Tue, Feb 09 2010
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Published October 31, 2009 12:40 am - The sprawling four-story brick building sits quietly on Middle Ridge Road, seemingly unnoticed, surrounded by trees and many well-kept flowers gardens and ornamental shrubs. MANY BELIEVE GHOSTS RESIDE IN MADISON TOWNSHIP Ohio Cottage under paranormal investigation By DEBBIe PALINSKY - For the Star Beacon MADISON TOWNSHIP — The sprawling four-story brick building sits quietly on Middle Ridge Road, seemingly unnoticed, surrounded by trees and many well-kept flowers gardens and ornamental shrubs.
The building’s exterior offers up no hint of its rich history or the range of emotions from its occupants, who once called it home. The dated interior hints that time stopped decades ago, as the hallways lead to empty rooms harboring the secrets of its residents during its 160-year history. If the walls could talk, there would be one man willing to listen. Hearing children playing, women in conversation and footsteps is just one of the claims made by several people who have been inside the Ohio Cottage building. Claims that the building is haunted go back many decades, and it was these stories that drew the interest of Madison resident Jason McCall to ask permission to conduct a paranormal investigation inside the building. McCall has been interested in the paranormal for as long as he can remember. McCall founded Northeast Ghost Hunters several years ago to research and conduct investigations for those who feel abnormal activities may be taking place in their homes. “I don’t get scared during investigations,” McCall said. “When I see something, I want to go after it and see what it is.” While McCall may not be bothered by the haunting tales, others are, and some plainly refuse to talk about the building or their experiences. Growing up, 17-year-old Thomas Cassell spent a lot of time in and out of the Ohio Cottage building, which was owned by his grandfather John Cassell, who also owns the Cass-Mill Nursery. Thomas remembers when he was younger thinking something wasn’t right with the building, though he could not explain what. “When you would come into the building, you’d feel kinda strange — like a pressure. You feel like you’re being watched,” Thomas said. Years later, he would hear the stories about his grandfather’s building, including some from his grandfather. “He would be working in his office, and he would hear children and groups of people in the building at night,” Cassell said. “One night, it was so loud he thought the building alarm was going to be set off from all the noise.” Thomas Cassell and his friends continue to spend time in the building, even though they never know what to expect. “I don’t mind coming into the building. I have seen and heard many strange things, but nothing bad has happened to me,” Thomas said. Lake County Administrator Ken Gauntner, who had an office in the building when he worked for Madison Township several years ago, said he believes there is some kind of activity going on. Gauntner said that even though he never saw a ghost, he and several other employees did experience several unexplainable things, including hearing footsteps in hallways, doors opening and closing, and the intense feeling of being watched. He said several employees claim to have seen a woman walking in a second-floor hallway or standing at a second-floor window. He recalls the time Channel 3-Cleveland was reporting and filming there, when cameras stopped working. At the same time, recording devices would record conversations and minutes later play back the conversations to stunned news crews. As the news anchor stood on the front steps of the Ohio Cottage, Gauntner, who was with the anchor, said she noticed her voice recorder recording their conversation. He said she became frightened and quickly moved away from the area. Within seconds, he said a piece of glass from the upper fan-shaped window blew out and shattered where she had been standing moments before. 
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