The strangest house I've ever seen

The strangest house I've ever seen

About 20 years ago one of my colleagues, Sarah, asked me to go with her to appraise a property in a remote country setting. The house was located down a long gravel driveway and was private and secluded.

We were greeted by a very attractive older woman dressed in a fancy green velvet dress and 3-inch green spike heels. Her hair was piled on top of her head in a braid, and she spoke with a decidedly eastern European accent. She looked at both of us and said,

"My name is Hilda, and I guess you should know right away that my husband, dirty old bastard that he is, has left me for an 18 year old girl. I have no idea where he is but he says he's not coming back and that I should sell the house."

Well, we had handled many divorce sales, but the old man and the young girl was both sad and way too much information.

The house was a typical, brick mini mansion built in the 1980's. You know, two-story entry, marble foyer, living room to the left, dining to the right and family room and kitchen in the back. Your standard-issue big brick box.

We went from room to room taking notes, measuring and asking questions when appropriate. The furnishings were old antique and probably very expensive, but pretty overwhelmingly ornate.

We followed Hilda downstairs to the basement which was a large finished room. Hilda pointed out the built-in bar, the bathroom, the exercise area and then she said,

"Well, I guess you"ll have to see the rest of the basement."

Sarah and I looked at each other perplexed...we thought we'd seen everything there was to see. Then Hilda pressed a button and a wall moved!

The hidden staircase

I'm NOT making this up! The wall moved just like in some old mystery movie. Hilda flipped a switch and light flooded a cement staircase. She led us down some more stairs and said,

"Follow me."

Sarah and I grabbed hands and did as we were told. I was feeling more and more like Nancy Drew by the minute. We descended the stairs and the pungent smell of mold hit us both full-force.

The secret underground bunker

Hilda turned on the lights revealing a series of underground rooms. There was a full kitchen, a bedroom, a living room and a little study. The entire area was covered in black mold and smelled to hell. Some of the walls were leaning into the room, as if the dirt was fighting the walls for its rightful place. Green moss grew in large patches and even hung from the ceiling.

I asked, in a disbelieving voice, "Did you happen to get building permits for this space?" I know. Naive. But I'm always the 'good girl.'

"Ah no," Hilda laughed, "My husband built this all in secret and didn't want anyone to know it was here."

"But why did he build it?" Sarah asked.

"Because," Hilda explained, "He was convinced that the world was going to end and he wanted a place to escape."

Sarah and I by now were both holding our noses. The smell was overwhelming, but we were fascinated. There had to be 1500 square feet underground.

We quickly retreated from the house... said good bye to Hilda and beat it out of there.

Sarah didn't take the listing and explained to Hilda that the underground bunker would just be too complicated and too much money for buyers to deal with.

The house was never listed and I don't know what happened to it, or to Hilda. I've never been down that driveway and I don't think I could find it if I had to. It's as if it never existed.

But when I think of the strangest house I've ever seen, the underground bunker always pops into my head. Hilda's husband may have wanted it to remain a secret, but to me it is unforgettable.

What's the strangest house you've ever seen?