HAVE YOU HAD A PARANORMAL EXPERIENCE AT THIS LOCATION?
Please Share Your Experiences
By <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:GeekChristian&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="User:GeekChristian (page does not exist)">GeekChristian</a> - <span class="int-own-work" lang="en">Own work</span>, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
History
This house was built by Frank Henderson – one of Kalamazoo’s most successful businessmen - whose company sold uniforms for secret societies and the military. He built the house as well as planning an entire residential neighborhood on land that belonged to his wife, Mary, on the west side of the city.
The house is built on a steep hill overlooking downtown. It was built at a cost of $72,000 ($2.554 million in 2022 dollars) with 7 bathrooms, an elevator and a third floor ballroom; with a total of 25 rooms.
It was built between 1890 and 1895.
Mr Henderson would pass away in 1899 having very little time in the house. His wife continued to live in the castle until her death in 1907. The house was then passed to their children.
In 1919 the children sold the castle to Bertrand Hopper who converted the carriage house to a 4 car garage; this building has now been converted into a separate residence.
After being vacant for a number of years the castle was bought again in 1945 and separated into a number of apartments. In the late 1950’s it was considered as base for the Kalamazoo Art College but that ended up staying downtown.
During the 70’s and 80’s the castle underwent massive renovations by 2 separate owners. The second one Frederick Joyce was the first to convert into a bed & breakfast and open it to the public.
There have been 2 more owners since 2005 but both have kept the castle open to the public. It is now considered a resort and spa as well as a bed & breakfast.
Paranormal Activity
This location consistently makes anyone’s list of the top 10 haunted locations in Michigan.
Both Frank and Mary Henderson are said to be reluctant to leave the house they built. Their apparitions are seen throughout the castle.
Mary Henderson is most commonly seen standing at the top of the staircase.
The ghost of a soldier that served with the Henderson’s son in the Spanish-American War – Clare Burleigh - is also seen in the house as well as a little girl and a dog.
All the ghosts are quite friendly and are seen – especially the Hendersons – as guardians of the castle.
Other Reported Activity: shadow figures; disembodied voices; numerous EVP’s captured by investigators; touches, tugs and pulls by unseen entities; doors opening and closing on their own; objects moving on their own and feelings of being watched.