15 Real Northeast Ohio Haunted Places

Franklin Castle is one of Ohio’s most notorious and most haunted places. Built by German immigrant Hannes Tiedemann in 1865, the castle has all the makings of the home of unruly spirits. There were allegedly numerous deaths that occurred under mysterious circumstances, including those of Tiedemann’s wife, mother and children. Babies can be heard crying through the walls, and victims of foul play have been sighted throughout the house. These include Karen, who is said to have been murdered with an axe and usually occupies the “cold room” on the third floor. The room is ten degrees colder than the rest of the house at all times. Franklin Castle is private property, but it’s still spooky from the outside.

Cleveland’s Old Chestnut Grove Cemetery has many ghosts and haunted areas. There is said to be a grave of a witch that is sunken into the ground and located next to a big, old tree. She may have been executed in the cemetery as well. The townspeople put an iron fence around the grave instead of installing a headstone. The burial site is reportedly difficult to find, as the fence no longer exists. However, beware of going on a witch hunt. Legend has it that if you get too close to the grave, something terrible will happen to you.

Ghost sightings have been reported at The Variety Theater on Lorain Avenue. The ghost of a man who fell from the scaffolding and died makes noises on the stage. Another man with red eyes is seen in the balcony, and a figure in white guards the water fountain on the first floor.

A man dressed in a yellow raincoat has been seen in many places around the theater. Cleaning crews have also reported doors unlocking and opening on their own. There is also a creepy basement lounge where guests and employees have reported feeling a strange presence.

This abandoned building has no shortage of ghosts. Spirits of the hospital’s patients follow a few steps behind any living person that dares to enter. While sightings are rare, their presence can definitely be felt.

The Federal Reserve Bank Building in downtown Cleveland is said to be haunted by the ghost of a woman named Matilda. She is reportedly dressed as a flapper, and she killed herself in 1929 when the stock market crashed and she lost everything. She apparently stalks employees throughout the bank. Perhaps she was trying to warn them.

Strange voices are heard throughout this creepy abandoned public school. It is also haunted by the ghost of a man who was badly burned by the boiler and died in the basement. Built in 1880, the school is an architectural relic of the era.

Built in 1886, the Mansfield Reformatory was intended to be a milestone in prison reform. However, it soon gained a reputation for abuse, murder and torture. The prison shut down in 1990, but it is widely regarded as one of the most active haunted places in the United States. The spirits of workers and prisoners reportedly remained trapped, haunting the deteriorating and very intimidating prison.

The Cleveland Grays were founded in 1837 as a city militia, and were so reputable and skilled that Cleveland sent them off into major American conflicts from the time of the Civil War through World War I. The armory was built in 1893 and is said to be haunted by spirits. Footsteps can be heard on empty staircases and floors.

There are allegedly at least three malicious spirits that haunt Johnny Mango’s. Each spirit died violently nearby. Management even brought in a psychic to try and banish the spirits, but it didn’t work.