Haunted ??

In this picture I think the building looks like a haunted house, but as far as I know, it isn't! This building is known as "Old Main", & is one of the oldest & most decorative buildings on the grounds of the Veterans' Administration. It was built in 1869 by Edward Townsend Mix with funds primarily raised by a small group of women who had formed the Wisconsin Soldiers' Home Society. The women worked to provide care & transitional housing to returning Civil War veterans in Wisconsin. At it's peak it housed 1000 men. This 5 story, multi-colored Gothic Revival Style Building was constructed on the highest point of the grounds--it was (& still is) a striking building, & could be seen for miles around. There is a fountain across from it, & in the late 1800's people would come from miles around for picnics on the grounds because they were so beautiful! Old Main housed not only the men but also administrative offices, medical offices, dining facillities, a chapel, a meeting hall, a laundry & bathrooms. Sadly, it's stood mostly empty for a number of years, & has fallen into neglect. The Veterans' Administration planned on tearing it down to make way for modern housing, but the Historical Society stepped in & saved it. It's being worked on now to stablize the structure, so it's fenced off & parts of the towers have a metal mesh over them. It would have been such a shame had it been torn down!!