Visiting Squire’s Castle

This is the Castle of Fergus B. Squire.  He was born in England in 1850 and came to America at 10 years old.  He started working at the Standard Oil Company when he was just a boy & eventually built and operated his own refinery. 

By 1885 he joined Standard Oil of Ohio as a co-manager with Frank Rockefeller (brother of John D.)  Among one of Squire’s biggest accomplishments was creating the first tank wagon to ship oil via land. 

(Pic below:  taken from inside the home looking skyward)

This home which is still standing, although mostly roofless, windowless and a bitlot graffitied, was built in the 1890′s.  Although what is here was only intended to be the gatekeepers lodge, a much larger was country home was in the original plan.  This castle was used sometimes by Squire as a weekend retreat.  The exterior is mainly constructed with Euclid Bluestone that was quarried nearby.  (Ohio is famous for it’s quarries)

He retired in 1909.  He sold the property in 1922 and lived in a new mansion called Cobblestone Garth on Wickliffe’s Millionaire Row (very near this park).  He also served a term as Mayor of Wickliffe, Ohio and in 1925 he sold the 525 acres to the Cleveland Metroparks.    

Legend has it that this castle is haunted. The stories go that Mrs. Squire loved the country and Mr. Squire hated it.   Mrs. Squire liked to roam around the house at night time with red lantern to guide her way.  One day she slipped and fell and broke her neck, dying. 

The other story is that she was literally frightened to death by one of Mr. Squire’s stuffed animal heads above the fireplace. 

Whatever the reality is….I can tell you my camera batteries died completely upon entering, I only got 3 pics inside with my camera.  After we left, the batteries had enough juice again.  Hmmmmm.  Anyhow, haunted or not, it’s a very cool old castle.  I love the architecture and the way you can look through a window and see clear through another window to the forest behind the castle. 

While I was here I wondered if the young Squire daughter would sit inside the large stone sill of the window, gazing off into the forest, dreaming beautiful dreams and waiting for her prince…..because I know my daughters took a long gander out these same windows….now a century later. 

History is beautiful

(oh!  and speaking of history…ancient history….Happy Birthday Mom!….lol.  Just kidding about the ancient part)  Love ya!