The Neighborhood Haunted Mansion

Last night in Menlo Park, we witnessed a candelabra moving from window to window in the old mansion across the street; not to mention the lights turning on in the attic around midnight. Some further research on the mansion reveals an incredible past:

The house was built in 1869 by Mr. T. Lemmon Meyer, who owned a shipping firm in San Francisco. The property had several owners until 1909 when it was bought by Ms. Emma Noel. Hence, the name of the street where the house resides -- Noel Drive. Throughout World War I, the house was used as an officer's club for Camp Fremont, a training camp for soldiers headed to the Western Front. After the war, it became the Laurel Court Hotel and in 1926, it was converted into the Pacific Coast Military Academy. And yet, the story doesn't end there! After many years being known as the Marie Antoinette Inn, it was named The Bright Eagle and housed an antique shop. Currently, it is home to several psychologist offices, a strange security guard operation, and a basement Buddhist temple.

Stay tuned for a detailed post on Camp Fremont in Menlo Park! It is an incredible tale involving Siberia and the Oasis Beer Garden.

Strange Rooms

I ran across this floor plan today of an English Tudor style home in Pennsylvania circa 1900. In addition to it's sprawling nature and curious flow from room-to-room, I could not help but notice how different the types of rooms are from today's homes. Check out the library on the left with a spiral staircase leading up to the master bedroom. Or how about the "gun room" hanging out on the right wing across from the servant's hall and butler's quarters. And, I really can't begin to imagine what might happen in the "Flower Room." (Image from: "Classic Old House Plans" by Lawrence Grow)

Were you born in the wrong era?

Do you ever feel like you were possibly born in the wrong era? Do you lie awake at night, nostalgic for the times where everyone sat in their parlor with a good mystery novel next to a roaring fire?