Spooky Stories: Exploring the Haunted Sites of Cleveland
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It’s that time of year already – the season of bonfires, scary movies, and spooky stories – and my favorite stories to discover are those from our own backyard. Growing up in Cleveland, I’ve heard my fair share of local rumors and stories about our city growing up; whether being dared to sneak out to Gore Orphanage in High School, or driving past Franklin Castle and gazing into the windows, hoping for a glimpse at a ghost. Cleveland has such a rich and storied past, I needed time to fully dive in and discover these sites for myself, before working on the artwork for this map. Thanks to some internet digging and my spooky friend Chris, I was finally able to put it together and hope it inspires you to do some digging of your own! You can shop this design on a tote bag, tee, and print in either Black or Creme.
There are many more locations than what’s shown on my map design, but I narrowed it down to a handful that felt the most iconic or inspired me the most – you may discover some others as you do your own research. Also, Lake Erie certainly deserves its own map, so these are mostly city sites ;) If you’d like to learn a bit more about each location on the map, I’ve pulled together brief summaries for each.
Read on…
FRANKLIN CASTLE:
Built in 1881 by Hannes Tiedemann, this home was named after the street it occupies in Ohio City. The family suffered the tragic deaths of four of their children, along with Hannes’ mother and wife – although any suspicion of foul play by Hannes is said to be unfounded. The castle has since gone through many different owners, and with each one, have come new accounts of strange ghostly activity, stories of secret rooms, and attempts to contact the dead that may haunt the property. It’s now a private residence, but admiring its looming presence from the street is enough to send shivers down your spine.
RENAISSANCE HOTEL:
This beautiful and historic hotel has hosted a variety of celebrities over the years – including guests like Eliot Ness, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Duke Ellington. Built in 1918 and originally named Hotel Cleveland, the Renaissance has spawned a collection of ghost stories and encounters – with reports of flushing toilets, possessed faucets, and slamming doors. These “visitors” are said to perhaps be guests of the tavern that originally stood on this land – but it’s clear they aren’t ready to check out.
FAIRPORT HARBOR LIGHTHOUSE:
The first lighthouse keeper’s wife, Mary Babcock, became ill and was bedridden in the keeper’s quarters – with her cats around to keep her company. A gray cat, named Sentinel, disappeared after Mary’s death, only for his remains to be found during renovations in 2001. The remains of the mummified cat are kept on display in the lighthouse museum, and the ghost of the cat has been spotted on the property. The site has since been explored by paranormal researchers – you can climb to the top of the tower and see for yourself, if you dare!
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK:
The Federal Reserve Bank in downtown Cleveland, built in 1914, is said to be haunted by a woman named Matilda. She took her own life in 1929 after the stock market crashed, and she lost everything. When she appears to people, they have said she’s dressed like a flapper – so keep your eyes peeled when you’re in the bank! Fun fact: its original vault door is the largest in the world, and incorporates the largest hinge ever to be built.
PLAYHOUSE SQUARE:
Many guests of the theaters have reported spooky encounters – from seeing people who aren’t actually there show up in photos, to the feeling of being watched, to sightings of the infamous man in the green suit. It’s said that theaters are a hotbed for ghost activity, as they are attracted to the bustling human energy within them, allowing them to make their earthly visit. Have you ever spotted a theater ghost when catching a show?
GRAYS ARMORY:
The Cleveland Grays were a private, volunteer military organization that assisted local law enforcement, and had duties in the Civil War, Spanish-American War, and World War I. Now a museum, this Romanesque building from 1893 features several incredible rooms – including a ballroom, a pub, a billiards room (that has hosted the likes of Teddy Roosevelt) and a full shooting range in the basement. Having toured this space myself, it’s wild to imagine what those walls could say if they could talk. Reports of hearing voices, doors locking on their own, and sightings of a woman in white by the piano have all contributed to this landmark’s haunted history.
SAILORS’ AND SOLDIERS’ MONUMENT:
Did you know that this memorial in the heart of Cleveland’s Public Square sits atop an underground tunnel system? Yeah, I didn’t either! The tunnels were used as storage for the city, and at one point, a fallout shelter. Those brave enough to explore the tunnels have reported footsteps, voices, and ghostly apparitions seen in photographs. Public tours are available each October, if you aren’t too claustrophobic to run into a ghost underground!
ERIE STREET CEMETERY:
As Cleveland’s oldest standing cemetery, it’s a sight to behold right in the middle of the city, across from Progressive Field. Some of Cleveland’s earliest settlers are buried here, along with Joc-O-Sot, the proud Chief of the Mesquakie, a Native American tribe from Iowa. In traveling back home to Iowa, Joc-O-Sot became ill and passed away, and was buried in Cleveland against his wishes. It’s said that he remains restless here, causing him to crack his grave marker. Other stories include seeing a woman in white, and various apparitions – which is no surprise, as it’s estimated that thousands are buried within this small plot of land.
DRURY MANSION:
Built in 1912 by industrialist Francis Drury, this sprawling mansion features over 50 rooms, maze-like hallways. and a secret tunnel that runs under Euclid Avenue to the Drury Theater. In its later years, the property served as a boarding house, and then a halfway house in 1972 – and that’s when the ghost stories seem to begin. Inmates reported the feeling of being watched, hearing footsteps, doors closing, and window blinds sliding up and down on their own. An employee reported seeing a ghost of a mysterious woman with a top knot, who has been spotted in the main staircase as well as the kitchen. Eek!
SQUIRE’S CASTLE:
Tucked away in the North Chagrin area of the Metroparks, F.B. Squire built this mansion as a summer home for himself and his family, where they could eventually live off the land and he could enjoy hunting at his leisure. The story that’s become legend is one where his wife ventured down into the trophy room with her red lantern, saw something terrifying, fell and broke her neck – however, records show she didn’t pass in that manor. Still, there are reports that you can spot a red light coming from the windows of the castle at night – or see something moving about within the interior. The building is an empty shell now, with only the exterior remaining, but I’d venture to guess it’s still a spooky sight to behold if you’re hanging around the woods late at night.
