First I want to introduce you to the crazy one, Pearl. She is a beautiful young women, who loves to play practical jokes on everyone and is never serious.
Second there is Emily. Now Emily is the beautiful and elegant one. She is single, loves to read novels, and falls in love with each person that she meets. When she enters a room. Everything stands still.
Thirdly there is the happy couple, Flo and Denizen. They are of the sophisticated sort. Raised to be a grand lady and a true gentleman. Brought up in wealth, and high society. Never knowing what it was like to go without. The world lay at their feet. The glamorous parties, picnics at the estates, and Thoroughbred horses, a big part of the life they led. This is what Kentucky was all about.
Fourth, I want you to meet the Wolfinbargers. A great family. They were raised to respect everyone, work hard, and never tell a lie. A man or a woman's word meant everything. Trust, faith, family and God. That is what they are all about.
And last for now. There is Elizabeth. Elizabeth can be sneaky. A shy woman that holds a lot inside, because of things she has went through, at an early age. A person that you do not want as an enemy, or turn your back on. She knows how to get information and use it to her advantage. A woman that knows how to get what she wants. The young, widow left to fend for herself. She still has lots of money, but in a man's world she has to use her inner strength to hold onto her wealth, and succeed.
Now let me explain something to you. These are real photos, that I have bought from antique stores. I have no idea who they really are. I found them and fell in love with each and every one. I imagined a life they may have, once lived. They are beautiful. I am always looking for pictures that speak to me. I have invented a life for them. I am mixing their photos with the stories that linger in my mind, when I enter into the abandoned beauties, that I have found in my travels. These are the kind of people that I feel once lived in them. That once walked the halls and climbed the winding stairs. They are my fantasy's that dance in my mind.
Chapter 1
The story of Elizabeth, Sweet Elizabeth
I was out and about, exploring the vast countryside, as the blazing, orange, sun was quickly setting in the west. As I eased down the road, sun disappearing into the earth. To the right of me was a large red, brick, house that set up on a hill. I stopped, amazed at the beauty before me. The roof was starting to collapse, exposing the top row of brick, on the back side of the house. The full moon was starting to come up behind the massive mansion, giving it an eerie feel. The moonlight was starting to reflect its ghostly glow upon the few shards of glass that remained in the windows. What a gorgeous place, surrounded by acres of overgrown fields.
I tried to see if I could find, anyone, who knew the person, that owned the house. I wanted to get permission to take pictures of this grand place, before it is gone. As usual, I wanted to just shoot the place record its beauty and history and not steal a thing. Taking noting. Leaving only my footprints behind. My goal was to save and preserve her elegance, on film. Like so many times before. There was no one around. But I did get a little information about the place, at a later time.
It originally set on 394 acres, and was built in 1798. The man that built this home did not get to enjoy it for very, long. He died 20, short, years later, at the age of 38. During this time, in the early 1800's, disease took many at a young age. This gentleman was one of them.
Elizabeth! Sweet Elizabeth. That was the wives name. She continued to stay at the farm and raised 10 children. Six daughters and 4 sons. She had to be a great and strong women.
Now this is where my history lesson ends and what goes on inside my mind takes over. Remember. I do not have pictures of the the late Elizabeth. The above was her home, she did raise 10 Children, and her husband died young. That is all true. Now let us enter the mind of the explorer.
The enormous, abandoned , red brick home loomed in front of me. The moon shown brightly upon the structure, with an ghostly, glow. Oh, how beautiful, you must have been. I can only imagine the magnificent parties that must have been thrown here.
Inside. The foyer opened up into the blackness. On each side the was a winding staircase, leading to the upstairs, balcony. I could smell the sweet scent of lilac all around me, as I sensed Elizabeth's presence in the room. It was overwhelming. The dimly lit room seemed to come to life, before me. I could see the moon shining through the back window, leaving spooky shadows across the floor, like icy fingers. I shivered, as I looked up toward the balcony. I could see Elisabeth's transparent figure, gliding feather like, down the stairs, moonbeams dancing off her hair, which was stacked high upon her head. She was extremely beautiful. Her figure that a of a goddess. Tall, lean and womanly. Yet on her face, there was something. Something that showed. Pain, turmoil, stress. Not sure. I could see her strong will etched into the lines of her face. Yes, she was the guardian of the mansion. Even now. If anyone entered her home, she would greet them.
Part of me wished I was more like her.
I was in a trance, as I watched her dance in the moonlight, gliding past where I was standing. I had no fear. I respected her. She moved me. She moved into the room behind the stairs. She was surrounded by antique, chairs, sofas, an old Victrola which was softly playing, in the background. A piano was sitting along the far wall. The estate was immaculate! Draperies hung from the windows, touching the floor. I was speechless! Beauty beyond my imagination. In the next instant Elizabeth was gone. Her slender figure faded into the night. The music stopped! The furnishings disappeared. It was as if, it was never there. At that moment, I snapped back to reality. Back to the present! Back to the old, decaying,abandoned, mansion from the past. Elizabeth was gone. She had touched my soul, only to leave me standing there alone. I wish I had known her, been able to meet her family. Her children. Had gotten to talk to her. But maybe in a way I did. I took something from this place.
Now all that was in front of me is a mansion falling in ruin. The roof is gone, as well as some of the floor. The winding stairs are no longer beautiful, except in my mind. Elizabeth you keep watch over your home for as long as you can. You guard her and protect her, as I will cherish my time with her. You keep dancing in the moonlight where you are forever young! ©Tammy Sullivan 2017 My adventure
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