Franklin Castle: The Most Haunted Home In Ohio

Franklin Castle, a Victorian home on Franklin Avenue in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood, has gained widespread notoriety as “the most haunted home in Ohio.” Learn about Franklin Castle’s eerie, tragic origins and the ghosts claimed to inhabit it.

On the west side of Cleveland in the neighborhood of Ohio City, Franklin Castle’s turrets, shadowy red-lined windows, creepy gargoyles, stone walls, and ominous six-foot iron gate make it stand out among its neighbors. The third floor was once a grand ballroom. Built in the 1880s by Hannes Tiedemann, a German immigrant, grocer, and investment banker with a troubled history, Franklin Castle is haunted by rumors, lingering tragedy, and, many claim, menacing ghosts.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BeTFpbjAd9E/?hl=en&tagged=franklincastle

Hannes Tiedemann was beset by rumors since he first built Franklin Castle. After founding the Euclid Avenue Savings and Trust, he used his fortune to hire a prestigious architectural firm to design his residence. Tiedemann moved in with his mother, wife, and three children, who were quickly hounded by tragedy. His mother, Wiebeka, died in 1891, followed shortly thereafter by his young daughter Emma. Though Emma apparently died of diabetes, rumors swirled that Tiedemann was responsible, aided by his own reputation as cold and something of a brute.

After Tiedemann sold the house and later died himself of a stroke, Franklin Castle was sold to the German Socialist Party. Speculation abounded that the house was chosen for its many secret passageways, where Nazis used it for medical experimentation and spy activities.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf5GwzpHTmJ/?hl=en&tagged=franklincastle

Franklin Castle was subsequently sold to countless new families; struck by an arsonist once, it was resold quickly by every family or individual who moved in. They claimed to see a little girl haunting the third floor, a woman in black on the top floor, and a ghostly figure in white on the stairway. Rumors of power outages and strange noises surged.

Human bones believed to be baby skeletons (medical specimens used by a doctor who once lived there, replicas planted by an owner looking to sell the house as a ghost tour stop, or worse?) were found hidden in a corner of the house in the 1970s, and crying is said to be heard in every hallway.

Franklin Castle is one of Cleveland’s most popular attractions, inspiring features on local news stations and in documentaries, assessments by paranormal experts and ghost hunters, multiple books, and even a seasonal spiced ale by Cleveland-based Market Garden Brewery. The home is privately owned and not open to the public, though it remains a frequent spot for photo ops on walking ghost tours of Cleveland.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZmVZVwlvt1/?hl=en&tagged=franklincastle

landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.