A Haunting - Franklin Castle in Cleveland
This Gothic Mansion is Most Haunted House in Ohio
Apr 8, 2009
The Franklin Castle is located on Franklin Boulevard in Cleveland, Ohio, at the time the castle was built the area was referred to as Millionaires Row, but over the years, the area has changed dramatically.
Franklin Castle is a four story stone Gothic Mansion, that houses 20 some rooms, and many secret passages, hidden rooms, and even a tunnel that runs to Lake Erie. The fourth floor of the mansion is a magnificent ballroom.
The Haunted History of Franklin Castle
Hannes Tiedemanns built Franklin Castle in 1864, for his wife Luis, his mother, and their many children who all occupied the mansion. Hannes was a well-known wine and grocery wholesaler, but the community thought of him as a loud and unkind man. Some say that he was abusive and controlling of his family.
In 1881, family members began mysteriously dying, starting with Emma, Hannes' 15-year-old daughter. Legend has it that they found Emma hanging from the rafters, but official records state that she died from complications associated with diabetes.
Shortly after Emma's death, Hannes' 84-year-old mother died, cause unknown. Then in 1883, three more of the Tiedmanns children would die due to unknown illnesses.
Luis became so distraught of the death of her children, that Hannes began remodeling the mansion. He started adding secret rooms, hidden passage, and turrets. Soon thereafter, Luis would also succumb to death.
Franklin Castle's Other Residents
Following his wife's death, Hannes sold the mansion and eventually remarried.
A German Socialist Party, who would occupy the mansion for the next 55 years, purchased the Franklin Castle in 1913. The rumors that spread among the community held that the occupants were spies that were holding secret meetings about large political assassinations.
From 1968 and on, the mansion would house many different families, or individuals. The owners and their guests would all consistently report experiences of bothersome and frightening events. Many would not stay long, and the house would soon sell again.
Is Franklin Castle Haunted?
The Romano is the first family to move in to the mansion in 1968; they soon found they were not alone. They would often here the cries of babies, and once the children saw a young girl in white crying.
It was also common to hear the sound of an organ playing, or hear the screams of a woman. Mrs. Romano in desperation called a priest, whom confirmed there were ghosts present in the home. The priest named the ghosts, saying they were those of Hannes, Luis, and Emma, but he also spoke of an evil presence in the home. He advised them to leave as soon as possible.
In 1974, Mrs. Romano became very ill, and they sold the mansion.
Several more families would soon move in, all moving out due to paranormal activities. Many would claim to see doors flying off their hinges, lights going on and off, all without any logical explanation.
Most Haunted House Becomes Even Creepier
It is noted that sometime in 1970s one of the mansion's owners would uncover a sealed room that was home to a dozen baby skeletal remains. The county coroner could only confirm that the bones were very old.
Another owner would soon also discover a hidden panel in the wall, behind it housed a skeleton. Later the owner would become quite ill, and he too was soon to moved out.
One of the local legends says that Hannes had more children that had been born inside the castle, and had died. People have rumored that he murdered his young niece and hung her from the rafters, possible inside one of his secret rooms. Another rumor is that he killed a young servant girl during a fit of rage, and strangled his mistress on the fourth floor of the ballroom.
One will never know if Hannes was really that evil, or are all the stories, just that — stories. Nevertheless, one thing is certain: Many of the Tidemanns died there. Skeletons were found and confirmed, and one has to admit, the house has seen many owners come and go.
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