The Winston Home
The
Winston Home
The
Winston
Home
Tuscumbia,
Alabama
There is an old house on the campus of Deshler High School in Tuscumbia Alabama. Built in
1833, the Georgian style structure is the William Winston Home.
The house, with its winding staircase and eight fireplaces, has always been highly regarded.
In fact, a Union soldier during the Civil War wrote on the cellar wall, "It is a damn shame
to destroy this mansion."
But other stories of the home endure. One is the story of William Winston's wife. One day,
as a storm brewed outside, she stood on the "widow's walk" (on the upper level) in an attempt
to call her slaves.
But as the storm worsened, some even say to a tornado, Mrs. Winston fell down the enormous
staircase and bumped her head. Her limp body was carried upstairs where she later died.
Today, the house is used for special events at Deshler High School. At Christmas, candles
are placed in each of the windows of the house. But the ones placed in the window of the room
where Mrs. Winston died never seem to light. Electric candles have been used as well, with
the same result.
Some claim to see a lady staring from this window at passersby on the street. People claim
there is an unseen force preventing passage into the now locked "widow's walk." Still others
claim to feel a presence, but not to be overwhelmed by fear.
On the day I took these photos, workers were outside the home. They claimed there was a
dungeon in the basement. They also claimed that the building was haunted. One of them
said that he himself had seen the spirit of Mrs. Winston.
the william winston home
a treasured mansion
the widow's walk
the death of mrs. winston
candles in the windows
strange happenings
a dungeon in the basement
