Most Haunted Places in America: Franklin Castle

When the people of the Cleveland Ohio region hear about Franklin Castle, they think of a beautiful home that was cursed upon by its first master Hannes Tiedemann. Built in 1865, by Hannes himself, the Gothic style mansion was home to his wife, their many children, and his mother.

Tiedemann, a wholesale grocer and later bank president, but was also thought to be an abusive man who would take his anger out on his family. Tragedy first struck the home  about 16 years after it was built, when Hannes Tiedemann’s daughter Emma died from diabetes, though rumor has it that she had committed suicide by hanging from the attic rafters. Soon after, his mother Weibekka passed away from unknown causes along with three more of the Tiedemann children a few years after that.

To help his wife Louise heal from the deaths of their family members, he began to construct several additions such as a grand ballroom with secret rooms and passages throughout the house. Some say that his three young children were buried inside one of the secret rooms. In 1895, his wife Louise died from liver disease, however many believe that Hannes had murdered her.

Legend also states that Hannes Tiedemann’s young niece was murdered by being hung from one of the rafters while one of his servants was strangled by him because of a fit of rage and jealousy. It’s been also told that Hannes had a mistress who he also killed within the walls of Franklin Castle.

Tiedemann sold his home to Mullhauser family shortly after his wife died, and they lived in the home until 1913 where it was sold once again to the German Socialist Party. Legend said that the socialist party were actually Nazi spies who had killed some of their members and also buried them within the secret rooms and passages. James Romano and his family purchased the home in 1968 when it was reported that the century and a half old mansion was experiencing strange occurrences which has led to the reputation of being the most haunted house in the state of Ohio.

Some of the paranormal activities that were told by the Romano family are of children crying, faces appearing in the woodwork. They also claimed that there was a ghost of a young girl that would speak with their children. Claims of a bloodstain that’s located on one of the ball marble floors several years after they were replaced. A woman in black appears in the window who has been claimed to be Rachel, the young servant girl who was supposedly murdered by Hannes Tiedemann. The Romano’s moved out in 1976 when they were told that there was going to be a death in the future. Some have seen apparitions of Hannes himself roaming through the park where he died at.

In 1999, there was a fire that broke out in the Franklin Castle which severely damaged parts of the historic structure. As of today, its unknown if repairs have been made to the house, however its stated that Franklin Castle will become a church however, money is being raised for the renovations by donations, holding tours, and letting patrons spend the night at the cursed castle.

Was the Franklin Castle really cursed or were the stories just folklore’s that were passed on for several years by several residents of Cleveland Ohio? Its hard to resist a good ghost story especially at a home as infamous as Franklin Castle. Many people who knew Hannes Tiedemann said he was not the friendliest of people , however he was incapable of murdering so many people. Learning the actual truth lies within the walls of one of the most haunted places in America, revealing what really happened has to be seen for ourselves.

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