Dark Secrets of a Confederate Colonel’s Abandoned Mansion

What a run-down nightmare of a fantasy house! This once-beautiful antebellum house in the wilderness of northern Virginia was once home to a Confederate colonel. Some time ago, it was suddenly abandoned and has remained empty ever since. Bryan Sansivero, a well-known urbex photographer, was given exclusive access to the home at the last possible moment before it was secured, and it was in the backyard that he discovered an unpleasant truth. Do you have the guts to go on a tour?

The local historians believe that the Greek Revival-style home was erected between the years 1853 and 1856 and that no expense was spared in its construction. The house was built in the style of the Greek Revival. Because it has two stories, 14 rooms, 12 fireplaces, an attic, and an English basement, this mansion is considered to be one of the most impressive and significant properties in the neighborhood. An incredible number of bricks—300,000 to be exact—were manufactured on the premises in a kiln and afterwards employed in the construction of the chimneys and the basement. Unfortunately, the outside is only a pale reflection of what it used to be. One of the chimneys has been taken over by Virginia creeper vines, the once clean white clapboard has deteriorated into a dismal grey color, and the remaining shutters are deteriorating.

The entry hallway of the house is dim and ominous looking. A sofa in the style of the French Second Empire and draped in red velvet is seen sitting despondently in front of a number of antique chairs that have been placed on top of one another. Even though the carpet is stained and there is garbage all over the floor, the area appears to be in a relatively acceptable shape and is ready for remodeling.

A tantalizing glimpse of two of the prior occupants of the home can be found on a side table in the entry hall. The attire that the couple is wearing in the shot give the impression that it was taken in the 1910s or the early 1920s. One of the photographs features the couple as they are relaxing on a beach. There is a birthday card, a sympathy card (which may have been from the 1980s), and two yellow artificial roses placed next to the images.

It is clear that the property has been unoccupied for a lengthy amount of time because the parlor is a dream come true for vintage collectors. It appears that water damage was responsible for the partial collapse of the lath and plaster ceiling, and the paper that covered the walls is beginning to peel off. The room, much like the entrance hall, is furnished with some extremely appealing antique pieces, such as an elegant sofa and a bookcase in the style of a Georgian bureau.

The kitchen is a genuine time capsule, since it is furnished and equipped with antique pieces of furniture and appliances. Take note of the stove, kettle, and coffee pots from the mid-century, as well as the countertop with a chrome-edge, and don’t forget the hexagonal General Electric Model 2118 pastel mosaic wall clock, which was widespread in American households throughout the 1960s. The fireplace, walls, and built-in cabinets in the kitchen have a baby blue paint that is beginning to flake off, creating an almost shabby chic appearance.