Franklin Castle

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Franklin Castle, also known as the Tiedemann House, is a four-story Victorian stone home in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood at 4308 Franklin Boulevard. Built between 1881 and 1883 in the Queen Anne style by the firm Cudell & Richardson for German immigrant Hannes Tiedemann, the house has more than 20 rooms and about 80 windows. Franklin Boulevard was a prestigious address when it was built, and the property is often called the most haunted house in Ohio. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 15, 1982.

The house’s history is full of tragedy. After the death of Tiedemann’s 15-year-old daughter Emma from diabetes in 1881 and the loss of his elderly mother not long after, Tiedemann began extensive renovations to “distract” his wife, Louise. He added a long ballroom on the fourth floor and decorative turrets and gargoyles, which gave the home a castle-like appearance. Rumors of hidden rooms and bootlegging passages circulated, but the only notable hidden feature was a small servant stairway.

Louise Tiedemann died in 1895, and Tiedemann sold the home a year later. By 1908 he and the rest of the family had died, leaving no heir. From 1921 to 1968 the house served as a home for German and cultural organizations. In 1975, human bones were found in a closet, but many believe they were placed there to boost ghost-tour publicity. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

In 1984, Michael DeVinko ( Judy Garland’s fifth husband) bought Franklin Castle and spent nearly a million dollars on renovations, even reclaiming some original furnishings. He put the house up for sale in 1994. The building changed hands several times and sat empty until 1999, when Michelle Heimburger bought it for $350,000. A fire damaged the castle that year, and although repairs followed, a full restoration never happened. In 2011 the carriage house was damaged by another fire, and the property was rezoned to allow three-family dwelling use. European tapestry artist Chiara Dona Dalle bought the castle for $260,000 in 2011, with plans for renovations. A permit for exterior alterations was issued in 2012, supporting plans to convert it into three residences. In 2022, the owners offered single-night stays for guests.

The castle has continued to draw attention, featuring on TV programs such as Paranormal Lockdown (2016), Ghost Adventures (2020), and The Holzer Files (2020).