The Haunting of Franklin Castle, Cleveland, Ohio

Franklin Castle – Cuyahoga County, Cleveland, Ohio

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Address:

4308 Franklin Boulevard
Cleveland, Ohio 44113

Constructed in 1881 by German immigrant Hannes Tiedemann, Franklin Castle quickly earned a reputation as both an architectural marvel and a house of whispers. Tiedemann, a wealthy banker, spared no expense in creating the four-story Victorian mansion, complete with turrets, gables, and elaborate stonework. Beneath its grandeur, however, ran a darker current — one of loss, secrecy, and death.

In the years following the family’s move into Franklin Castle, tragedy struck the Tiedemanns repeatedly. Hannes and his wife Louise lost multiple children within the home, fueling neighborhood rumors that the mansion was cursed. After Louise’s passing in 1895, the estate’s reputation deepened into infamy. Locals whispered that secret rooms, hidden passageways, and even concealed chambers within the walls had been used for dark purposes — everything from bootlegging to murder has been suggested, though much remains unproven.

By the early 1900s, Franklin Castle had become synonymous with misfortune, and tales of hauntings began to circulate. Witnesses have reported disembodied voices echoing through its long hallways, doors that slam shut on their own, and phantom children crying late into the night. The apparition of a woman dressed in black, believed by many to be Louise Tiedemann herself, has been spotted gazing from windows or drifting across the upper floors.

Other chilling encounters include cold spots in hidden passageways, phantom organ music, and the unnerving sound of footsteps pacing in empty rooms. Some visitors claim the walls themselves seem to hold secrets — as if the mansion remembers.

In modern times, Franklin Castle remains a magnet for the curious and the brave, with visitors and investigators alike sharing stories of EVPs, shadow figures, and unexplained movement throughout the house. Its reputation as one of Ohio’s most haunted homes endures.

The Haunting of the Maumee Bay Brewing Company

The Maumee Bay Brewing Company – Lucas County, Toledo, Ohio

Photograph ©Haunted Houses.com

Constructed in 1859, the building originally served as The Oliver House hotel. Throughout its history, it transformed from a makeshift hospital during the Revolutionary War to a boarding house and later, a brief stint as a music studio. Today, the venerable structure houses the Maumee Bay Brewing Company and hosts various other businesses.

The paranormal activity surrounding this brick edifice dates back to the 1960s when an inadvertent addition was constructed over an Indian burial ground. During renovations, workers unintentionally unearthed bones. Realizing their error, they hastily reburied the remains. Unfortunately, during a subsequent renovation, these bones were once again uncovered. This prompted the involvement of local Indian authorities, who sought to appease the angered spirits and purify the grounds.

An occupant, who had an office within the building, reported encountering a ghostly figure in the basement—identified as the "Captain," the original owner from the 1800s. The witness described the apparition appearing surprised at being seen. This spectral presence is known to frequent the private dining room, where witnesses have heard creaking floorboards, witnessed doors opening and closing autonomously, and experienced cold spots. A notable incident involved the daughter of one of the owners hearing a cheerful disembodied male voice addressing her by name in the private dining room. The Captain's apparition has been seen numerous times in this area.

However, the Captain is not the sole spirit dwelling within the building. Witnesses have reported sightings of a woman in period clothing on the staircase, accompanied by accounts of phantom footsteps and other unexplained phenomena that persist to this day. The building's rich history and encounters with the paranormal contribute to its mystique, making it a fascinating subject for those intrigued by the supernatural.

 
Address:
27 Broadway Street
Toledo, Ohio 43604
(419) 241-1253

The Haunting of the Ohio State Reformatory

Ohio State Reformatory – Richland County, Mansfield, Ohio

Photograph ©Susan@Streamlets

Don’t let the picture above fool you, the Ohio State Reformatory is within the top five largest prisons in the United States of America. The Ohio State Reformatory, however, stands as a colossus among the top five largest prisons in the United States. A mastermind named Levi Scofield envisioned and designed this architectural marvel, with its exterior resembling a fortress and the interior echoing the sacred ambiance of a church. Levi's visionary intent was to inspire incarcerated souls to cast away their malevolent paths and embrace the righteousness of God. Today, this sprawling two hundred and fifty-thousand-square-foot prison serves as a museum, offering visitors three distinctive tours that unravel the secrets held within its walls.

The roots of this imposing structure stretch back to the Civil War era when the land, now occupied by the reformatory, lay bare. Union soldiers utilized this very ground for Camp Mordecai Bartley, a training camp chosen for its strategically positioned natural springs. Post-war, the site witnessed the construction of a reform school for boys. Eventually, in the early nineteenth century, the institution transformed into a federal prison, welcoming inmates from all corners of the nation. However, the early '90s witnessed the emergence of a new prison behind the reformatory, leading to the relocation of its inmates.

By 1995, the Ohio State Reformatory stood desolate, a vast emptiness that found purpose as a cinematic backdrop in renowned films like Shawshank Redemption and Air Force One. In 1996, the Preservation Society breathed new life into the abandoned structure, orchestrating tours to generate funds for the restoration of other historic buildings on the property. Presently, the Preservation Society holds custodianship of the reformatory, shielding it from the ravages of time, ensuring its preservation for generations yet to come.

Beyond its identity as a tourist attraction, the Ohio State Reformatory reveals itself as a magnet for spirits, the echoes of lives lost within its confines lingering on the land.

Within the East Administration Building, whispers of disembodied voices reverberate from the former warden's quarters. Former Warden Glattke and his wife seem to engage in heated arguments, their spectral presence extending to various locations, including the Administration Wing, the courtyard, and several hallways. Mrs. Glattke, often found in her former abode, known as the White Room, brings with her the transient fragrance of roses, a scent that materializes and vanishes abruptly. Startlingly, Mrs. Glattke has communicated with the living, her voice captured on tape, a spectral testament to her lingering presence.

Negative energies seem to converge in the chapel and the west wing shower room, where apparitions of men appear, perhaps still seeking reconciliation with the divine. The shower room witnesses sightings of full-bodied apparitions and vaporous mists materializing and dissipating mysteriously.

In the cell blocks, some spirits, unbound by the physical realm, made their presence known in a more tangible manner. Two female paranormal investigators reported encounters with disembodied hands, shoulders held back, and hands gently guiding one up a flight of stairs. The eerie touch extended to playful tickling on the neck. Others who ventured into the reformatory faced unseen forces blowing in their faces, attempting to choke, shove, hit, punch, and even hurl them down staircases.

Behind the charming Queen Anne/Victorian Gothic exterior lies a realm of foreboding and fright within the walls of this aging prison. While some apparitions bear no malice, others harbor hate, seeking vengeance against any who dare trespass upon their spectral domain. The Ohio State Reformatory stands not only as a monument to architectural prowess but also as a haunted testament to the echoes of history that refuse to fade away.

Address:
100 Reformatory Road
Mansfield, Ohio 44905
(419) 522-2644
Website

The Haunting of Squire’s Castle

Squire’s Castle – Cuyahoga County, Cleveland, Ohio

Photograph ©geekgrrl++

The Squire Castle was actually intended to be a chalet when Feargus B. Squire decided he wanted to build an English castle in the wilderness of Cleveland, Ohio. Feargus came to the United States from his homeland in England, bringing his wife with him. Apparently Mrs. Squire was not at all happy out in the woods and while temporarily living in the chalet, she lost her mind. Mrs. Squire’s death, however, remains a mystery; some say she died in the chalet, while others disagree.

After his wife’s death, Feargus Squire decided that he no longer wished to build on his 525 acre estate in Cleveland and sold the property in 1922. In 1925 the estate was purchased by the state of Ohio and was then turned into the Metroparks that it is today.

When acquired by the state, Squire’s Castle was in complete ruins. The state fixed what they could; however, the castle is now only walls. The second and third floors are gone now, leaving the castle but a shell and the basement was filled in with concrete long ago.

In addition to the mysterious death of Mrs. Squire, others have reportedly died in the castle and in the surrounding wooded area. Many of these tragic deaths were self inflicted. Also, many strange activities have taken place in the area; devil worship, animal sacrifices and such and those activities, as well as, the suicides may account for most of the activity there.

Paranormal activity has been reported at Squire’s castle for decades and continues on today. Many have claimed to see the apparition of a woman walking past the second floor windows while she carried a lantern to light her way. What’s so odd about that? There is no second floor, the castle is gutted. Also, it is believed that this same apparition is responsible for the screaming that has been heard by many at night, when no other living person could be seen.

Several other apparitions have been spotted roaming the grounds and the surrounding wooded area and many people have photographed numerous orbs about the place.

No one knows for sure if the female apparition is truly Mrs. Squire’s spirit or not, but one thing is for certain, she has no intention of leaving anytime soon; her spirit continues to haunt the old gate house and many still claim to catch a glimpse of her every now and again.

Address:
North Chagrin Reservation
Cleveland Metroparks
4101 Fulton Parkway
Cleveland, Ohio 44144
(216) 635-3200
Website