If you’ve always wanted to live in castle, and you aren’t afraid of houses that might be haunted, then here’s your chance to own one! They’re looking for someone who loves historic houses and is willing to put a lot of work into fixing one up.
The auction for this Gothic Revival mansion in Auburn, New York, starts with bids at $25,000, but you have to get yours in before the clock strikes midnight on Halloween.
It was built in 1871 for a man who had come to America from Glasgow and wanted it to resemble a Scottish Manor. Locals refer to it as “The Castle,” or “The Auburn Castle,” and are eager to see it restored.
But Nervous Nellies beware. A group of ghost hunters called Soul Searchers was called in after reports of paranormal activity inside the house and concluded, “There’s definitely spirit activity.”
Current homeowner Patrick Connelly started the renovation in 2016 and is hoping to find someone willing to continue it. Take a look!
The Auburn Castle
The Gothic Revival mansion was built for a Scotsman named Samuel Laurie
as incentive to move to New York and become the Superintendent of the Auburn Woolen Mill.
He said he’d like a house “built like a Scottish manor, like a castle,” and that’s what he got.
The company’s stockholders spent $7,000 in 1871 to build the
Scottish-style castle overlooking the mill on the Owasco River:
Samuel lived in the house with his wife Jeannie and their ten children, three of whom died as infants.
Jeannie died in 1890 and the funeral was held at The Castle, attended by “throngs of mourners.”
A porch and addition was added in 1881.
A postcard from the early 1900s shows it looking like this:
The Castle Today:
None of the former owners significantly altered the house over the years,
which means it has gorgeous original woodwork, built-in bookcases, ornate carvings
on the staircase and fireplace, and stained glass windows.
The house was designed in the late 1800s by Nelson Hamblin.
The current owner started the renovation in 2016. The new roof alone cost $45,000.
There are four fireplaces in the house.
The rooms have been stripped down and are ready to be restored.
The house is occasionally rented out for film crews.
The house was originally designed with four main bedrooms, two servants’ quarters,
one bathroom, and a kitchen with a butler’s pantry and a back staircase.
It also had a carriage house in back.
The Auburn Castle has 3 stories and 3,400-square-feet.
Real estate broker Michael DeRosa explains the decision to go the auction route:
These types of properties are best suited for auction given that there are no true comparables for the Castle which to base an accurate fair market value appraisal.
There is an unpublished reserve for the Castle. If the highest bid meets or exceeds the unpublished reserve price, a contract to purchase will be awarded to that bidder.
DeRosa says there’s been a lot of interest in The Castle from paranormal enthusiasts.
Soul Searchers, a paranormal research group, visited The Castle to investigate
“multiple reports of paranormal activity inside the mansion.”
Paranormal Investigator Shawn Dibello says he caught a voice on tape saying “Please help me!” at the bottom of the stairs. A previous owner reportedly died after falling down them.
They claim they also detected other voices and shadowy figures with their special equipment throughout the house.
Soul Searchers plans to post a video about their findings on Facebook.
The Carriage House:
According to NYUP.com:
The Castle housed several more of the mill’s superintendents before the Pastushan family bought it in 1929. They owned it for more than 85 years.
While residing in the home, Nicholas and Mary Pastushan turned the carriage house into an auto painting shop and gas station, Quick as a Wink Oil Co., in the 1930s.
The house is not currently placed on the National Register of Historic Places but is eligible.
For more information about the Auburn Castle at 45 Owasco Street:
- The Castle Website
- Article: “Auction for Haunted Mansion”
- Auburn Castle page on Facebook
- Soul Searchers Paranormal Research page on Facebook
- Article: Ghost Hunters Say Mansion Has Spirit Activity
- An interview with the homeowner
Thanks to agent Michael DeRosa for telling me about it! The Castle’s online auction has a starting bid of $25,000, and they all must be in shortly before midnight on October 31, 2020. Update: It sold for $335,000. (Photo credit: Michael DeRosa, Michael DeRosa Exchange, LL.)
If you have a listing you think my readers would like to see, send it to me!
Visit my Real Estate page to see more houses I’ve featured, including
the “American Horror Story” Murder House (which is also haunted IRL).
