Photographer Documents The Eerie Remains Of An Doctor’s Abandoned Home In Virginia
Abandoned homes are mysterious in their own right, begging questions such as who lived in the house, what was their life in the home like, and why did they leave it in shambles? But this abandoned house in the remote Northern Neck peninsula of Virginia may take the cake for creepiness. Formerly owned by a physician, it's full of old doctor's equipment and medicine bottles, browning books, peeling walls, old-timey portraits, and other curious debris. Read on to see for yourself what lies beyond the walls of this eerie building.
A Foreboding Exterior
The exterior of the Virginia home is overgrown with foliage, making it seem like something out of a horror movie. Even from a distance, you can tell that the walls are peeling.
A haphazardly-placed tarp hangs over a portion of the wall for no apparent reason, adding to the morbid look of the home. As unwelcoming as the building looks, it does invite curiosity as it is clearly full of mysteries.
This Foyer Is Anything But Welcoming
This foyer practically begs visitors to turn around and walk back out the front door. For starters, the first thing your feet come into contact with is a wolf skin rug.
Once you turn around to shut the door, you'll notice that it's peeling and browning, in addition to being flanked by bright-orange windows that set the scene for this thriller house. A red chair is parked in front of a heater and surrounded by miscellaneous household items. Looking up, you'll notice large strips of wallpaper peeling from the walls.
The Upstairs Hallway Is Dusty And Has Torn Wallpaper
Like the foyer downstairs, the top of the staircase reveals peeling wallpaper, pieces of which are strewn across the floor. The door jambs are fringed with crumbling paint and the wooden floors are covered in a layer of dust that hides their color.
Blankets hanging over the guardrail have probably been there for as long as the residents have been gone. Black wooden chairs seem out of place in this hallway and are layered in just as much dust as the floors.
Cracked Glass Adds To The Eeriness
If you looked straight ahead in the previous photograph, you may have noticed this oval photograph hanging from the wall. Upon closer inspection, it seems to be a portrait that's become so faded that it's hard to tell if it's a man or a woman.
If the peeling walls and wolf-skin rug weren't enough to perk up your sense of superstition, the cracked glass of this frame should do it. We don't know how this frame managed to remain hanging on the wall upon being cracked, and we might not want to know.
A Crooked Silhouette Portrait
If you're a fan of old-timey things you may be familiar with these silhouette portraits, which became popular in the mid-18th century. This was a way to capture the essence of an individual before photography was widely used.
This portrait shows a man in a ruffled shirt and a black vest with his hair tied in a low ponytail. The name below reads "Richard Henry Lee." The crooked picture certainly adds to the haunted feel of the home.
A Relatively Normal-Looking Bedroom
Compared to what we've seen so far in this house, this modest bedroom appears to be in relatively good shape. The snug room features a maple cannonball twin bed with a simple, white blanket that's surprisingly clean-looking.
A multicolored, circular rug breathes life into the room and picks up on the firey red chair in the corner. A rocker chair sits next to a window illuminated with light and is gently caressed by a sheer curtain with a playful fringe lining.
Possible Insight Into The Homeowner
Aside from a few folded blue blankets, this twin bed is topped with portraits and an oval mirror. The photographs could be of the homeowner's relatives, especially the images of two children.
Being that the children seem to be two separate individuals who share a single, folding frame, it seems likely that they are siblings. For all we know, they could have been the homeowner's children, and the portrait of the older man could be the homeowner/doctor himself.
A Quaint But Messy Room
This bedroom is much larger than the one we just saw and features a full-sized canopy bed topped with a crocheted fabric and hanging tassels. Two windows feature Venetian blinds and sheer drapes with tiebacks.
Like the hallway, a mysterious, oval photograph and a crooked, rectangular portrait hang from the wall. A dresser lies on its back in front of the bed, and one of its drawers rests a few feet from it. Scattered clothing and debris make it look like the scene of a break-in.
The Brick Fireplace Is The Highlight Of This Room
This room at least has a brick fireplace to deflect from its lack of functionality. Straight ahead is a shallow closet that has just three hooks on the wall and appears to only fit horizontally-hung clothing.
A soft, teal paint contrasts with the yellowing walls. At the top left, you can see a large crack in the drywall, presenting yet another mystery in this abandoned home. The fireplace mantel is topped with what appears to be the first painting we've seen in this home.
A Room Full Of Potential
This bedroom has a similar-looking fireplace as the one we just saw, only with the addition of obviously-flaking paint on its mantel. This room's color is more of a mint-green, which would complement the wooden floors nicely if they weren't covered in dust and debris.
Cowboy boots sit in front of the fireplace, in between a chair and a lamp. To either side are matching closets, which could have been his-and-hers closets if a couple shared this room.
More Portraits Of Potential Family Members
A closer look at the fireplace mantel reveals three more portraits, all of which are much smaller than the ones we've seen so far. They appear to be from the 19-century, and could very well be late relatives of the homeowner.
The two photographs to the right are in folding frames with oval cutouts. The woman to the right is posed in the position black-card silhouettes were made in, which may point to the era. The center photograph of a man is surrounded by an intricate, copper design.
A Closet For The Missus
A close-up of one of the dual closets we saw previously revealed it to clearly have belonged to a woman since its contents are comprised exclusively of skirts and dresses. Full of bright patterns and matching pumps, the clothes seem to be in good condition.
Some of the apparel is even packaged in zip-up plastic bags for safekeeping. To the far left are some shoeboxes that are jammed into the corner, and other miscellaneous items.
A Mysterious Second Closet
If the other closet belonged to a woman, and possibly the homeowner's wife, then you would presume that this matching closet would be a man's, or more specifically, the homeowner's.
It's hard to tell whose items occupied this closet based on the few, bright-color clothes and matching flats. Bags meant to preserve clothes are also hung up in the closet, but appear to be empty. This one also has far more shoeboxes and other clutter.
Not The Most Comfortable Doctor's Office
These days, doctors' offices often look a little more comfortable than this clinical one does. Between its pink-tiled walls, narrow shape, and barren furnishings, this room could make anyone afraid to go visit the doctor.
The examination bed has built-in drawers that could have held equipment, which would explain why there's not a counter or a table in this space. Next to the bed are a couple of stools and some sort of medical contraption that adds to the room's ominous feel.
A Drab Examination Room
The lack of light in this examination room doesn't do any favors for its drab design. The bare-bones space features a patient bed with an intimidating lamp overhead, empty, metal shelves, a sink, and a trashcan.
To put it bluntly, this room looks like the place where a mad scientist would conduct their experiments. As though going to the doctor wasn't nerve-wracking enough, just imagine walking into this room for a procedure. He could have at least put up a few pictures or charts.
The Kind Of Doctor's Office You'd Expect To See
After seeing the first two nightmare-like patient rooms, this one looks like a welcome surprise. Though it still has a minimalistic design, it at least doesn't look like the birthplace of Frankenstein.
A cushioned table with built-in storage underneath sits along the wall next to some shelving. The speckled tile floors offer a touch of style to an otherwise bland room. A wheelchair and an oxygen tank were left behind in the room.
Tricks Of The Trade
Along the doctor's office wall is a countertop with a built-in sink, topped with shelving for various bottles of medication and books. While doctor's offices today are typically equipped with a computer, it seems this doctor practiced long before the days when computers were common.
He does have an electronic device to the right that we are not able to name. Hanging from a metal rod is a skeleton that the doctor may have used to help explain things to his patients.
Weathered Books And Medicine Bottles
These books are so old that some of them are barely hanging onto their bindings! The pages are severely browned and the covers are peeling back. We would imagine they contain physician-related information that you could probably find online these days.
In front of the ancient books are some bottles of medicine, a couple of which have hand-written labels. The bottle to the far left is Amolin nappy rash cream and the one in the middle is Cepacol Original Gold mouthwash.
Still-Used Medicines
While these medicine bottles are clearly decades old and more than likely would be dangerous to take now, some of them are still in use today. For instance, Butapap is a combination of acetaminophen and butalbital still used to cure headaches.
On the other hand, Merthiolate was banned by the FDA in the '90s due to its mercury content. Clues like these left in the abandoned home give us some insight into when the homeowner may have lived and practiced here.
Heart Models And Medical Tools
A closer look at the countertop show two heart models sitting next to the hanging skeleton, all of which the doctor likely used to explain things to his patients. Before the internet, these models probably came especially in handy since clients had less access to information.
Also on the counter are some tools, one of which is severely rusted. You may recognize the reflex hammer to the left, a tool used to tap a patient's knee to test their reflexes.
A Bonus Room
Back downstairs, we have this bonus room with mint-green paneled walls and doors. The paint prevents the wooden walls and floors from being too overbearing while maintaining a country look.
The fireplace mantel is nearly identical to the ones we saw in the bedrooms upstairs and is topped with figurines. The ceiling in this room is significantly lower than the ones upstairs, and to the far right, you can see some of its water damage.
The Dark Kitchen
This kitchen was clearly designed decades ago, back in a time when natural wooden cabinets and deep browns were all the rage. The tile backsplash perfectly matched the chocolate-brown double oven.
The cabinet doors are all open to reveal how well-stocked they are with pots and pans despite the home having been abandoned. To the far right, you can vaguely make out a microwave sitting on the counter, an appliance that didn't come out until the late '60s.
A Kitchen Wall Filled With Decor
This kitchen wall may be badly peeling, but the items hanging on it still seem quite secure. Among them are a bright-red sconce light, a painting of some fruit, a china plate, and a spice cabinet.
To the far left is a phone complete with multiple lines and a role of notetaking paper. There is also a home security system that looks like one of the newer items in the house.
A Vintage Living Room
This living room is clearly not from the 21st century. The wooden-surrounded television was fancy for its day, featuring cabinet-like compartments with brass handles. To the right you can see the floral furniture that was popular around the same time.
Above the television is a portrait of three children, two of whom look like the same ones we saw in the photographs that were lying on the twin bed upstairs. Since they are the focal point of this room, it seems likely that they were the homeowner's children.
The Waiting Room Is Still Holding Up
Like any physician's office, the doctor who lived here needed a waiting room for his patients, and this was it. For whatever reason, he must have believed wolf skin rugs to be welcoming because he has one in this room to match the one in the foyer.
Aside from the water damage in the ceiling, the room appears to be in arguably the best shape when compared to the other ones. There's no paint to peel from the walls and the tile floors are low maintenance.
A Library-Style Parlor
Closer to the home's entrance is this parlor, equipped with built-in shelves full of books. A couple of couches sit adjacent to one another around a large area rug, which you can barely make out beneath all of the debris.
The gray-blue walls and crown molding provide a soothing tone that is a welcome relief compared to the rest of the horror-inducing house. The wooden floors appear lighter in this room where you can see them beneath the piles of discarded items.
A Closer Look At The Books On The Shelf
A closeup of the books on the shelf reveals a little bit of insight into who lived here. Not surprisingly, there are numerous medical books which is precisely what you'd expect from a doctor.
There are also some biographies from notable individuals like US presidents. These days, you could learn all you needed to about a person from their web browser. But before the days of the internet, items like books could be a good glimpse into a person's character.
The Outdoors Are Coming In
After who knows how many years of abandonment, this house is starting to officially become consumed by the nature surrounding it. Not only are vines growing up the walls on the outside, but this branch has made its way through the window.
Straight ahead is the parlor we just looked at with the built-in bookshelves and the numerous abandoned items. Beyond that is the waiting room that leads to the doctor's office, set apart by its patterned ceiling.
You Can Barely Walk Through This Room
The view facing opposite the built-in bookcase of the parlor exposed just how cluttered with debris this room is. You would have a hard time just walking from one end to the other.
Characteristic of the house, yet another fireplace sits in this room. Above the mantel are more photographs of presumed family members. It's possible that the center photograph is of the doctor himself, with his wife to the left and their daughter to the right.
A Once-Lovely Sunroom
It's hard to imagine a sunroom that isn't lovely considering it's made to give a view of the surrounding greenery, but this one's arched windows make it a true gem. Though the vegetation outside is so overgrown that it's blocking the door, you can imagine how this room looked in the past.
The tall ceilings are painted sky blue and add a calming effect to this room. Unfortunately, as soon as you look down you are met with a stack of window frames and other miscellaneous items that hide the brick floors. For more of Bryan Sansivero's work, please visit his Instagram account.
