Exploring an Abandoned Cult Mansion built 1904 (Leader Stole Millions and fled) 

I’ve been reading a lot of people’s comments on here and wanted to share something I have discovered over the years. As an example, there is a beautiful mansion for sale in Meriden Connecticut which is only about 45 minutes from where I live. It is 6800 square feet on 7 acres. The property also features a caretakers cottage (which is 2500 square feet), and an in ground pool and pool house. I can purchase the property for around $650k. It probably needs another 500k to properly restore it. All that part is okay. Here is where the rub comes in, the annual property taxes are close to $38,000 per year. That would be a big chunk of my salary every year. Heating and cooling a home this size is also costly. These are just a couple of reasons why many of these mansions are not taken on by most people. It would be great if cities would provide a tax break for people who buy and restore one of these historical homes with the understanding that they actually want to preserve and live in it.

What's really scary is that the Rev. Steven's hairpiece still haunts the mansion. Beautiful home, too good for the likes of a hustler.

I truly hope someone buys and restores this beautiful home. We don't see the detail and craftsmanship in homes anymore and this home is just stunning. The staircase is a work of art. Thank you for sharing this with us.

The workmanship of these old mansions is amazing. They had real craftsmanship back in those days.

The machine in the basement is a paper cutter. It was located in a different building on the property years ago. I operated that machine as an employee of the Bible Speaks back in the late 70's, and it's quite a surprise to see it. I still have a scar on my hand caused by my carelessnes with the blade. Carl Stevens office was not on the second floor but on the first floor in front, to the left when entering the front door. I remember meeting with Stevens in his office. I had to laugh at the description of Stevens preaching from the window to the crowds out back, never happened. Sadly, people look at everything as black and white, so while there is truth here, much of the history presented is very distorted. I knew Stevens personally, worked in their print shop and graduated from the Bible School, got married and had our first child there. I left the organization on bad terms, but the description of all the HORRIBLE things going on here is very exaggerated. I wish there was a way for me to communicate the truth of the reality here (as I know it) but it's way too complicated and would require writing a book to share my views. I was also involved with the music, playing piano at all services with other musicians, several of which had studied at Berklee College of Music. I have both good and bad memories, but have never regretted my time there as it was a great life-learning experience with a lot of wonderful people. While it was cult-like, I would never describe it as a cult. The historical description here completely obliterated it's history as a school prior to the Bible Speaks. By the way, Carl Stevens could have lived in this mansion but he chose to live in a much more humble brick apartment building on the campus. While I had my own personal issues with the man, I believe he was originally sincere but corrupted by power, not money. I also lived in Venfort Hall, around the corner on Walker Street for a few years.

LOVED the historical clips. That staircase though! Makes me sad. Places like this should be restored and preserved, despite their dark history. As you said, the workmanship, detail, and quality of houses (in this case, mansions) of bygone eras speak to the high value placed on hard work, high quality craftsmanship, beauty, art and design. I wish we could return to those standards of build. Sigh. Great job on covering this story, I had never heard of this "Christian" cult con artist before. That Jammin John toilet lid is a trip, ha! 🎸🚽

That “secret staircase” in the yellow room is actually the servants’ stairs. The house had at least 4 owners after the disgraced “Reverend” Stevens had to give it up, so it is unlikely that any remnants currently in the house belonged to him or his college for the 11 years they had it. The name of the house is Spring Lawn and was designed by the famous Boston-born architect Guy Lowell. It was built for John E. Alexandre, and was later sold to the Schermerhorn family (who re-named it Schermeer!). In 1957 it was deeded to the Lenox School, and the Bible Speaks College had possession from 1976, until they were sued by Betsy Dovydenas, to whom the property was conveyed in 1987. It was then owned by the National Music Foundation until 1993, then Shakespeare & Company until 2005, when it was purchased by James C. Journey, Sr.

At last I have found an explorer who provides the history of the property , Thank you .

Amazing place! The old machine in the basement is a paper cutter. I thought so when I saw the measuring tape, but when you walked around to the front, that cinched it. I used to use one of those at a printing plant I worked at.

So I'm a interior trim and finish carpenter,and what I see in your video is so amazing.this work was done with hammer and nails not nail guns, I don't believe there's carpenters today who can do this great work with the same method and meteral specs in a timely manner. wood cutting all by hand stair treads are awesome vary beautiful

The bedroom with floral designs was most likely a Nursery. The crib was most likely placed on the wall under the design. The oddly shaped small rooms on the third floor were originally servants quarters. The kitchen appliances were most likely removed as it was no longer used as a residential building. Great video! Thanks!

that Hi-C orange drink can appears to be from 1947...the letter "i" was dotted with a "star" starting in 1950...

Love abandoned places but love it more when the history of the abandoned place is told. Keep doing these thanks man

I just finished watching your video - great work! My parents met there and I’m currently working on a podcast with my sister to discuss the history of TBS/GGWO (Carl’s cults). It was really cool to see the building, and you’re definitely right - it’s hard to find much out there about the groups! Most of the sites where ex-members flocked with information have been taken down. Anyway, thanks for sharing this :)

It never ceases to amaze me how megachurch pastors & the like live such luxurious lives when the cameras turned off. I once briefly knew a pastor down south Who drove a loaded down Mercedes but was purchasing food stamps from parishioners at 50 cents on the dollar. No. Lie. I saw it with my own eyes. Smdh Amazing videography, man. Keep it up. 👍👌✌️

Totally enjoyed this one. The most intriguing part of the house for me was the staircase! They just don’t make them like that anymore. Question, who owns the property now and do they think they’ll ever sell it?

machine in basement is a paper cutter-for large reams of paper-used 1 in high school in the 70's-I was Graphic Arts (Printing)

8:20 I mean hello those wool carpets! Imagine the price for a modern equivalent of this size 🤯 Gorgeous place!

The craftsmanship in this home is awe inspiring

I've been watching your work for quit a while, and I just want to say as a history lover(and baby urbex person), really love how much you respect the history and atmosphere of a place when going into it

You can't be arrested for trespassing without a complainant . Being someone that either owns the property or represents the owner. Cops spotting you on the property isn't enough for an arrest . They can just tell you to leave .

My dear father was a carpenter and he could make houses from the beginning to the end. Iwas very proud of how good he was. I'm glad to see you have someone with you (I think you said his name was Chris, you be safe too!). Thankyou for your shows!

Wonderful video. How refreshing to hear a young person talk about their love of historic buildings and architecture. Your respect for the property is admirable. Keep creating the great content.

This house is so beautiful I hope someone with money can buy it and preserve it because it would be so sad to see it go to waste

The woodwork in there was exquisite. And those mouldings and custom doors. I can't imagine what it would take to completely stabilize it but so much artistry in there.

Great history piece on this place, thanks Devon. What a horrible person this man was. But this house is absolutely stunning. I can't get over the woodwork and craftsmanship that went into this place and that staircase!!! Wow!! I have never seen a place like this, with all of the curves throughout the entire house. This was probably my favourite explore of yours so far. Great job, really enjoyable and great narrative throughout :o)

The architecture is amazing!! 119 years old! Wow incredible.

The Chandler & Price Company machine looks like a commercial paper cutting machine. I use to work in a print shop and there was one in the lower level that looked more modern than that one. Those paper cutters can cut 1 to 2000 sheets of paper at a time, 2 to 4 reams of paper.

Great video and thank you for your intelligent commentary on the importance of old buildings and houses being saved. People need to see this, because of how well preserved the entire mansion is. Hopefully some rich guy buys this wonderful mansion and restores it. Keep us posted if that happens. :)

For me it’s the staircase that is so magnificent. I love what you are doing and appreciate your work in filming these abandoned properties. Thank you 😊

Wow, that staircase and the first fireplace is amazing!!! And the curved doors. Whoever built this house is a very talented architect.

Wild how so many places can be abandoned but yet were in a housing crisis and get mad if homeless wanted to stay in these places for some shelter

Just wow! The guy has serious Jim Jones vibes!

We are a very young country. These homes were built with extreme craftsmanship. They should be protected and maintained. To just meet these places deteriorate is shameful. It is really a shame to let it sit and deteriorate away. The state and/or a historical society needs to step in and take care of it.

So true, they don’t build homes with that amount of craftsmanship. The wood and carvings and paintings, they have stood the time and elements. Thank you for exploring and exposing this lost beauty. I hope you continue to show more and love your respect for these abandoned archaeological abandonment!

You should bring a generator or power bank to the places you visit, so you can plug in electronics, even without electricity.

I loved all the curled angles in the mansion. I don't believe I've ever seen that to that extent before.

Had to stop video to thank you. As a Christian it does mind, body and soul great good to see the "religious" brought down. Religious and Christian people are 2 different animals like wisdom and knowledge. Now I'll continue the video, just didn't want to forget to comment that.

I actually had a room mate in NYC that got completely taken in by this guy. He convinced his mother to sell her house and move there too. This was in 1979. He was a talented comedian who's life went completely off the rails in this cult. There were various others in Broadway shows that gave up their careers for this bozo too. It is a good lesson on how vulnerable creative people really are. I think the mansion is in very good taste for 1904. The staircase is a masterpiece of craftsmanship. The sweep of the staircase, the carved balustrade with oval openings and inlaid rosettes, all very difficult to produce. The house demonstrates a restraint for that era. It's artistically too fine to forever be associated with this cult. I suspect it's in a less than desirable area to be abandoned like that. It's a shame.

First! Can't wait to see this. You are one of the best explos.on u tube. Fab. Photo on the tile.😍

It’s gorgeous!! I hate that people were brainwashed into believing that they were going to heaven if they gave all of their money, and everything else they did in believing that it was the right thing to do. It’s soo sad that some idiots can actually convince others of the mind control . Unfortunately some people do it.

This is so beautiful! I'm in love with all the detail and the little hidden doors and rooms. It's cool. When I was in highschool my parents got an abandoned funeral home and we just did a few changes inside to make it more of a house but it had a great structure. It was there since 1906 but it was last used in 1930 something.

Beautiful home. Loved the staircase & fireplaces in all of the rooms.

Beautiful place , hopefully it gets lived in again .

This one is so beautiful it’s torture that it’s been abandoned. Love all the unique fireplaces! Weird there’s no kitchen in it but I guess it was probably removed because it was so old and it was easier to feed everyone elsewhere. I wonder how long the cult was there. And I wonder about the history of it prior to the cult residing there. I really appreciate your appreciation of the mansion’s details and beauty. ☺️

That big machine in the basement under the light, is a paper cutting machine. Can cut stacks of paper a few inches high at a time. The 2 buttons on it, are to make it cut. So your fingers can't be in the way

Boy would I like to own that place. Absolutely beautiful

I love all the wood, staircaae and crown molding. The mansion seems in restorable condition. It would be a good wedding venue.

The ceiling in the main room was beautiful. Sad on how people can have such an influence over others. Thank u for the videos. I really do enjoy them.

Great video! I really appreciate all of the work that was put into the making of the video, and I especially appreciated the care that y’all used during the filming to avoid any further damages to the property.

Dude you are so loved and I’m so happy Iv been able too watch how much people have fallen in love with your art over the years ❤ your truly incredible man

that staircase is incredible

It's like the mansion needs a care giver. It's going to waste. I loved the stair cases n fire place. It's sad that all that beauty is going to waste. Thanks for sharing. Patti Ratcliffe from Southern Illinois ☺️♥️

This is spectacular. The 3rd floor rooms were most likely originally the servant's quarters.

I love how Chris just disregards the state of the wood, and walks anywhere.... 🤣 Great video ❤️

First time I have seen any of your videos. I enjoy your videography and the idea that you investigate and share the history of the places. Yes, I subscribed and turned on notifications! Looking forward to your future videos and exploring your older ones too.

I just loved the stairs and the doors that went into the wall. How awful it would be to give up everything to stay in a tiny home. Great find, thanks for sharing 😊

What a stunner! They just dont make em like they used to! I would have to think that that place was probably wired for electricity. it would have been cutting edge technology back then but a place like this would have that kind of innovations built into it. It was probably something it showed off proudly. i would love to know the full history of this house because the corrupt cult leader only came in the final decades. Who built it and who owned it. I love old home histories! Thanks for sharing this incredible home. Sad it falls to these conditions over time. Hopefully it can be restored and saved. What a waste otherwise! These buildings are our tangible past. I think that people are going to come to regret letting places like this fall to ruin!

Hope it is preserved and not allowed to fall into further disrepair.

I totally agree. People with money, instead of buying brand new, should take old mansions and renovate them. These new buildings look great but are cheap compared to how the old buildings were built. We tare down to many old historical buildings.

Loved the staircase, windows & fireplaces you are right so sad to see such wonderful architecture falling into ruin - thanks for another interesting exploration.

You're amazing at what you do. Thanks for another work of art!

Great explore. That main building was really beautiful. So many great features. Thanks, Devin

Watched this video today, through its entirety. Thought at first it might be one of those where the camera never stops shaking, but I immediately discovered a very well-made video! Impressive for sure. Thank you for being a young man with enough curiosity to allow others to share in your adventures.

You always find the best places i really liked the way the walls and doors were bowed that place was amazing you out did your self Fireman 🔥🔥🔥

Loved the ceiling and the blue paint on the clouds, great contrast with the white of the wood. Just beautiful. Impeccable work as always Devon. ❤️

Beautiful house. I appreciate the videos you do. You put a lot of work into them and make them so interesting. Thanks for the tour of the place!

It needs to be lived in and maintained. Thank you so much for telling the story! Liked and subscribed!

You can see how glazed over their eyes are in the old 80’s video. At that point, they will empty the bank account. So sad that people can be so hypnotized 😵‍💫.

On the second floor, I think the cutout with the orange drink is a dumb waiter (I saw a weight hanging on the right hand side. On the third floor, before it was redesigned by the preacher perp, the rooms would have served as bedrooms for the live-in help. Great video!

Such a beautiful place, it's such a shame it's rotting away. Great video I absolutely love your work. ❤️

We see Bed & Breakfast 7:00 -12:00 stairs/ bannister. Oh my!! Wow absolutely beautiful The home would pop with turn of the century Edwardian wallpaper. The basement is a bit creepy. It to can be reinforced, reconstructed. Whole house + land has loads of potential. Nice find!! Stay safe out there. Thanks for the explore

When he came before God it must have been terrifying 😱

That room with the cloud ceiling ... wow.

Amazing. Thank you 😊

Beautiful architecture! What a find! Love how careful you are when you are discovering places such as this. They definitely don't make em' like this anymore!

Devin your videos are amazing always. Love the extra research you do and share with us. Keep up the great work, I enjoy your content very much :)

I really enjoyed this tour! Those creative ceilings, molding and fire places I could almost smell the old wood, paint and mustiness of the years past. There might be past spirits attached to this house considering it's ominous past.

I love your videos. Not only are they interestingly done but you take the time to research the history if any on the places that you explore . Thanks

That Crazy story thanks i enjoyed watching

Great start to the new year...love your vids ❤

Unbelievable place! Excellent video! These old homes/buildings are just flawless! 😊 🙏

Very cool video. First one I have seen from you. Thanks for posting.

Once met people that followed Jim Baaker, it was really sad.

I am after the film from Urbex And Chill. It's a nice introduction to your films. Such an overly laconic summary of them for a viewer who will take it all in. Fortunately, that's not the case with you. The first thing that strikes me (and I mean that literally) is the great love of detail. This focus on them is sensational. After all, it is the details that are very important, it is on them that much depends. I like how you focus on the buildings you visit. You are interested in everything. It's great to watch, because it feels like you're touring along with you. Not thanks to the internet, but as if we were standing there by your side.

I believe the Hi C can dates back to the 1950's. What a great find

Always great videos. Thumbs Up !

Out in California they sell stucco and glass boxes this big for millions. This house is beautiful. The most beautiful architecture in the U.S. is east of the Mississippi. We have some quality older places out in Cali but most have been replaced by stucco or glass boxes starting in the 1960s.

Really great explore! Looking back at the house from a vantage point at the end. you can see that the house is on a hill. SO when you were down in the basement with the cracks in the floor...can't help wondering if there were secret tunnels there.

Lovely presentation 🤍 Thank you

Just Gorgeous. Who owns it now and what are future plans for this magnificent mansion?

Appreciate you sharing this location🏚 Really gorgeous manor🏡 😍

Springlawn Mansion. I know it well. I spent 6 months surveying it and producing drawings for a historic renovation. For a brief period of time it was owned by Shakespeare and Company.

This is an absolutely beautiful house!! You dont get to see all the little details and intricacies in houses anymore. Thank you for your eye for details. Your videos are amazing. I love history!!❤ You are amazing and very talented. You have a great eye and an appreciation of history!!!

I love your respect for the skill and craftsmanship that went into this building, excellent video. 🙏

Amazing video, also because the background footage you provide. We'll done! 👍🏻😃

Nicely done

Just want to say this episode is particularly fascinating. The house is absolutely fabulous:) You do a really nice job & your use your voice properly. Unlike another channel I won’t name who’s voice is like nails on a chalkboard lol & repeats alot of phrases that are sometimes not applied the correct way. You’re a man after my own heart. Anyways, Thanks again

In the era this was built the third floor (or the uppermost floors) was designed to house the nursery, bedrooms for staff-governesses, butlers, maids (upstairs, downstairs, parlor, scullery, chamber, housekeeper, etc.), and storage for commonly used items that didn’t get stored in attics. During the 1970s/1980s when Rev. Stevens was there the third floor was indeed most likely used for meetings, administrivia, classes, and perhaps some live-in housekeeping staff, several to a room.

Absolutely amazing house!! Beautiful craftmanship n architecture!