The 1890 House

The 1890 House Museum Cortland, NY

Getting There 

It was a beautiful day. 
The car ride was exactly what I needed, especially with how life’s been lately. 
Nothing terrible — just the daily grind wearing me down. 

It was just the three of us: Jenn, my son, and me, headed to a place I’d visited once before. 
I’d been wanting to go back for a while now. 
I’ve grown mentally since then, and I wanted to experience the house again — this time as a professional photographer, too. 
That meant new eyes and great content. 

As you probably guessed from the title (or so I hope by the time you read this), the place I’m talking about is the 1890 House Museum in Cortland, NY. 

Jenn is a clairvoyant, and with her help, I’m learning that my son may be one too. 
I don’t know if any of you believe in other dimensions, ghosts, or spirits — but in my world, they’re real. 

Even though I haven’t personally witnessed any clear activity or sightings, 
I still know, somehow, that it’s all connected. 

I am excited to see her reaction to the home!

Arrival and First Impressions 

The trip was short. 
We arrived within 50 minutes of leaving home. 
We drove around Cortland a bit and passed by the house a few times before actually parking and going inside. 

That being said, we were still early — but the tour guides were more than welcoming and actually happy that we showed up early. 
They mentioned it would help them get done sooner and out of the heat. 

The weather has been brutal lately, 
and the 15,000-square-foot castle was definitely not air-conditioned — 
which honestly helped you understand what it was like living in 1890. 

The tour started in the parlor, 
which had a crazy-looking Holy Bible about six inches thick 
and a fireplace with portraits of Chester Wickwire and Ardelia Wickwire, the original owners of the home. 

The home was built in true "Copy and Paste" formula 
from a home in Manhattan, NY, called "The James Bailey House" — 
which is fascinating, considering the amount of effort that goes into a home of this magnitude and the fact that it was done in 1890. 

The tour continues, snaking through the house, 
and once again my photo eye is more prominent than my ears at this point — 
but nonetheless, I am enjoying every moment of this experience 
and capturing the vibe and feel of this huge mansion the best I can, 
so I can present to the world what I see through the lens. 

Energy, Architecture, and Oddities 

The house is full of fascinating objects, 
like a “Victorian Hair Wreath” made from the hair of deceased family members. 

That alone is wild — but even more interesting since Jenn is not only a clairvoyant but also a hairdresser. 
Lately, it feels like my life is full of synchronicities just like this one. 

There were also old toys, a vintage Magnavox Victrola, 
and most of the furniture was original to the home. 
Some of the wallpaper was even made from silk. 

One of the most intriguing spaces was a small nook in the main hall called the “Inglenook.” 
It had wooden benches built into each side of a curved cutout beneath the stairs, with a fireplace in the center. 
The design was all about acoustics — 
when you sat in the inglenook, sound stayed tucked into that small space, 
and conversations could be had in secret. 

The house is covered in ornate detail from floor to ceiling. 

The Wickwire family were pioneers in industrializing the screen mesh concept, 
and you can see their craftsmanship throughout — 
on the door handles, window hardware, 
and the intricate molding around every doorway. 

Upstairs, we explored several rooms with even more portraits of family members who had lived there. 

Ironically, the Wickwires were the only family to ever own the home, 
but maids and servants also lived on the property — 
so they weren’t the only people who called it home. 

On the top level was a large billiard room with access to one of the turrets. 
It was also the main play area for the children, 
and we were told it was one of the more spiritually active spaces in the house. 

Jenn picked up on it immediately — and so did my son. 

The Turret and the Basement 

Our final stop was at the very top of the building — 
a large turret with beautiful stained-glass windows. 

It was brutally hot up there, since the house isn’t cooled, 
but oddly enough, it added to the experience. 
I liked knowing I was feeling what it might’ve been like living in 1890. 

After that, we headed down to the basement, 
which was the only part of the house I hadn’t visited during my last trip a few years ago. 
That part of the tour was self-guided. 

The basement is set up like a mini museum, 
and it was noticeably cooler than the rest of the house. 

But the energy was heavier down there. 
My son picked up on it right away. 
We were told it’s another hot spot for spiritual activity. 

As we went from level to level, we had different tour guides — 
all of whom were more than welcoming and very down to earth. 

The feel of the house was very warm, 
and they did a great job of making us feel welcome. 

The group of folks that give this tour are kind-hearted and treat the home with respect. 
We will be returning to the 1890 House in the near future, 
and probably packing paranormal equipment with us. 

I brought my EMF detector but was kicking myself because I left it in the car. 

If you’re looking for a great place to visit and see a true part of history that’s not in the textbooks, 
this is a perfect place to start. 

Thank you to the 1890 House volunteer staff, 
and to the home itself, 
for letting us experience this 
and allowing me to capture a true capsule in time through my lens.