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

[@robinallen5773]

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]

Oh wow

[@doctilly3539]

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]

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

[@wendycrawford1792]

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]

Ooo do tell about this staircase.

[@GrannyRachel]

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]

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

[@mizstories9646]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Oh I am incredibly intrigued by this

[@ericgregory3005]

Film it!

[@stellarjayatkins4749]

Any updates yet??

[@johnnyhotrod2608]

@@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]

Updates please!

[@stargazer4508]

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]

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

[@alanp3334]

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.

[@lalani888ARTblue]

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

[@nicolemegyeri5267]

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]

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]

@@pattihainline1573 f

[@jimsnyder6516]

@@pattihainline1573 has AVC aardvark aai vas’s c

[@ravrachael69]

Its too damaged. It would have to be duplicated

[@Alexcooks.8]

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

[@gloriahanes6490]

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]

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

[@wrosebrock]

Lots of solid wood to re-purpose also

[@andychris7647]

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

[@StallionFernando]

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]

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!

[@terrysigmon3119]

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.

[@indigo1615]

Any big trees near by? I work with a group called big trees ohio and would love to document them

[@Missfireblossom]

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]

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

[@tamilugo3886]

You're correct I was thinking the sane thing .

[@tamilugo3886]

Same I meant. Lol

[@JGumaerTesta]

Widow's Walk

[@mmb659]

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

[@donnadouglas5680]

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

[@cindy4964]

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]

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

[@Caleb-fo9zx]

@@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]

As a a

[@dixiecyrus8136]

@@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.

[@j.d.1488]

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

[@mikehunt8375]

It's sad that most would rather die with 100s of millions in the bank than make this world a more beautiful place....

[@pamelafoster2839]

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

[@annettepora8091]

Also to eliminate risk of fires for wooden homes.

[@lizdelisle1912]

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.

[@kellyhenderson9972]

@P. A. 🤨. 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]

@P. A. i wouldnt get too happy...non whites cant maintain what we created....have fun freezing

[@kellyhenderson9972]

@@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]

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

[@EmilyTienne]

Yeah, the homeless would be setting indoor fires in garbage cans and burning the place down. Besides, the homeless don’t typically reside in the middle of a cornfield. They prefer the city street life where you can panhandle.

[@robertphillips6296]

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

[@OnceOccupied]

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

[@Bread996]

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

[@toxictophat711]

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

[@B.D.TRX4]

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]

Too expensive to do all the repairs

[@butterflies9383]

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]

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]

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

[@faithingod9554]

What were the tunnels used for?

[@kristingallo2158]

@@faithingod9554 probably hookers and cocaine

[@butterflies9383]

@@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.

[@chadlong598]

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]

Was gonna say the same

[@HeritageWaysKatie]

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

[@ryancopenhaver462]

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]

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]

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

[@canislatrans8285]

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

[@OnceOccupied]

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

[@OnceOccupied]

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

[@OneVancatPlaceVancat]

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.

[@benfellows7469]

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!

[@brokenglass849]

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.

[@lisarobertson8485]

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

[@rexluminus9867]

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]

This house is so badly haunted...

[@ab7886]

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

[@laceyjane4285]

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.

[@MolotovSandvich97]

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]

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 [e-mail]

[@healthyamerican]

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

[@amandafield3569]

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

[@renegade5130]

What is it located? I'm in Cincinnati

[@dabug4929]

@@renegade5130 u find out

[@ImLisaMoore]

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

[@derekduffie2428]

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.

[@Michelle-fh2dp]

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]

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

[@IcelanderUSer]

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

[@gavinbaker3886]

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

[@savage.4.24]

Omg someone said it!! Thank you!

[@jimreilly917]

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

[@glendamott6420]

Some were underground in Ohio on the river .

[@baldguywithadog7592]

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.

[@gwenmarshall082]

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

[@OneVancatPlaceVancat]

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]

Will this property be torn down ie mainly the house?

[@Chrisssy2112]

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. 👍❤️😊

[@karenmcabee9619]

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]

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

[@karenmcabee9619]

@@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]

@@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]

Where in Ohio is this house?

[@apriljasso9731]

@@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.

[@OnceOccupied]

I hope everybody liked this video and I hope it’s a lot better quality. This is the first time I’ve ever posted in true 4K. Kind of a pain to edit but I hope it’s worth it. If you like this house check out the video of the 1881 Victorian House! kzbin.info/www/bejne/in7KpoiuiJh8Zq8

[@mattfamilydetectorist]

Loved it, but did u get poisin ivy? That house was covered!!!!

[@darciemerriweather1206]

It's gorgeous

[@gmamah9559]

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

[@debraellison6255]

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.

[@susanurbanczyk9084]

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

[@maureenconsiglio6355]

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!

[@cincyzoe]

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]

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

[@heatherlonaker909]

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]

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

[@lightmarker3146]

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]

@@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.

[@kimberlyshepherd270]

Just now coming across this video. My husband and I live in Ohio. We moved here from Michigan in 2008. I didn't know there were places like this here.

[@noramowat5756]

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.

[@witchmoon11]

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

[@worthington284]

Where is the house

[@YaYaPriestessCrazyPaisleyLady]

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

[@brokencookie9379]

the carpet 😫

[@laceyjane4285]

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

[@georgemcgillicuddy3498]

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

[@jeremyd1298]

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!

[@lalani888ARTblue]

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

[@billspalding6728]

I grew up very close to that house and spent many a day as a kid at the creek nearby. I was told by an old man that owned the property behind my parents home in 1991 or 1992 that there were tunnels but what was left was washed out by the great flood of 1913. This guy was born in New Lexington, lived his entire life there, and was in his 90s when he told me that. So I take that to be a fact.

[@sandraweaver8376]

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

[@nikki5095]

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. :)

[@dianeburnejko2908]

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 👍

[@StonedustandStardust]

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.

[@ConnAndBellaBea]

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]

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

[@ConnAndBellaBea]

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

[@davidvondusseldorf1208]

Where is it?

[@cindygould385]

This house should be restored and declared a historical landmark

[@Penjer1]

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...

[@ShannonTucson]

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

[@derekduffie2428]

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

[@eshore389]

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

[@derekduffie2428]

@@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]

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

[@virginiajones3373]

@@derekduffie2428 2119

[@rexluminus9867]

@@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😃😂.

[@AerOner13]

Hey ! Love your vid. I found some in Ohio; "Richard Hummel, Canal Winchester, Ohio, is a renowned educator who has devoted 50 years to serving Ohio agriculture. As a leader and motivator, his dedication and willingness to help others is evident as he shaped careers in agriculture as a vocational agriculture teacher and a State Supervisor of vocational agricultural teachers for the Ohio Department of Education. Hummel also served as President of the Ohio Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association. Recognized throughout the state for his contributions to education, Hummel was honored as one of the top 25 Vocational Agriculture teachers in the nation. Hummel has left his imprint on Ohio's agriculture throughout the United States, as one of the founding fathers." He infortuntly died in 2002. Keep going dude

[@runtbuskit9203]

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.

[@glennbossierbillling7315]

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

[@staceyhay1355]

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]

What was the widow's peak used for?

[@tinysmalls2372]

@@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]

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

[@angiewanders7272]

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

[@RedWithBluEyes]

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

[@OnceOccupied]

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]

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]

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]

@@susantapia4136 Susan have you been there?

[@susantapia4136]

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

[@marilynbennett533]

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!!!!

[@tinadurski4717]

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 😉👍

[@lightmarker3146]

Your idea of baking the bricks would have been done elsewhere on the property. A huge beehive kiln was used . Loaded up with stacked wet bricks and baked for a day or until done.

[@spencergibbons4461]

The reason there are fireplaces in almost every room is because the insulation wasn’t really there. No built in heat back in that day. That’s how they kept warm

[@baldguywithadog7592]

Not just that, it was substantially more efficient to heat rooms individually and open the doors between them and let the heat fill in. The carpenters back then had an amazing grasp on shit.

[@wtw6474]

Living in rural Ohio it always saddens me to look at a decaying structure, An old house or barns that can be restored. Yes it takes money and know how. I just wish the people that own these would offer them for sale. There are many that would jump at the chance to own and remodel them. They may not get much for them but, it would be priceless watching them come back to life again.

[@daverohn383]

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

[@marlaandrews8344]

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.

[@OnceOccupied]

I agree!

[@runtbuskit9203]

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

[@dulceamaya1492]

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.

[@robertagreenbank7613]

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]

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

[@curlyhum1276]

when the roof leaks window and doors the building can be calculated on a rot scale , if the owner will cover the roof holes with tarps board up the windows and doors the building will last longer until rehabbed!

[@brittanynichole5116]

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

[@timippolito1182]

Would you or a Relative happen to have any pics from back then?

[@kirstenalgie9318]

Really? Any information on it?

[@iangallagher4135]

Shouldn’t your name be Filtzwater?

[@iangallagher4135]

Fitzwater

[@ladydiesel2156]

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

[@BEAUTYSUBSCRIPTIONSMORE]

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

[@rightpathmarketinggroup9637]

Who owns this grand old ànd is it for sale?

[@BEAUTYSUBSCRIPTIONSMORE]

@@rightpathmarketinggroup9637 - so many unexplained abandoned homes

[@richdiscoveries]

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

[@OnceOccupied]

I appreciate it!

[@the_gilded_age_phoenix8717]

Maybe it was a male house.

[@debmorris9648]

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]

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

[@netaearl2389]

A quality home, rooms have beautiful proportions ♥️

[@coconutads]

The expenses of restoration would be mind boggling. Just the lead paint and asbestos bill would make a person cry. Ide love to have a house like this. Just the history makes it amazing

[@yoboi01]

I hope this house gets saved and restored

[@bridgettemallory6868]

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

[@marinatyson4138]

So sad that no one is interested in restoring this beautiful old home especially given it’s historical significance.

[@charliestout2815]

I am

[@andychris7647]

Me too I feel so sorry about this beautiful home been wasted feeling like purchasing it though, good morning Marina how are you doing with your family I hope you’re safe from the virus?

[@jennyjarvis2956]

So depressing! Why isn't a historical society connected to this home. It is too beautiful to fall down.

[@DangerousDevilOfficial]

I wish I had the money to buy one of these houses and restore them. Not because it would be a good investment (it wouldn’t). But to bring back the history, we are losing so rapidly as thousands of these houses disappear every year...

[@violawhieldon9229]

Underground Railroad wasn't a tunnel underground but was a serious of safe connections to the free states.

[@andychris7647]

Okay,that’s good to know how are you doing?

[@nellchambers2228]

The most important part that I omitted from my post below was that Elephant Head was a place the slaves could rest, cook something, clean water everywhere due to those small streams. I am so proud to know my ancestors were good people. I have no idea how many slaves went through there but I'm betting a lot! So it really, really bites my butt to have anyone accuse me of being a racist.

[@cherrysmart3500]

You are correct, many White folks contributed greatly to the rescue, protection and relocation of Blacks to safer places. There are some words that are carelessly thrown around which indeed insult others! Continue to tell your family's story, take pictures for documentation and ensure that the younger members of your family know this as well!

[@lightmarker3146]

The Quakers were important in the underground railroad and took many risks helping escaping slaves .

[@margarettickle9659]

You are so right. I'm glad someone said it.

[@nadinemasteller1089]

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]

That toilet in the closet thing was a little weird.

[@Slayerjane61]

Someone with money should love this house one room at a time.

[@annawallace4629]

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!

[@joshlee375]

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 🎄!

[@Lastfirst333]

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

[@davidtrishhope9841]

Please do not let this lovely house, rot down , anymore, as it has history, that you can not , get back. We in my New Zealand, do not have any thing that old.

[@laurastrobel718]

That's a shame I love when people explore these old abandoned places but it makes me sick at the same time because my dream is to have a historical home and give it love

[@donm-tv8cm]

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.

[@Bananooey]

SECRET TUNNEEEEEL! SECRET TUNNEEEL

[@Aftergloh]

Through the mountain!

[@beckykuhn19]

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.

[@meaganbourgeois1984]

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

[@angryang711]

Someone should save this beautiful home.

[@robb2055]

Or at least the woodwork and doors that are salvageable. It's a same it wasn't done sooner. It won't be long and there will be nothing left to save the way that roof looks and the windows are all broke out. Nature is claiming it.

[@angryang711]

@@robb2055 so very true

[@amydragon6558]

The red brick has a long extended crack behind the furnace

[@williamsizemore98]

Why wouldn't someone have wanted to salvage that house? I know it's a ton of work but anything is possible. I'm sure its mostly a sound structure, and foundation.

[@OnceOccupied]

Oh there are plenty of people that want to salvage the house including the historical society but for an unknown reason I have heard no plans to try to save it. Because it’s on the historic registry it would cost tractor trailer load of money to make livable. It is very rural unrealistically the financial investment it’s not worth it but for the sake of history it would be nice if the owner would.

[@MC-xj9ou]

There are hundreds of homes just like this one across rural ohio and other areas that are just rotting away as the land it sits on is still farmed and worth hundreds of thousands, sometimes millions of dollars depending on the acerage.

[@williamsizemore98]

@@OnceOccupied if I ever win the Powerball I'll make it happen.

[@praetorianblade6490]

@@MC-xj9ou I got one-so I am doing my part.

[@mistervacation23]

I like how there was finally some more backstory of the victims. I think they deserve to be remembered for more than just their last breaths.

[@suzum.9713]

Wait- victims?

[@TravelwithAustin]

Was there ever another house nearby? In SE Ohio we have a preserved mansion and there was a tunnel in the basement that connected to an adjacent property. The historical society told me it was most likely used as part of the underground railroad

[@iangallagher4135]

Do you know where this house is?

[@abigailtribby7454]

Do you mean the one in wellston? Near the fairgrounds?

[@susangelder8137]

Thank you for a fantastic view inside!

[@andychris7647]

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

[@FreedomFaithMimi]

It is so very sad to see history rotting away.

[@gloriahanes6490]

0:55 known as a coffin corner when the body in the coffin was taken down the staircase the corner of the coffin would fit nicely in the coffin corner. Houses built before 1860 have coffin corners along the wall of the staircase. This practice fell out of favor after the Civil War as Funeral Homes became available.

[@bobsmithinson2050]

I’m confused. The area of the stair landing is perfectly square. Where is the area for the coffin?

[@gloriahanes6490]

@@bobsmithinson2050 ....The coffin corner is a niche in the wall usually oval at the top and square at the bottom perfect for slipping the edge of a coffin in to angle it down the stairs.

[@bobsmithinson2050]

@@gloriahanes6490 thanks for the clarification. I wasn’t aware you were referring to the cutout in the center of the wall, as I was looking in the corner based on the name “coffin corner”. Anyways, I did do a google search, and found this: I must admit, this is one of my favorite myths. You’ll hear it in some Victorian-era houses that have architectural niches built into the wall of the staircase landing, as on the left above. The story goes that these niches were called coffin corners. Someone might explain that, because most people died at home in their beds and because most bedrooms were upstairs, it was difficult to get the casket up and down the stairs when the staircase turned a corner. So at the landing, Victorian architects would cut a niche into the wall. The pallbearers would insert one corner of the coffin into the niche and make the turn at the landing. Part of this is true: people did tend to die at home and the bedrooms of larger homes did tend to be located on the second or third floors. And many Victorian homes do have niches built into the wall of the staircase. But these were for decorative purposes: to display a statue, perhaps a bust, or a vase, or maybe flowers. Why would anyone carry a coffin upstairs to the corpse rather than carry the corpse downstairs to the coffin? Most books about Victorian architecture debunk this myth. For example, John Maass calls it a hoax in The Victorian Home in America (1972). I must say I agree with the excerpt. That small of a wall cutout would not aid in coffin removal, it’s just too small. Also, to work as described, how would the pallbearer that is on the higher end of the coffin get around the stair railing whilst the lower pallbearer pivots the coffin into the niche. It’s far too small on top of that. I’m not saying these don’t exist, or aren’t named that, but I believe this one in particular is simply for design, and to display something in.

[@gloriahanes6490]

@@bobsmithinson2050 ...Myth or reality hard to prove without a living Victorian to consult. Though I did ask my great grandmother and she confirmed the use of the coffin corner when her mother was taken down the stairs in a coffin after death.

[@bobsmithinson2050]

@@gloriahanes6490 very interesting subject. Perhaps they became so common, that they put similar cutouts just out of tradition, but not to be used for that purpose. Who knows for sure.

[@Gypsy839]

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

[@Indygirl9229]

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.