Hammond Castle  80 Hesperus Ave., Gloucester, MA

The medevil castle was constructed between 1926 and 1929 for inventor John Hays Hammond Jr as a wedding present for his new bride Irene. The two secretly married in 1926. Hammond is known as the “Father of Remote Control”. He held over 400 patents, more than anyone other than Thomas Edison. His home and laboratory contains his 15th, 16th and 18th Century collection of Roman, Medieval and Renaissance artifacts including the skull of one of Christopher Columbus’ crewman, an eighty-five foot tall pipe organ, and the tomb of a child from Ancient Rome. Irene died in 1959 and Hammond’s death came years later in 1965. Irene was buried in her family’s plot in the Gloucester’s Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Hammond was buried in the sepulcher until his body was moved in to the bronze vault inside the Cat Garden a few years ago.

Hammond and his wife were known Spiritualists and performed many seances with psychics. Also, if you’re wondering how to perform telekinesis, go to the website of psychics 4 today. You’ll see on their site the steps on how to move an object with the mind. During their experiments, did they invite spirits in their home who have never left.

Ghost sightings  have often been been reported throughout Hammond Castle. Items disappear, reappear and move on their own. Voices are heard in the circular library as well as other rooms. A ghostly red-haired woman and other spirits appears among guests during weddings and disappears whenever anyone gets too close to them. A shadow figure is seen on the balcony above the organ.

Also Henry Davis Sleeper, the legendary designer of the castle had an unrequited love affair with his Red Roof neighbor, Abram Piatt Andrew Jr., and designed the inventor’s favorite spot, known as the “whisper room,” where people have heard disembodied voices.    Is it Sleeper calling for his love Andrew?  Only the castle knows.