Bankrupt Business Made Them Lose Their Victorian Mansion in US

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STORY
In the north of the USA, we discovered a forgotten Victorian mansion with an intriguing story. Abandoned for over two decades, it was an untouched time capsule, waiting to be explored.
This was the home of Edith and Virgil, a kind and generous American family with four children. They built wells in their region for business and all over the world for charity. They were devoted to their community and their passion for helping others.
The well-digging business thrived for many years, but a new company with more resources arrived in town. The new company undercut prices, and Edith and Virgil's business couldn't compete. They were forced to close their doors and lay off their employees.
Devastated, Edith and Virgil sold their house and moved to a smaller town, hoping to start a new life. But they were never the same.
The abandoned house remains a mystery to this day. But the locals still speak of Edith and Virgil with fondness. And they continue to wonder what could have happened if the new company hadn't come to town.
Join us as we pay tribute to this charitable family and take a tour of their forgotten home.
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Be sure to check out Danny's channel ‪@ES.Forgotten‬
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Filmed by Lesley
Edited by ES Forgotten (Danny) ‪@ES.Forgotten‬
#abandoned #explore #exploring

[@wildfireintexas]

This house has more mysteries than you can shake a stick at. For starters, what’s with all the very old papers upstairs and in the first floor office is a computer and phone. Why is a cocktail dress on the bannister? If their business suffered when a new company moved in and they sold the place 20 years earlier, why would there be paperwork indicating business conducted as recently as 11 years ago? Where are the children? And what’s with the kitchen? That stove is seriously old as is the fridge. People stopped living in the house long before the company stopped operating.

[@terrystrahl6006]

That table with the white Tub in it was for a baby to wash the baby up when needed, nice explore ! 😊

[@AngelLynch-c8k]

No it isn't a baby bath it's an antique french bidet

[@RosieM-u6q]

Rosie in Texas again, here. Ive been working in offices since 1977. Old lady here. :) That first desk has a vintage adding machine and that roller with the contacts is called a Rolodex. Those old file cabinets have a safety designed into them. If one drawer isn't completely closed, none of the others will open. If you push all drawers closed, then you can access any drawer. No computers so paper copies were kept of everything. Looks like they had a really great system of organization and efficiency. Sometimes old homes were converted to a business. I'm guessing they probably didn't live there towards the end. Maybe the lead paint or asbestos was a factor too and they had to leave? Great tour!!

[@harrietlivengood6793]

It’s very sad knowing that this once lucrative business had to close it’s doors. This was an amazing exploration. Thank you Leslie for your wonderful presentation of this time capsule.

[@lailahammes4964]

Yes, chamber pot. Also, wall clock is known as a Grandfather Clock. Thank you Leslie. So much history and antiques.

[@AngelLynch-c8k]

Not a chamber pot a antique french bidet

[@nicoletanis3703]

Lesley, thank you for this wonderful virtual tour! This incredible abandoned Victorian Mansion is amazing. I enjoy your coverage of the place.

[@celinariguresmo2260]

Muy agradecida xel vídeo y más aun en español traducido

[@normanfletcher8332]

Wow, Now this is interesting, 1st floor converted to their business, & upstairs, the living area. Well documented Thank You.. Curious, Did I over look, Not seeing the outside...

[@countryposh]

Thank you for bringing this house back to life, even if only for a fleeting moment. That is indeed a pencil sharpener and you did not break it! It twists on and off. We had those in our schools when I was a kid and in our homes. It looks as though when the business was failing they were running it out of their home. There are lots of abandoned mansions in the US, I hope you find more and I hope you had a great time here!

[@barbkeil-burton6894]

Hi Lesley, Sad that the Business went Bankrupt in this Abandoned Mansion in USA!!☹ Lesley @ 3:28 You said that was a Tiny Bed, No it was considered a Full Size Bed, for 2!! Now @5:55 this Bed was a Twin Size Bed, for 1 Person or Child!! @8:29 that was Not a URN, Just a Pot!! @ 15:16 Vandalism..Broke Wall above the Tub, looking for Copper in the wall & yes they broke the Sink!! I Loved the RED Upholstery Furniture!! i Love the 2 Piano`s !! A Shame No One is getting the Furniture & Pictures!! @15:51 that was Not a Christmas Card, but Another Sympathy Card!! @26: 15 You said the date on the bill was 1993 but No it was 1933!! @43: 36 In the Basement...the File Cabinets Show Flood Lines of Rust!! Thanks so Much, for Sharing This Video, 😍even If I Didn`t See it Till Now..2 Days Later!! Take care & Be safe on Your Next Journey & have a Wonderful Evening!!😎❤ Love Barb from Central Illinois USA❣

[@jamesjones1536]

You bring abandon places to life again!!! It is as though the people(s) are still alive and right there with you!!!! Your narration(s) are simply awesome!!!! I wait in anticipation of your videos!!! Thanks for showing me how others have lived across the world!!!!

[@debbiewhite6250]

Wonderful exploration of a family business which was also their home. Sadly, there are so many memories left to ruin. Thank you for documenting this beautiful home.

[@ChristinefLucchese-i1w]

U r the most respectful person I've ever seen inmy life!!!!!

[@jefflawrentz1624]

That was a really cool explore, Leslie. I’m surprised the family didn’t auction the contents when they lost their business. The item at 6:23 is wooden clock works that probably came out of one of the clock cases in next room. The item at 12:36 is a bidet; at 20:40 was a print of a famous painting by Jean-Baptiste Greuze and at 29:40 a comptometer - forerunner of calculator. Thanks for sharing and safe travels !

[@janncoons7445]

They need someone like you sweetheart to go around with them and to tell people what things actually are. This sweet young man doesn't even know the reason why they had such high ceilings

[@BobLaw-z7v]

Leslie: I enjoyed this very much. I live in Nashville, TN and I am not too far from Pennsylvania where this was filmed. The title was Bankrupt Business made them loose their fvidctorian Mansion in U.S. I suggested once before that you number your films it would make it much easier for your customers to keep up with that they have seen. In this one you picked up a wooden something with a lot of wooden wheels and didn't know what it was. It was the wooden works for a clock. There were many clocks in the home and this could have been in a grandfather clork or a shelf or wall clock. I have a wooden works grandfather clock made by Lumen Watson in Cincinnatti,Ohio 1815-1825. Watson died 1834 in Ohio. Also I noticed you commented on the ventilator on a table. In America we call this a fan. I really enjoy watching your program and have watched it almost every day for the last two weeks. If you ever get to Nashville I would like to meet you. Bob Law

[@galeholt3757]

I believe the piano is called a spinet...it is truly sad the it is abandoned

[@COMPOUNDCOLLECTIVE]

At 13:08 that represents an Ox yoke. Looks homemade to me, so maybe for decoration...

[@ginaderosebell3526]

Those interesting pianos are call American square grand pianos. I've not seen pianos shaped that way with the large legs below. There were two or maybe three of them in this house. What an extraordinary place! Thanks Leslue!

[@laurasear6597]

The round deal is a rolladex for people, and business phone numbers, and the other item that you pulled the kever down is adding machine.

[@michellepark604]

That’s a HAM radio. When everything goes to shit you can still stay in touch with other Ham radio users

[@AC.556]

Exatamente isso que percebemos no andar de cima. Um local reservado para as conversas como rádio amador.

[@conk449]

That was a grandmother clock. I'm American. We dont put guns in our clocks.😂

[@shan4078]

I was like , a gun, really? Grew up with both a grandfather clock and a hunting rifle. My dad never put his rifle in the clock😂

[@CjbrkBrooks]

Exactly. No guns in clocks. In old days, they were over the door mantle.

[@CjbrkBrooks]

Let me say this. My former brother in-law came from a (German) American blue blood family. His grandfather purchased the rights to the patent to manufacture margarine in the USA…from the Frenchman who created it. It was called Jelke’s Good Luck Margarine. Just imagine the fortune! Another company came along and demanded that they sell. The Jelke family refused…the other company didn’t give up,.,they said that they’d out produce JGLM, and put them out of business…and they would have! So the Jelke family sold to that other much larger corporation, but at a greatly undervalued price. The Jelke family was okay. ..they had another business whose name you’ve seen everywhere. They manufactured the giant steel beams for skyscrapers. But the point is that even today, the global elites want complete control of everything and will stop at nothing, including blackmail and murder, to put smaller businesses out of business so that they can control everything! These are patient people…this has been planned…and executed… over 100 years’ time. I KNOW this, because I sat in their private supper clubs and listened to them plan this complete economic takeover. I never believed they’d succeed…but they have. So sad. My brother in-laws’ name was Minot Jelke. His nickname was Mick. He was the funniest guy to be with. I had a great time anytime I visited them in Miami Shores. His mother had a FABULOUS estate up in New York (?) , and before she died, she had a will drawn up that protected the property from ever being publicly sold or divided up for golf courses or “tract” mansions. It is a palace on American soil, with real swans living on small lakes on the property! It’s really too bad that more of these wealthy people don’t have these properties protected in trusts that allow them to be used for seminars, retreats etc, with part of their wealth donated to the upkeep. The Koehler estate in Wisconsin is one such property. These are really palaces on American soil. The Jelke family also had a fabulous mansion in Chicago in their early years, and it was over a city block long! I think what happened to both of these families is called “hostile takeover “, or unfair business practices. There is now a legal definition for this kind of UNFAIR and dirty competition. American Airlines was sued many times by Braniff for dirty tactics. (I worked for Braniff). These takeovers are PLANNED, and it’s not about money, although it’s important …it’s all about control. You have no money…you have no power, no autonomy…you are controlled. AND THAT’S THE PLAN…AND IT’S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW…

[@deniseharris2982]

I am IN Texas my dad kept his guns in the clock

[@lindaloftus8780]

Amazing home. Love the old furniture, especially the upholhastered pieces, and the clock. Those are fabulous. Would love to have some of it. Some of the photos are from the 1930's and 40's. My Mother had some from that era of her family is only reason I know. What a wonderful explore.

[@schamblin45]

Beautiful antiques in there. That piano is stunning! Thanks for another great explore, Lesley!

[@Marycedarcreek]

I enjoyed exploring this home. You could tell that once it was really nice. Thank you 😊

[@GenXtothe7thPower]

I’ve been patiently waiting for you and Ex to upload more from last year’s USA tour! This one is worth the wait M Amazing!

[@mariajhanley5172]

Wonderful exploration Lesley. Definitely a generational home and business. I saw representations of American primitive, Edwardian, art nouveau, art deco, Victorian, mid-century, 70's country charm and even a little 80's make a big statement flowers, lol. All in one house! I hope the heirs come back and find good homes for the antiques - quite a collection.

[@alexandria8255]

Hey, that portrait of the girl on a bench with the bird is called Spring Song by Simon Glucklich dated 1925. My mom had same one she gave to my cousin as a remembrance to our grandma. Fantastic exploration! thanks Lesley and Danny. God Bless ✨🙏✨

[@SmokeyMt.]

Another great explore! After the home was turned into the offices for the business you were able to shop how busy they were. Thanks for sharing this wonderful experience. Stay safe guys. 😆😘❤

[@angela.m3049]

You guys are awesome! I'm a big fan.. love your videos!!

[@coreyshaw3701]

Running a business out of your home is pretty common here in the states. A lot of small businesses start off that way but usually get a bigger facility as they grow. The guy who the town I live in is named for, was the postmaster and ran the local post office out of his home. Fascinating tour of a sad story.

[@John_Locke_108]

Back in the early 80's my babysitter was an elderly woman who ran the Post Office which was part of her house. When she got too old to run the post office it moved up the road to an antique store owned by her friend. That store was part of her house and she ran it until she got too old. After that, back in the early 90's, the post office moved to the old town meeting house.

[@berthagreen1620]

Love exploring with you.

[@insandity1]

Beautiful home thank you for sharing. The photo's on the second floor would not have been the children of the owner who had to abandoned the home, the pictures depict children in the 1920/ 1930's from the clothing and type of photo. Perhaps their grandparents? Keep up the wonderful videos I really enjoy them.

[@dustyrusty6840]

What a fantasizing piece of history. Some one needs to come in and restore this place and place it on historical place.

[@debbiemason5267]

Very interesting place. Don't think I have ever seen anything like this. Very mysterious, but interesting. Thank you for this exploration

[@sarahd5341]

Wow what an incredible explore. Interesting how it’s clearly in a busy part of town (cars driving by regularly) but is not vandalized. Sad to see such beautiful items decaying slowly. Would love to know what happened to the family and why it was all just left to rot.

[@silviaB.LL3921]

Hello ! Very nice video 👍 Nobody is going to rescue the antiques? Well, we don't know what situation the house is in, whether it is repossessed or for sale, in any case it would be a shame if the things it contains end up deteriorating. Greetings from Spain😎🇪🇦

[@dianavanormer9802]

I understand turning on old home into a place of business. I just don't understand leaving all those valuable antiques behind to rot once the business closed. The item you thought might be a bed pan or chamber pot is actually a vintage French Bidet and if in good condition, can be quite valuable. The broken tiled wall over the end of the tub might possibly have been done by thieves with the intent to steal copper pipes. I think you said the painting/picture on top of the square grand piano was a picture of the house. If so, oh my, how lovely!

[@willyegger4488]

Hey dear Lesley, after the lifestream yesterday evening I had to rewatch this video again. And, dear bro, I can only say: bravo, my friend, what an excellent and highly interesting video! It was for me once more so very exciting to walk in mind at your side and seeing all these still fully furnished rooms of that abandoned location somewhere in the USA. Thank you for sharing this amazing explore experience with us! I simply love your respectful approach to the life of the former owners and the way how you express your feelings about what you are seeing in that location. I was also surprised to see this unique combination of the company part with the business equipment and then in the upper stories the residential rooms. A lot of really interesting and remarkable antique items were visible throughout the whole property. I especially loved these beautiful old pianos. For me heartbraking to see them rotting away!! - And - once again I simply admire your good eye for special details. Amazing, bro! Wishing you all the best and still hoping to meet you soon. Peace, kindest blessings and greetings from now rainy and rather cold Switzerland.

[@lauramclaine504]

I’m wondering if the house was a Bandan a long time ago and they had offices somewhere else and when the business started to fail, they moved the offices into the old house that wasn’t being used to save money

[@jendagesse4524]

Love watching your videos

[@froggieredcliffe8097]

Hi Lesley, this home certainly looks like it has been abandoned for a very long time, it is so sad indeed.

[@RosieM-u6q]

Please be careful Lesley. These old places have a lot of lead paint, mold and asbestos. Love your videos!

[@cindypackard9597]

very beautiful home

[@Kate11.11]

Such an amazing explore Lesley! So much left behind! I will never understand that, especially the photos. Thank you 😊 ❤

[@rexstorm7408]

It is just speculation on my part but, I have a feeling that they closed the true offices of the business, in order to try and keep their employees working so they cut overhead, and brought all the most important files to the main floor of their home

[@nicolasmaximus2286]

Yes indeed.Lower the costs & overhead to continue profitability.😊 I hope they're ok. Tax problems & left the country?😮

[@COMPOUNDCOLLECTIVE]

At 10:41 those are NOT wall clocks. Wall clocks, are made to hang on a wall. This one is a free standing clock or more commonly known as a grandfather clock. Many of them have a place on the backs to keep them against a wall to prevent falling over.

[@Happyland_Motel_Gamer_Cat]

I personally think the attic room with vintage radios and clocks, looks like a place for the collector to enjoy same personal items collected. It sounds very close to a main road but it is surprising how a lovely old time capsule is left virtuality untouched to time.

[@LindaChance-ju2in]

Wonderful tour , thank u so much & much love from Texas

[@CjbrkBrooks]

Wow! Short wave radio? Is there a tower outside? Oh, my…that looks like short wave radio. Not everyone can do that…you must have a license. My dad was a short wave hobbyist, and used to talk to people all over the world. You crack me up…we never stored guns in clocks. Those spaces below the clock faces held the long chimes for the clocks. They sounded like church bells. Bong, bong, bong, bong…..one chime for each hour, and one chime on the half hour.

[@lljohnson9249]

I adore your style when exploring. The attic area reminds me of a war movie where correspondents would hide. If walls could talk.! Bless you Leslie on all your travels.

[@davidheidbrink1135]

Very cool, enjoyed it very much ❤

[@ramona_rami5643]

An interesting place with so many beautiful memories! Thank you,Lesley, for this nice exploration!

[@ajtsou397]

Top floor where the long red settee was sitting, did you look behind it? Seemed to be blocking a fireplace because I noticed the mantle above

[@maryellenshock]

I noticed that too! Why put a settee in front of a fireplace ( unless they had it bricked up)

[@wildfireintexas]

The style of the velvet chairs and sofa is called “velvet tuck and roll. It was very popular in the early half of the 20th century and they were often stuff with horse hair. They are very stiff to sit on.

[@griselhernandez1909]

It's a pity to see how the abandonment has ruined everything. Many valuable and lovely objects .

[@diannaschmidt6545]

Makers of pianos? Beautiful pieces that need to be saved. 🌷Thank you 😘

[@aspensulphate]

Such a wonderful and interesting explore! You are the best! Would have been nice to see the outside, but I understand you may have wanted to keep a low profile. Keep up the fantastic work!

[@annegleason8442]

So heartbreaking!!! 😢

[@gaylewilliamson9183]

Live the furniture and the beautiful wall papers.Sad to see th left to rot. that was a beautiful place.👍❤️🇺🇸

[@stephaniekauffman2741]

Out of all of the KZbinrs that go through homes (abandoned and otherwise) I like yours the most. You are so much in amazement of everything you see...small or large homes, theatres, etc. And, of course, your accent is wonderful.

[@jonathanfreedom1st]

Notice in the basement several Waterlines, that basement appears to have flooded many many times even the paper files appear been wet at many points. I mean it is the USA. And if we didn't have basement flooding and risk of it we'd be remissed.😊

[@ExploringNomad]

So beautiful, I actually live in PA, I was here last christmas day with some friends.

[@bobinlisa]

tried so hard not to laugh when he said the yoke hanging in the attic for harnessing animals for a wagon or buggy was a chandler of some kind. it was cool to see though.

[@evelyngibson7826]

That place is beautiful, wow!!! Ty!! ❤

[@leobower9041]

I never remember you looking under a bed before

[@AC.556]

Verdade lol ele poderia olhar todas as vezes.

[@griselhernandez1909]

Thank you. It has been wonderful to watch this video.

[@tealemon4693]

Love those antique mason jars in the basement

[@libbytaylir6492]

These videos show us how short life is! We will leave it all behind one day! We must be ready to die!

[@deborahseale8510]

Fun Fact, the 'horn' handle knife, if it was from a deer or an anteope or something like that, it is an antler, antlers are shed and regrown yearly, horns are permanent

[@annsmith4739]

Hi Lesley looks interesting lv Ann 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧❤️❤️❤️

[@judyparsons1657]

Thanks Leslie for the video I really enjoyed it,now I'm going to watch it again,go get yourself a cup of hot chocolate and stay warm

[@joangravel2436]

Thanks awesome video I enjoyed watching

[@azzamarwan5476]

This mansion is so beautiful 😻❤️ full of antiques thank you Lesley for your nice exploration ❤❤🎉🎉love your videos .

[@tanyadebeer4836]

I think that is an old baby bassinet for bathing an infant, but I bet the bathroom wall was knocked in by someone looking for copper. I would have loved to see the outside of the home.

[@silviacarducci6691]

Grande Lesley come sempre una grande esplorazione una bella casa vittoriana amo le tue esplorazioni ed il modo che racconti la vita delle case e la gente che le ha abitate sei super super e grazie per le traduzioni..anche se qui non ci sono Sono 😢 che ti seguo io e la mia famiglia 🍀🍀😊🥰🌻🌻💪💪💪❤❤

[@griselhernandez1909]

Very interesting video. The history of this big mansion is amazing.

[@kikibean2024]

Hi Lesley. Those are called Balloon Back chairs. they are from the Victorian era. Great find and explore!

[@lucasvictor5292]

Hello, brothers of decadence (Decay). Lesley and Mr. Danny and other members, I would like to ask you, if you can, to subtitle the video in several languages, including Brazilian Portuguese. I'm learning English but I still have some difficulty with some words. I always follow you. Thank you very much in advance.

[@luvmyrecords]

The piano upstairs likely could be classified as a spinnet, but I've not seen one that small before.

[@SRay-or3nc]

Maybe that's a baby grand square piano

[@luvmyrecords]

@@SRay-or3nc I couldn't say, myself, though usually, square pianos have much more depth. Experts in such things could tell us better. I may have studied with such people, but I certainly am not one of them!

[@erixoliver]

I thought it was a clavichord but then noticed the wood seemed too thick for such a quiet instrument

[@luvmyrecords]

@@erixoliver Still, that's not such a wild idea, given its size, but this instrument also is too "piano-like," and too modern in its design, to be a clavichord.

[@sarahd.787]

I couldn’t just leave these beautiful amazing antiques behind. It seems like such a shame for these things to waste away. I was also wondering if you have to get permission to go into these places or because they’re abandoned are you able to just go in.

[@AC.556]

Boa pergunta. Eu acredito q a maioria ele deve primeiro pedir a permissão.

[@marceloaguayo8391]

Which antiques? There was no antiques in this place !! This guy use to do beautiful places now all this places are just trash !!!

[@sandym8787]

@@marceloaguayo8391 You don't know much about antiques it seems - I sell them - and there are many beautiful , salvageable items here ..

[@tracywatson6898]

Did you watch the video? I’m assuming you did, therefore you are invading their privacy as well. Js

[@kthstefani]

@@marceloaguayo8391 There's plenty of antiques in there and junk.

[@VernonBush-w5c]

It is a beautiful home thank you for sharing

[@nicoletanis3703]

Lesley, this venue sounds exciting. 😊

[@lotusdolphin]

Hi Lesley! Great documentary of this beautiful Victorian mansion. Makes me sad to think of a lucrative business being pushed down by bigger commerce. Another one. I wonder what happened to the people. At least they could’ve sold a lot of their stuff. Better than just walking off, leaving it all I bet it was beautiful at one time. They certainly had some priceless antiques. I can’t believe you found that in the United States in pristine condition. Thank you so so much Safe travels🤟🏻💜😎🐬🇺🇸

[@maryellenshock]

That "chamber pot" could be a babies bathtub.

[@love15-ko4sx]

Watching from Philippines 😊 interesting content more videos like this please😊

[@ajtsou397]

P.S. that looks more like an (electric maybe) organ instead of a piano, the keys look different

[@bobbys4327]

and that one has speakers

[@sherryhill8052]

Your in USA yayyyy!!!!! Welcome 🙏 hello from Wentzville Missouri ❤

[@nnieves51]

Lesley Bravo, your a true explorer.

[@christinelucchese6323]

Thank u time to relax with your story

[@roguegalaxy8758]

🕸🙇‍♀️”.. Pretty cool vintages, behind the sadly event. Thank you lesley”

[@Glaks1234]

I just love watching your videos! !😀

[@MelynMonta]

thank you i really enjoy watching your incredible abandoned houses tour watching from phillipines ❤❤❤❤

[@Jojo-gh5vpJosephineDulapAizon]

11:49 YES good aftirnoon sir Bro of Decay Always watching your video sir

[@tealemon4693]

The steps going down into the basement from the outside are called the bulkhead.

[@davespoemsandsongs9497]

The brother of decay, I have never seen a house like this before this must be the best house you have shown to me, it is a lot of history here, and thank you for showing this to me

[@joanmatchett8100]

Is the radio in the top bedroom a CB radio , Citizens band ? .

[@judyparsons1657]

Yes I agree nice house

[@COLLETTETHOMAS]

I recognize the Epson computer. I had one back in the 90's Also recognize the Rolodex. Everyone had one of those in business for phone nos and addresses. And also the meetal file cabinets. I still have two in my house.

[@nightwolf1634]

also be careful of showing addresses while filming noticed you showed addresses in the binder from a water company and another address. Protect the privacy of others. 26:26 is the time stamp of where you exposed their address and info

[@mariameyer4802]

WUNDERSCHÖN ❤, ES ist schade das alles gute liegen bleibt. Ich könnte mir vorstellen das es Menschen gibt die Interesse hätten, alte Gegenstände in Ehren halten halten. Für die Familie die dort lebten. Das Video ist fantastisch danke ❤❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@rogervoke5179]

BTW that was a short wave radio in the 1st bedroom

[@norakhaldoune3681]

toujours un plaisir de voire tes videos nice algeria