5/4/07 - Riverside Cemetery, a rather famous location in the Cleveland area, was my first investigation after some recent heart surgery. Nothing of interest was captured in any of our images, but some rather unusual EVPs were obtained this day. All were recorded during a daylight visit, showing that investigations by day can also be productive, if somewhat noisier.

The first was taken at the grave of Hans Tiedemann and his wife, of Franklin Castle fame. In RIVERSIDE CLIP 1 my mother-in-law is discussing the Tiedemann family headstone, as opposed to a nearby monument, and a whispered garbled voice ("yes?") is heard at about the 7-second mark. In RIVERSIDE CLIP 2 I am asking if we want to move on to a different location, and an unknown woman's voice is heard singing a word that we can't quite make out. In RIVERSIDE CLIP 3, after I announce that we will be leaving the location soon, and asking if anyone would like to speak, is another garbled, half-whispered response.

The next clip is rather clearer. In RIVERSIDE CLIP 4A I ask if the spirits minded us being there and asking questions. An immediate whispered "no" is heard. A slowed-down version is presented here RIVERSIDE CLIP 4B in which it might be clearer. Are these voices in anyway connected with the Tiedemanns? There is no way of knowing for sure.



The last clip is rather unique and unusual. At the time it was recorded, I actually heard a very faint voice behind me in broad daylight with my ears. At first I thought it was someone calling me and trying to get my attention, but upon turning around saw that no one was within 50 or 60 feet of me. I immediately asked if someone would like to speak, hoping to get another response. In RIVERSIDE CLIP 5 you can hear either a female moan (or humming) at about the 3 second mark, and my responding to it five seconds later. It is one of the rare examples that sometimes spirit voices can be heard, when they want to be, by the human ear in broad daylight.












10/28/07 & 11/3/07 - We returned to Franklin Castle on two occasions in the fall of 2007, something we had been wanting to do for quite some time. The outside appearance had changed quite a bit since our previous visits, and the restoration, at least on the outside, seems to be nearly complete. The images to follow are a combination taken from both visits.





















All of the above views are taken from the front, side, and rear of Franklin Castle. Many show substantial orb activity, and are clearly distinguished from dust orbs (which are usually transparent) by being very vivid and bright, almost glowing from an internal light source. While not ghosts themselves, orbs are a common manifestation when there is substantial psychic energy associated with a particular location.





















Many stories are associated with the carriage house in the rear of the property, which today houses the current owner and caretaker while the restoration is underway. There were just as many legends and events connected with the carriage house, which is still the original building, as there is with Franklin Castle itself. The last photo of a seperate wood structure house is the property immediatelt next door, owned by Mr. Wiedemann, Hans' Tiedemanns business partner who came to America at the same time. This house is also original, having been built the same year as the Castle on property given to the Wiedemanns by Hans Tiedemann, but is privately owned. For most of their lives the two partners lived side by side to one another.



Over 325 pictures were taken that night. The handful presented here are examples on the current state of restoration. These two views are of the main (first) floor rooms, what would have been the main sitting room and kitchen area next to it. A few orbs can be seen in both locations.












More orb activity in a second floor bedroom, the now-closed front entrance from the main staircase, and the rebuilt attic area, which was heavily damaged in a fire in 1999.













Some examples of current state of the house. From left to right: A servant's staircase which at one point was closed up (perhaps giving rise to stories of hidden staircases throughout the house), an old Victorian-era print in one of the second floor bedrooms, a wonderful example of original wallpaper still in one of the rooms (which the current owners are hoping to match), and a charred beam near the second floor elevator shaft, vivid reminders of the fire dating from 1999.



One of the many marble fireplaces in the Castle showing the craftmanship of the original builders (and an obliging orb), and the current side (driveway) entrance into the Castle, again with orb activity. However, some of the most remarkable finds were still to come! Continue HERE to Part 2 of our visit, with more pictures of the Castle, an EVP, and some amazing and totally unexpected photographic evidence.