The Franklin Castle can be found in Cleveland, Ohio. While all castles are probably a bit eerie simply due to age, the Franklin Castle is a bit creepier than most and thought to be one of the most haunted castles in the world.
The Franklin Castle was built in 1865 for Hannes Tiedemann. Tiedemann was German and perhaps he was just homesick when he had a castle built in America. His daughter Emma died of diabetes in 1881 and his mother Wiebeka died shortly after. Within the next three years, three more Tiedemann children would die. That seems like an awfully large number of deaths within a short amount of time, doesn’t it? Rumors were that Tiedemann was a strict disciplinarian and a womanizer, bringing other women into the castle for clandestine get-togethers. Some say Tiedemann himself might have been responsible for some of the deaths, both family and women who might have rejected his advancements, in the home.
I guess Tiedemann thought building more on the home would take his wife’s mind off all the deaths. Sounds like the Winchester House, doesn’t it? He added a ballroom that ran the entire span of the fourth floor, but rumors are that there are hidden rooms used to smuggle alcohol during Prohibition. Tiedemann, his wife, and all other remaining children died and the house was sold to the Mulhauser family at the turn of the 20th century.
But, at some point the house became abandoned until the Romano family moved in in 1968. They reported seeing several ghosts, so much so that they called an exorcist in to rid the place of the spirits. When that didn’t work, they sold it to Sam Muscatello. He reportedly found human bones while searching for secret passageways.
For the next thirty years, the castle continued to change owners. It became in such disrepair that the city was going to tear it down, but in 2011, the castle was rezoned and changed into a three family dwelling.
But, what of the hauntings? Well, I don’t know if the new home owners will notice, but over the years, people have said they heard voices of tormented individuals and screaming children. Some have reported seeing a shapeless vision of a young girl and a woman dressed in black named Rachel. Legend has it that Rachel was a servant of the Tiedemann’s that was killed in the castle.
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