Franklin Castle was built in the mid 1800s by Hans Tiedemann, a wealthy German immigrant. Since then, it has been a clubhouse for a German singing society, headquarters for a German Socialist organization, a doctor’s office, apartments, and a hideout for bootleggers. Many ghost stories surround the place, and here are just a few: Legend has it that a pile of baby skeletons was once found in the house, blamed on the doctor, and witnesses say ghostly baby cries can be heard here. Another tale says ghosts have political discussions here, stemming from a mass murder when some Nazis were machine-gunned in a dispute here. Yet another story tells of an axe murder in the front tower room, and the apparition of the victim has been seen in the window. And a ghostly woman in black called Karen is said to be Tiedemann’s illegitimate daughter, whom he hanged in a secret passageway near the ballroom.
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Geographic Information
- Address:
- 4308 Franklin Boulevard
Cleveland, Ohio
United States
Get Directions » - GPS:
- 41.485813, -81.716564
- County:
- Cuyahoga County, Ohio
- Nearest Towns:
- Ohio City, OH (0.3 mi.)
Cleveland, OH (1.4 mi.)
Brooklyn, OH (3.3 mi.)
Newburgh Heights, OH (3.7 mi.)
Linndale, OH (3.8 mi.)
Lakewood, OH (4.2 mi.)
Brooklyn Heights, OH (4.4 mi.)
Cuyahoga Heights, OH (4.6 mi.)
Parma, OH (5.6 mi.)
Bratenahl, OH (6.1 mi.)
Contact Information
- Web:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_Castle
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Disclaimer: The stories posted here are user-submitted and are, in the nature of "ghost stories," largely unverifiable. HauntedPlaces.org makes no claims that any of the statements posted here are factually accurate. The vast majority of information provided on this web site is anecdotal, and as such, should be viewed in the same light as local folklore and urban legends.
I have always had a strange obsession with this house. I never quite knew what it was, maybe it started when my mother drove me past it when I was 9 and saw an old woman in black peering out of the second story torrent window as we drove by. As a teenager, my curiosity grew and I became more interested than ever to attempt to tour this house. When I was 27, my dreams became reality. I was given access to tour Franklin Castle in 2012. I happened to be running an EVP session outside the home. I had caught an amazing EVP of a German sounding man, whom I believe to be Hannes Tiedemann. The EVP has a clear voice telling me to “Get out of his yard already.” I happened to be on the public sidewalk by the gate. Then to my surprise a nice man walked up to the gate from the carriage house and we started talking. He was telling me about the owner prior to his niece, and that he really didn’t believe in the ghost stories surrounding Franklin Castle. I told him I could guarantee that I would make him believe. I played him the EVP, and he was shocked. He asked me to come back the next day, and I absolutely did. I did some recording sessions, which were fantastic. I have great pictures from inside, featuring many orbs, and blurred figures. I was even pulled back in the house, by the back of my shirt, as I was leaving by an unknown force. I also know that the Tiedemann family plot is at Riverside Cemetery. One day, I decided to find it….I drove in and drove around the cemeterey for 20 mins not knowing where the plot was, I was ready to leave. I went to answer my phone, so I had pulled over, and parked. When I looked out of my passenger window, I was parked in front of the Tiedemann Plot. This house, that family….I don’t know what it is, but if I could ever go back in Franklin Castle, I would.
Heather Reith if u go back there plz let me know..i belong to C.O.P.S. Cleveland Ohio Paranormal Society..ive been trying to find out who the owner is..i keep getting the run around..bobschmock3@gmail.com or even call 216 313 5482..Bob