Possibly
the most magnificient mansion in Buca, and very slowly undergoing restoration.
Built possibly on the site of their earlier house; it was burnt down a year
after its construction in 1908 and it was rebuilt again by 1910. The liquorice
business the family were involved in was clearly very profitable, as they
had by 1920s moved to their new mansion in Athens. Between 1942-52 Albert
and Agnes Whittall lived here, after which it was sold to the state and
used as a Sanatorium and later as lodgings for the nearby hospital.
The somewhat
haunting look of this house at the top of the hill, has given rise to much
local folklore and legend. The elders of the village have a colourful story
that the house was deliberately burnt down by the jealous mistress and maid
of the master. Another rumour is that the owners left to America with their
fortune to found the still running Forbes publishing empire (the answer
to my letter to the board, proved this theory to be incorrect). Finally
the slight curve of the railway line as it nears the Buca station is seen
as an indication that this family which helped finance this extension, wanted
a near drop off point. This is clearly false as the railway link was built
much before the mansion (1870 versus 1908).
Photos below show the gradual ruination of internal structures. Postcard at the bottom shows the building from afar early 20th century. |
