Copyright © 2006-2010
Raymond H. von Bober
All rights reserved.
Please report any broken links to:
webmaster@summerwindmansion.net
Raymond H. von Bober
All rights reserved.
Please report any broken links to:
webmaster@summerwindmansion.net
Welcome to The Tales of Summerwind, the website dedicated to stories of the famous haunted house in Wisconsin's Northwoods.
Though Summerwind Mansion burned down in the summer of 1988, it seems the "presence" haunting the property remains.
Though Summerwind Mansion burned down in the summer of 1988, it seems the "presence" haunting the property remains.
There are many unexplained events still occurring at the ruins of this once grand estate. Cameras produce unusual photos, tape recorders detect mysterious sounds and almost everyone is aware of an unnatural stillness there. Even most skeptics are able to admit to some anomolies.
My experience with Summerwind began innocently enough. I was curious to see the "mansion" that my sister lived in while I was in Vietnam. The house seemed to reach out to me for help when I first saw it. Much later I found out that this was the most common reaction to Summerwind Mansion!
My experience with Summerwind began innocently enough. I was curious to see the "mansion" that my sister lived in while I was in Vietnam. The house seemed to reach out to me for help when I first saw it. Much later I found out that this was the most common reaction to Summerwind Mansion!
The haunted aspect did not manifest itself immediately, other than the fact that Summerwind was more than just a little eerie. Soon after my father purchased the mansion, in the hopes we could restore it, strange things began to happen. There were strange sounds and voices, apparitions and even phantom gunshots!
There seemed to be numerous ghosts inhabiting Summerwind Mansion, many unidentified except by "nicknames" given to them by the house's visitors. One of these was a misty form called Mathilda that delighted in wandering through the living room when the family was eating supper in the dining room.
There seemed to be numerous ghosts inhabiting Summerwind Mansion, many unidentified except by "nicknames" given to them by the house's visitors. One of these was a misty form called Mathilda that delighted in wandering through the living room when the family was eating supper in the dining room.
One of the known ghosts is that of Jonathan Carver, an 18th century explorer that tried to lay claim to much of the state of Wisconsin. He was a very powerful entity that was determined to complete some unfinished business!
My first real encounter with the supernatural at Summerwind came during a solitary trip there on a Labor Day weekend. I had brought tools and equipment to clean up the yard and house and close it up for the winter. A nice quiet working vacation, or so I thought. I figured I would enjoy some time to myself.
I arrived there in our camper on a Friday afternoon, expecting to stay until Monday evening. It was sunny and cool, so I decided against working inside right away. I thought I would cut the grass, trim some brush and generally clean up the yard.
I filled both the lawnmower and new chainsaw with gas and decided to cut brush first. But, try as I might, I could not get the chainsaw started! Even after cleaning the plug and pulling the starter until I wore myself out, it just would not run! Frustrated, I decided to cut the grass instead. At least the riding mower had an electric start!
I arrived there in our camper on a Friday afternoon, expecting to stay until Monday evening. It was sunny and cool, so I decided against working inside right away. I thought I would cut the grass, trim some brush and generally clean up the yard.
I filled both the lawnmower and new chainsaw with gas and decided to cut brush first. But, try as I might, I could not get the chainsaw started! Even after cleaning the plug and pulling the starter until I wore myself out, it just would not run! Frustrated, I decided to cut the grass instead. At least the riding mower had an electric start!
The mower started normally and I began cutting the grass. I had done it a number of times before and knew I had the debris and rocks cleared and could just sit back and relax while cutting. I had only been cutting for a short time when, bang! There was a loud noise and the engine quit! I got off the mower and looked underneath, I had struck a large rock and broke one of the blades! I had not seen the rock in the deep grass.
"Where the Hell did that come from?" I asked myself as I surveyed the damage. "Doesn't look like I'll be cutting any more grass this weekend!" The day was quickly wasting away and I wasn't accomplishing anything!
I tried to get the chainsaw going, again to no avail. Needless to say I was now more than just frustrated! First a brand new chainsaw that wouldn't start and then a broken lawnmower! I managed to pick up some loose brush and trash, but, obviously no significant amount of yard work was going to get done this weekend!
"Where the Hell did that come from?" I asked myself as I surveyed the damage. "Doesn't look like I'll be cutting any more grass this weekend!" The day was quickly wasting away and I wasn't accomplishing anything!
I tried to get the chainsaw going, again to no avail. Needless to say I was now more than just frustrated! First a brand new chainsaw that wouldn't start and then a broken lawnmower! I managed to pick up some loose brush and trash, but, obviously no significant amount of yard work was going to get done this weekend!
I spent the rest of the afternoon outside, mainly just puttering around and examining the exterior of the old mansion. I was mentally preparing a list of needed contractor repairs.
My first efforts with contractors had gone badly as soon as I told them where I needed the work done or estimates prepared. It seemed that they always had excuses why they couldn't get out to "that place!"
My first efforts with contractors had gone badly as soon as I told them where I needed the work done or estimates prepared. It seemed that they always had excuses why they couldn't get out to "that place!"
As evening approached, I decided to call it a day and headed into the camper. I took a quick shower and started to prepare dinner. I decided on eggs and bacon and started cooking. Man, the northwoods air brought on a real appetite! The bacon smelled fantastic!
Quickly I realized that the bacon smelled good to more than just me! As I sat down at the table in the camper to eat, I heard some snorting and grunting.
Looking out the window I saw a very large mother black bear and two cubs! They had obviously been drawn by the aroma of my cooking. While the cubs dug through my trash pile outside, the mother bear got up on her hind legs and peered in the window of the camper at me! She was sniffing deeply and was not very concerned with my presence! All I had for protection was a small .25 caliber pistol which would only make the bear mad if I used it. So I banged on a pan and she finally got down and joined her cubs. They hung around till well after dark before moving on in their search for food.
Quickly I realized that the bacon smelled good to more than just me! As I sat down at the table in the camper to eat, I heard some snorting and grunting.
Looking out the window I saw a very large mother black bear and two cubs! They had obviously been drawn by the aroma of my cooking. While the cubs dug through my trash pile outside, the mother bear got up on her hind legs and peered in the window of the camper at me! She was sniffing deeply and was not very concerned with my presence! All I had for protection was a small .25 caliber pistol which would only make the bear mad if I used it. So I banged on a pan and she finally got down and joined her cubs. They hung around till well after dark before moving on in their search for food.
After the bears left, I turned in for the night. But the quiet did not last long. About three in the morning I awoke to the sounds of flapping and squeeking! I turned on the light and immediately saw a bat flying around inside the camper! How he got in, I'll never know, but it took me over an hour to finally chase him outside through the open door with a broom! So much for a peaceful night's rest in the Northwoods!
That morning it had rained, so my work assignment I made for myself was limited to inside the Mansion. I planned on sealing up the broken windows (again), sweeping the floors and repairing broken locks. I figured this would take me at least all day.
I began by going upstairs to start sweeping and mopping. There was plenty of broken glass and dirt from the last round of vandalism. I went into the master suite and, damn! That window was open again! The rain had come in and the floor was soaked! I knew that I had come upstairs and closed the window when I first arrived on Friday! Who in the Hell could have got in an opened it without my knowledge? I was baffled! I slammed the window shut and began mopping up the water. After I finished I decided to start sweeping the hallway next.
That morning it had rained, so my work assignment I made for myself was limited to inside the Mansion. I planned on sealing up the broken windows (again), sweeping the floors and repairing broken locks. I figured this would take me at least all day.
I began by going upstairs to start sweeping and mopping. There was plenty of broken glass and dirt from the last round of vandalism. I went into the master suite and, damn! That window was open again! The rain had come in and the floor was soaked! I knew that I had come upstairs and closed the window when I first arrived on Friday! Who in the Hell could have got in an opened it without my knowledge? I was baffled! I slammed the window shut and began mopping up the water. After I finished I decided to start sweeping the hallway next.
I was busy sweeping the hallway (which seemed to be longer every time I swept it) when, all of a sudden someone called my name! It was a low deep voice, but I couldn't pinpoint exactly where it had come from.
I called out to the voice, "who's there?" But I received no answer. Summerwind was silent.
I called out to the voice, "who's there?" But I received no answer. Summerwind was silent.
I had just about convinced myself that I was hearing things when the voice called out to me again, only louder and clearer this time!
"Who's there?" I demanded. I got no answer. I went to one of the front bedrooms overlooking the lake and looked outside. No one was out there. I went back into the master suite. Damn! that window was open again! I closed the window and looked out at the courtyard. No one was there, either! I knew I was alone in the house, the only door not locked or nailed shut was the kitchen door, and that one made lots of noise on opening or closing.
By now, I was more than a little nervous. Who had called my name? And how did they get into the house without me hearing them? And who opened that damned window? Did one of my friends find out I was alone up here and was playing a practical joke on me? If they were, it was no longer funny to me!
"Who's there?" I demanded. I got no answer. I went to one of the front bedrooms overlooking the lake and looked outside. No one was out there. I went back into the master suite. Damn! that window was open again! I closed the window and looked out at the courtyard. No one was there, either! I knew I was alone in the house, the only door not locked or nailed shut was the kitchen door, and that one made lots of noise on opening or closing.
By now, I was more than a little nervous. Who had called my name? And how did they get into the house without me hearing them? And who opened that damned window? Did one of my friends find out I was alone up here and was playing a practical joke on me? If they were, it was no longer funny to me!
As I stood there listening, suddenly two loud gunshots rang out from downstairs! I immediately hollered to whomever was shooting to "cease firing!" And I ran down the hallway and down the stairs. As I passed through the kitchen, I could detect the distinct smell of gunpowder! But I saw no one, and the door was closed. I went through the dining room, living room and library, but nobody was downstairs.
I decided to check outside to see if there were any hunters or trespassers around. I found no signs of intruders. There were no tracks outside except for mine and none of the doors had been forced. But there was no mistaking it, I heard enough gunshots in Vietnam to know what I heard, and what I heard sounded like a large caliber handgun!
I decided to check outside to see if there were any hunters or trespassers around. I found no signs of intruders. There were no tracks outside except for mine and none of the doors had been forced. But there was no mistaking it, I heard enough gunshots in Vietnam to know what I heard, and what I heard sounded like a large caliber handgun!
I went back into the kitchen to retrieve my thermos of coffee and lit a cigarette to calm my nerves. I could still slightly detect the gunpowder smell.
As I stood there with my coffee and cigarette, I examined the room closely and then, suddenly, I saw them! Two bullet holes in the door leading to the basement! I went over to the door to inspect them more closely. They looked like a .45 caliber bullet made them. Wait! These bullet holes were not recent, they were dirty and not fresh at all, there were no fresh splinters! They had been there for years!
I could feel the panic begin to rise... Something was not right!
As I stood there with my coffee and cigarette, I examined the room closely and then, suddenly, I saw them! Two bullet holes in the door leading to the basement! I went over to the door to inspect them more closely. They looked like a .45 caliber bullet made them. Wait! These bullet holes were not recent, they were dirty and not fresh at all, there were no fresh splinters! They had been there for years!
I could feel the panic begin to rise... Something was not right!
Depiction of bullet holes.
I began to back away from the door when, suddenly, a freezing cold draft of air went through the room. Then, before my eyes a misty form began to appear in front of the door. Before it could fully take shape, I turned and ran out of the house and into the courtyard! There was no doubt about it, I had just seen a ghost!
I was shaken, to put it mildly! I decided I was done at Summerwind for the weekend. I did not bother to retrieve my thermos or anything from inside the house. I locked the door and looked up at the window in the master suite. Sure enough, it was open again!
I got in the camper and drove away as quickly as I could. When I arrived back home, a day and a half early, my father asked me why.
I could only answer, "the lawnmower broke," and would not go into further details. Needless to say, he was more than a little surprised that I was home.
I was shaken, to put it mildly! I decided I was done at Summerwind for the weekend. I did not bother to retrieve my thermos or anything from inside the house. I locked the door and looked up at the window in the master suite. Sure enough, it was open again!
I got in the camper and drove away as quickly as I could. When I arrived back home, a day and a half early, my father asked me why.
I could only answer, "the lawnmower broke," and would not go into further details. Needless to say, he was more than a little surprised that I was home.
I would not divulge any of this story for nearly two years, and then only after I heard the incident about Robert Lamont firing two shots with a pistol at a ghost in the kitchen and fleeing Summerwind Mansion in terror. He, too, experienced The Carver Effect first hand. Lamont discovered, to his dismay, that bullets don't bother ghosts at all!
