OnceOccupied
      @OnceOccupied  Před 3 lety +9

      Thank you for the compliments! I always appreciate when people teach me something in the comments. 😘

    • @heatherlonaker909
      @heatherlonaker909 Před 3 lety +6

      This is not a widows walk. It looks to be a tower of some kind. Perhaps a watch tower or bell tower. A widows walk would have a platform along the roof. Also called a captains walk. They were also used to access the chimney for cleaning. The further south you go you'll hear stories about the widows walk. When a woman's husband died she would dress in black and walk out the peak, thus the name the widows peak, to let men know she was available now. Where I come from they call it a widows peak and the story of the widow walking it after her husband's funeral still is passed around. We have one home that remains in our town that still has the widows walk. The walk faces the main street and has railing on both sides of it.

    • @ThePianoMan1953
      @ThePianoMan1953 Před 3 lety +1

      @@heatherlonaker909 Is she still up there looking for a husband? ;-)

    • @lightmarker3146
      @lightmarker3146 Před 2 lety

      The room at the top is not a widows walk it has windows that open to release hot air rising . It was a early form of air conditioning! And it worked well too keeping the home cool and comfortable .

    • @cincyzoe
      @cincyzoe Před 2 lety

      @@lightmarker3146 Sorry to disappoint you but your idea of what a widows walk should look like is incorrect. As for ventilating the house, yes, roof windows can be used for ventilation which could also include cupolas. What makes a widows walk different is the addition of some type of fencing, usually ornate wrought iron.

  • @gwenmarshall082
    @gwenmarshall082 Před 3 lety +1

    Historical people should take this beautiful old house and restore it. This is a beautiful piece of history.

  • @bridgettemallory6868
    @bridgettemallory6868 Před 3 lety

    I love the wood detail I'm glad nobody came in and just completely just rated the house it's a beautiful home if somebody to really take time and cherish it and invest

  • @Penjer1
    @Penjer1 Před 3 lety +5

    WOW! This plantation had to be spectacular in its heyday! If only those walls could tell us stories of the people from back then. Makes me so sad to see it falling into ruins...

  • @noramowat5756
    @noramowat5756 Před 3 lety +4

    I enjoyed this video very much. I'm from Ohio which is why it caught my attention. I'm surprised you weren't afraid to go up in the widow's peak with the roof and beams and everything deteriorated so badly but we we treated to a magnificent view.

  • @karimoore106
    @karimoore106 Před 3 lety

    This is amazing I just love the vibe! When you do the outside shots it gives me a Quiet Place or Walking Dead feeling lol!

  • @Terri_RevCrazyPaisleyLady

    Wow that view from the attic window is amazing.

  • @susanurbanczyk9084
    @susanurbanczyk9084 Před 3 lety +18

    It breaks my heart to see how vandalized this beauty is.

  • @sandraweaver8376
    @sandraweaver8376 Před 3 lety +6

    If there was a tunnel, chances are it was walled in . Love the architecture of this house and I imagine the staircase was beautiful.

  • @tammylinville5053
    @tammylinville5053 Před 3 lety +2

    That place was absolutely amazing!

  • @annawallace4629
    @annawallace4629 Před 2 lety +1

    Some of the basement walks appeared to have been built over the years so possibly a tunnel could have been closed off. It’s a real shame this house was left to deteriorate. Very very sad. Thank you for filming the place. Glad you were safe!

  • @IcelanderUSer
    @IcelanderUSer Před 3 lety +51

    The Underground Railroad wasn’t actually underground or a railroad.

    • @gavinbaker3886
      @gavinbaker3886 Před 3 lety +7

      Some houses in the North had underground passages and rooms for hiding runaway slaves. Not a lot but there were some.

    • @savage.4.24
      @savage.4.24 Před 3 lety +7

      Omg someone said it!! Thank you!

    • @jimreilly917
      @jimreilly917 Před 3 lety +2

      Parts of it were underground. Usually using natural caverns especially in states like Missouri.

    • @glendamott6420
      @glendamott6420 Před 3 lety +1

      Some were underground in Ohio on the river .

    • @baldguywithadog7592
      @baldguywithadog7592 Před 3 lety +1

      Yeah most people know that but, there was a lot of “underground” hiding places along the way. Google Cadiz NY or franklinville NY. There’s a lot of places here that were part of it and have quite a few underground hiding places.

  • @richdiscoveries
    @richdiscoveries Před 3 lety +8

    While I enjoy all of your videos, this place was absolutely spectacular.
    What a beautiful old home she once was. Thank you for the tour and stay safe out there my friend

  • @stephenburns3678
    @stephenburns3678 Před rokem

    Thank you.
    Very nice work.

  • @StonedustandStardust
    @StonedustandStardust Před 3 lety +1

    Leonard was probably one of the people who renovated the house in the 70's. There appear to be some new boards bracing the roof of the Widow's peak. And so much of the kitchen and baths say 1970's. I Wish you could dig into it's past, and we knew more about the provenance of the house. It really is a special place. thank you for the tour.

  • @netaearl2389
    @netaearl2389 Před 3 lety +7

    A quality home, rooms have beautiful proportions ♥️

  • @robertagreenbank7613
    @robertagreenbank7613 Před 3 lety +12

    Wish we could see more of the front structure of the houses thathave so much foliage around it. This was quite a place in its day!

    • @OnceOccupied
      @OnceOccupied  Před 3 lety +2

      Same here but even in winter it still pretty well covered up from all the brush.

  • @lanalyons6873
    @lanalyons6873 Před 2 lety

    Seeing beautiful houses like this just absolutely breaks my heart

  • @susangelder8137
    @susangelder8137 Před 3 lety +1

    Thank you for a fantastic view inside!

    • @andychris7647
      @andychris7647 Před 3 lety +1

      Love watching it a lots. Hi Susan how are you doing with your family I hope you’re safe from the virus?

  • @derekduffie2428
    @derekduffie2428 Před 3 lety +36

    I lived in that house! I was the one that put the Christmas light in the bell tower.

    • @eshore389
      @eshore389 Před 3 lety +5

      How long ago did you live there? Why did it become abandoned?

    • @derekduffie2428
      @derekduffie2428 Před 3 lety +12

      @@eshore389 20 years ago. I’m not sure how many people lived there after us. I’d say not to many. Rent was cheap but a bitch to heat so the owner had trouble keeping renters in it. I think my folks lived there about 8.

    • @eshore389
      @eshore389 Před 3 lety +5

      It looks like it was a great home! I love old houses but heating is always challenge .

    • @virginiajones3373
      @virginiajones3373 Před 3 lety +1

      @@derekduffie2428
      2119

    • @rexluminus9867
      @rexluminus9867 Před 3 lety +7

      @@eshore389 People used to seat near the 🔥 fire place to read or do other activities.Later you would go to bed.Day time most folks would be working.
      The kitchen was the best heated of all places.Kids could do their homework in it.We're a very different society now days.Too much entertainment after work😃😂.

  • @ladydiesel2156
    @ladydiesel2156 Před 3 lety +3

    I would love to restore that home and keep it as a place to hold tours. Its stunning

  • @sarahstrong7174
    @sarahstrong7174 Před 2 lety

    Thank you for showing us.

  • @TheBadasspony
    @TheBadasspony Před 2 lety

    Awesome video!!

  • @jenndilldine
    @jenndilldine Před 3 lety +6

    I’ve been in this house before. I’m sure it was beautiful back in the day. Fireplaces are amazing. Can’t wait to go back.

    • @OnceOccupied
      @OnceOccupied  Před 3 lety

      It really is! I could go back once a year and it would never get old. The basement fireplace was huge too.

    • @jenndilldine
      @jenndilldine Před 3 lety

      Once Occupied I loved the staircase. Beautiful woodwork. Unreal how well it has held up.

    • @davidvondusseldorf1208
      @davidvondusseldorf1208 Před 3 lety +1

      Where is it?

  • @Terri_RevCrazyPaisleyLady
    @Terri_RevCrazyPaisleyLady Před 3 lety +83

    I can't imagine having to pee in the middle of the night and trying to use that bathroom.

    • @brokencookie9379
      @brokencookie9379 Před 3 lety +2

      the carpet 😫

    • @laceyjane4285
      @laceyjane4285 Před 3 lety +6

      They used chamber pots in those times and the maid would empty them the next morning.

    • @georgemcgillicuddy3498
      @georgemcgillicuddy3498 Před 3 lety +7

      Terri Butler
      Got to remember when it was originally built , there wasn`t indoor Plumbing .

  • @exploringwithhank
    @exploringwithhank Před 3 lety

    That place has alot of stories to tell. Great find.

  • @sherryannhailey6596
    @sherryannhailey6596 Před 3 lety

    Wow, thank you for taking us on a tour of this amazing home. It was full of grandieur in it's day. Love the wood work. I would love to salvage a lot from this home.

  • @daverohn383
    @daverohn383 Před 3 lety +7

    Its a shame to see the decay in this old house. I own an 1887 Queen Anne Victorian and I love this old architecture.

  • @witchmoon11
    @witchmoon11 Před 3 lety +9

    My grandpa had a farm not too far from here. I don't know if you'll ever see this, but the outside kitchen, is called a summer kitchen. It's where they do a lot of canning and stuff. My grandpa's farm didn't have a basement but they Summer kitchen had a cellar a dirt cellar. This is where they would store their canned goods in the dark. And a lot of times they would dry certain herbs up In The Summer kitchen as well period once they would pick in the garden, and they would go to The Summer kitchen to clean up the fruits and vegetables and whatnot. This video makes me homesick! Hoping to get a trip some fall back home. Just as the combines are working the fields would be great. I raised my kids in the middle of a cornfield. But now home is a thousand miles away. I've been gone for 15 years. I love to go back with you explorers to these old places period And yes they're probably is an underground railroad. The road that I lived on, I won't leave the name of it here was a road that stretched all the way to Indiana. It had many houses that had thick walls you can pull the walls out the shelves out of the walls and get between the walls and hide period This is where they would hide the slaves sometimes. Blessings. Angie

  • @Fireman12-24
    @Fireman12-24 Před 3 lety +1

    Awesome video! I live in central Indiana and there are few places like this around here to explore. Keep up the good work!

  • @janeschneider4972
    @janeschneider4972 Před 3 lety

    The wood work is gorgeous, thanks

  • @staceyhay1355
    @staceyhay1355 Před 3 lety +12

    Amazing explore. You were brave to climb the steps to the widows peak.....it was worth the view!! Would love to see pictures of this house in its day.

    • @faithingod9554
      @faithingod9554 Před 3 lety +2

      What was the widow's peak used for?

    • @tinysmalls2372
      @tinysmalls2372 Před 3 lety +2

      @@faithingod9554 i thought...and I could be wrong...in the past the wives of deceased mariners would look out of the widows peak in hopes of seeing their husband's return.

    • @nancyburham1146
      @nancyburham1146 Před 3 lety +2

      Actually called a widow's walk, widow's peak is a type of hairline. :)

  • @Bananooey
    @Bananooey Před 3 lety +12

    SECRET TUNNEEEEEL! SECRET TUNNEEEL

    • @Aftergloh
      @Aftergloh Před 3 lety +1

      Through the mountain!

    • @beckykuhn19
      @beckykuhn19 Před 3 lety +1

      Behind the furnace was a knee high space. It was not and open walkway like you showed. It was a space that was easy to fool those who were looking for runaway slaves. You would not hide them in a place you could see you would high them in the back of a closet that had a false wall so to look it was small but it would really be a small space to go into to hide people for the night or day until the night came so they would not be seen moving during the light of day. There are several houses that have spaces and they do not even know it because they do not see a big tunnel in the basement. That tower would have been used at night to shine a light or give a lighted signal to say ok, the boat is at the pickup point. So the slaves would move to the next spot on the map. Quilts were hung on the line to give as clues also. Certain blocks or designs were used to tell slaves it was ok to stop for food or for a rest or how much farther until the next stop or even a map in clues. Some were even warnings to go a different way because men were there looking for them. The underground railroad was in a way like the dark wb today. But so much more complex then people ever imagined for that time period. They were very clever but that tower up high was a very very important key to it for sure. It was most likely call the widow seat to tell the men looking for the slaves that the wife loves to sit up there at night to be closest to heaven to speak to her husband who has died. To be as high as the stars and shine so she can be seen by him...... but in honesty it is telling slaves to go the correct way to be free. Look for crawl spaces or fake walls or hidden spaces. Then you find what is used for underground railroad.

  • @julieannemichelle
    @julieannemichelle Před 2 lety

    I loved your tour!!!!

  • @libra9726
    @libra9726 Před 3 lety

    Thanks for uploading, i enjoy watching video like this...very old building...

  • @runtbuskit9203
    @runtbuskit9203 Před 3 lety +5

    Fun fact me and my friends went there. It was absolutely beautiful. We called it
    'The Bell House'

  • @navymom42
    @navymom42 Před 3 lety +8

    It is so very sad to see history rotting away.

  • @b.b.finsclara3589
    @b.b.finsclara3589 Před 3 lety

    Thank you! I truly enjoy old quality construction & arquitecture......i also find it alluring sort of pulls me to believe in mysteries or tales, legends......I love it, Thanks

  • @dianareamsnyder8469
    @dianareamsnyder8469 Před 3 lety +1

    That house is so cool. The view out the front incredible!

    • @andychris7647
      @andychris7647 Před 3 lety

      It looks so beautiful would like to purchase it as well, hi Diana how are you doing with your family I hope you’re safe from the virus?

  • @deannapoirier7852
    @deannapoirier7852 Před 3 lety +13

    13:22 anyone else notice that almost looks like a miniature door

    • @markpayne7397
      @markpayne7397 Před 3 lety

      Now I'm gonna most likely jump in a rabbit home but my folks' previous house (I was in like 3rd grade so I don't quite remember its architecture scientifically lol) was something of around 200+ years old idk if anyone knows the exact date or if i just remember vague info but I think I remember seeing something very similar...actually I know there was and as far as I remember I got no answer lol. This house had a crazy tight-walled and tightly-circled spiral case up the the 2nd floor and the steepest 4 maybe 5 steps down to the creepy basement

    • @ab7886
      @ab7886 Před rokem

      I had to go back and look. There is trim around a hole in the wall that was like 2 feet tall with what looks like brick inside the hole. It looks to be under the stairs that went up to the attic area. Another commenter said here in the comments that there is a secret stair case inside the home that the person who videoed the home missed. I wonder if this is the secret stair case they were referring to. Not sure if it was a secret tunnel or not but it would be cool if they ever toured the house again that they show this area. I know I don't have a section of trim roughly 2 feet high with a center in my house. Looks odd.

  • @BEAUTYSUBSCRIPTIONSMORE
    @BEAUTYSUBSCRIPTIONSMORE Před 3 lety +13

    The tunnel is probably behind the brick wall. --covered it-- save heat

  • @indarobinson2512
    @indarobinson2512 Před rokem

    I love the woodwork in that house and the porches 😮thanks for sharing.

  • @donm-tv8cm
    @donm-tv8cm Před 3 lety +2

    It's a magnificent old house. You can tell it's full of history. It's such a shame to see an old place like that come to such irretrievable ruin. It's more of a cemetery for years gone by, more than anything else now.

  • @gaylewilliamson9183
    @gaylewilliamson9183 Před 3 lety +6

    What a beautiful home.i really like the porch,could just imagine having my coffee in the mornings setting out there.It was really nice at one time.👍💟💗

    • @donotfret
      @donotfret Před 3 lety +1

      Exactly! That second floor porch was the place to chill back in the day

  • @RedWithBluEyes
    @RedWithBluEyes Před 3 lety +6

    So heartbreaking seeing such a beautiful piece of history rotting away. If I had the money I'd save her in a heartbeat

    • @OnceOccupied
      @OnceOccupied  Před 3 lety +1

      No doubt this is definitely one of the best places in Ohio that really should be saved but sadly it’s part of an active farm so it doesn’t look good. At least we got to go there and document it before it’s gone.

    • @alliesutherland4151
      @alliesutherland4151 Před 3 lety

      I would too Dorothy! If not save it, at least pay to reclaim all that beautiful woodwork and old brick. So amazing! We don't get to see places like this in Colorado.

    • @susantapia4136
      @susantapia4136 Před 3 lety +1

      There's no way of saving this house. Every inch of wood is rotting. The only thing u can save is the brick shell of the house.

    • @RedWithBluEyes
      @RedWithBluEyes Před 3 lety

      @@susantapia4136 Susan have you been there?

    • @susantapia4136
      @susantapia4136 Před 3 lety

      @@RedWithBluEyes yup dude done took us on a tour!

  • @nadinemasteller1089
    @nadinemasteller1089 Před 2 lety

    I think your recording was it's last hurrah. Now, after being salvaged, it's just a shell. I'm grateful for your recording of it. Regarding the upstairs bathroom, that was one precarious powder room. The views from the attic and widow's peak will never be seen again. They were spectacular.

    • @ab7886
      @ab7886 Před rokem

      That toilet in the closet thing was a little weird.

  • @meaganbourgeois1984
    @meaganbourgeois1984 Před 3 lety

    Someone needs to restore this home back to its former glory it looks like it was a magnificent home back in the day.

  • @debmorris9648
    @debmorris9648 Před 3 lety +11

    When I was last to the place that I grew up that I saw that my brother demolished so many of the buildings that I used to play in on my grandparents place, great aunt and neighbor's so sad that he could do what he did all because it was all left to a person who did not appreciate anything..

    • @rexluminus9867
      @rexluminus9867 Před 3 lety +1

      Except for valuables sold off from the old house & cash.

  • @yoboi01
    @yoboi01 Před 3 lety +4

    I hope this house gets saved and restored

  • @SharonStar62
    @SharonStar62 Před 3 lety

    Woo!! Now this 1 looks and feels spooky, U R brave goin in this one!! As iam enjoying watching the walk through with you,, please stay safe💝💝 Thank you 4 sharing

  • @suzannestone798
    @suzannestone798 Před 3 lety

    great photography!

  • @brittanynichole5116
    @brittanynichole5116 Před 3 lety +12

    This is my family’s home. My mom and cousins grew up here! My uncle Leonard’s name is actually in the house.

  • @marlaandrews8344
    @marlaandrews8344 Před 3 lety +5

    The bricks behind the green furnace are bowing. They might be removable to allow access to the tunnel and then replaced to hide the entrance.

  • @connorgioiafigliu
    @connorgioiafigliu Před 3 lety

    So cool! These places are like time machines

  • @Indygirl9229
    @Indygirl9229 Před 3 lety +1

    This makes me so sad... that poor house was such a beautiful thing. I hope that someday someone can restore it before it's too late.

  • @Gypsy839
    @Gypsy839 Před 3 lety +13

    Mother Nature is trying real hard to get her land back the place is just rotting away.