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!

The first one:  No orb. 
Second one: Orb.  In front of the dogs hind leg. 

(this was also the third pic of her in a week that an orb showed up in with her)

Note:  Remember my post awhile back about her sitting in front of her stocking?  Well, she sat by this stocking since we put it up….but NOT after we smudged. 

Weird.  I think so.

Pam is not one to believe in any of this much, but after reading a few of my last posts she offered up these pics.  So here is her experience:

This first shot was taken at Whiskey Island (on the edge of Lake Erie), which is also home to ‘Wendy Park’.  This sign is not lit by any type of lighting at all…but you can clearly see in the lower right of the sign, there is a bright orb!  There appears to be some sort of a symbol in it.  An online search has not turned up anything yet on what this symbol may be, if anything.  This park is considered an extremely active place for spirits in our area.

This pic is taken from the outside of Franklin Castle (in the driveway looking up into a window).  The large light is the moon, but you can also see an orb as clear as day. 

Here’s a picture taken inside the castle, in the parlor area.  The owner told the tour group that if you stand diagonal to this mirror and take a picture, a little boys head (without a body) appears in the mirror.  However, Pam didn’t see that…although clearly there are many orbs and a weird streak of light that although at first glance looks like it’s on the wall in the reflection of the mirror…is, in fact not.  It is, however something between the mirror and the mans clothing (the man who’s reflection is in the mirror). 

The most interesting part of the trip for my friend was when they went to an old cemetery.  They got off the bus and she shined her flashlight in the dark night.  The first flash was upon a tombstone.  The name on the stone was her maiden name….which, I can tell you is not a common name. 

Happy Halloween!