Ohio is full of fascinating history. After all, we transformed from the wild and untamed Connecticut Western Reserve to the modern urban jungle that we are today. Along the way, our more notable stories of yore have inevitably resulted in a few well-known hauntings in our state, with ghostly activity seeming to pick up the closer one gets to Cleveland. One antique manor house in Richfield, found just outside of Cleveland, demonstrates that our haunted history is worth preserving and celebrating.
Farnam Manor, located at 4223 Brecksville Road, Richfield, is a creepy destination that will satisfy the thrill seeker in you.
This spectacular home was built for Everett Farnam and his wife, Emily, in 1834. "Lord Farnam," as he preferred to be called, was rather eccentric. Emily, nearly 25 years his junior, had her own quirks as well. The 3,200 acre estate was often open to the community, functioning as a gathering place during festive seasons.
Its history is long and, quite frankly, a bit eerie.
Stories of the estate date back to 1644. An old u-shaped signal tree gestures to an old trail, a historic landmark in its own right. In 1795, a road on the estate was used in the Battle of Fallen Timbers. When the Farnam family finally built their home on its grounds, a family cemetery ensured that the home would become an eternal residence to some (including their daughter, who drowned in a cistern where the building now stands). During the 1920's, the building served as a speakeasy under the guidance of Ella Mayor. One of the women from the Roaring Twenties is said to still linger in the house. In its final incarnation, the manor served patrons once again as the Danish Smorgasbord Restaurant from 1948 to 1972, when the restaurant's owner died in the house. Some say he never left.
Everett Farnam, once one of the most respected landowners in Summit County, said before his passing that he would come back as a raven.
As a raven, Farnam went on, he could soar over his property. Today, many such birds remain regular visitors to the manor, carrying along the legend of Everett Farnam's deathbed daydream. Some have reported encounters with Mr. Farnam in his former home, while others speculate that the ravens nesting on the property are the current incarnations of Everett and Emily.
Today, the manor serves as a museum. A variety of events keep visitors, both living and otherwise, entertained.
Upcoming events include a Mystery Dinner on September 16, the World's Largest Ghost Hunt on September 30, and a Bluegrass Fall Festival on October 7.
Though the grounds are beautifully restored and manicured, guests can't shake the feeling that there are more people in each room than they can see.
When the Farnam property was purchased in 2003, a vandalized, deteriorating building was found hidden behind tall, unkempt grass. The Farnam Foundation was formed to restore the building to its former glory, but it seems that restoring the building has awoken slumbering spirits of the past.
The house and its grounds, part of which are now the Furnace Run Metro Park, seem to have their own personality.
One chimney on the estate carries a message that reads, "Love and cherish this classic domain, For I shall go but it will remain. Please take care of it for me, For it is a part of history."
You and your friends can even get to personally know the spirits that reside in this historic edifice.
With autumn addicts already thinking about Halloween, now is the perfect time to schedule an overnight ghost hunt. Investigations include refreshments, a guided tour, and an introduction to all things paranormal.
Those who want to get to know the spirits a little more personally have an epic opportunity.
Large families and groups can even lodge on the Farnam property in the Ellis Guest House, Eden Garden Cottage, or Charles Brush Lodge. You know, if you're brave enough...
Farnam Manor is a stunning piece of local history, so you simply must pay it a visit.
This haunted and historic property offers a charming glimpse into local history, immortalizing a story that would have otherwise been forgotten. While the staff and tour guides work to preserve the site's story, so too do its resident spirits.
This superb structure is charming, beautiful, and just a tad bit haunted. It is beautiful in all seasons, but the coming autumn is perhaps the most festive time to visit one of Northeast Ohio's most haunted sites. Are you brave enough to face the ghost of Everett Farnam? Tell us about your all-time creepiest encounters in the comments, and let us know if you've ever visited Farnam Manor.
For more creepy history, check out Cleveland's most haunted tunnel.
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