IstheBerbice100-window...

Frompage39 small home and was extended it until it became this massive building that everyonecallsamansionbut it definitely wasn't built to show his wealth or status,” shesaid.

Maria said Edgar Hickens was the owner of vast rice and sugar plantations and also managed cattle and reared birds. David Fraser was the brother-in-law of Hickens. He purchased the section of theestateforhisfamilyafter Hickens decided to put the propertyonsale.

Ashistorywouldhaveit, oneofthe100windowswas orderedtobeblocked.

According to Maria, the order came from exPresident Forbes Burnham. “He said that only his house could have 100 windows so hesentachopperwithafew mentodeliveraletterwhich statedthatwearetocloseone of the windows down so we became the famous 99windowshouse,”shesaid.

In 2006, the family handedoverthehousetothe National Trust to make the structureaheritagemuseum. According to Maria, “there were a lot of interventions and stuff with the government at the time and they said they didn't have fundingtorestorethehouse. Theysaiditwastoocostlyto do that so that option was flushed and the house became deteriorated over time. My granddad said it doesn'tmakesensetorestore it now because we already haveahouseandheactually wantedustodemolishit.”

Although David Fraser feels hopeless about restoringthestructure,Maria said she is still exploring options to restore the building. “Heritage is very important to Guyana, especially when it comes to history as well and most of ourhistoricalbuildings;they havebecomedeterioratedso wearelookingathowwecan restoreit.”

She said it is estimated that the house would cost around$130millionto$200 milliontoberestored.Maria said she is willing to speak withinvestorstohelprestore thesite.

I n a d d i t i o n t o rehabilitating the famous 100-window house to allow fordaytours,Mariasaidshe planstomakeitaguesthome where persons can stay over if they desire to experience the ancient structure. If you would like to visit you can contact 'Tourism Guyana' and like the '99-window house- GY' Facebook page for updates. Visitors are not allowed into the structure duetoitspresentcondition.

Growingupthere

Growing up in the mansion, Maria said she nevermanagedtocountallof the windows but certainly relished in the outdoors of the property. She enjoyed lookingaftertheanimalsand tendingtotheplants.

“Having animals around was the most interesting thingever,becauseeveryday you tend to learn something new Mygrandfather'sfather, he was one of Guyana's first veterinarians- his name was Dr HughFraser

He worked strictly with the animals at the other ranch-Dadanawa.”

She said her grandfather learned how to care for the animals from him. Maria saidfromtheageofsix-years she started learning to ride a horse and eventually tried huntingwithherfamily

One of the things she remembered was an anaconda wrapping one of the cows and her family tryingthesavetheanimal.

Maria lived in the house with her grandfather and his wife, along with his two childrenandher