In the town of Ipswich, MA, a grand mansion sits perched upon a high hill overlooking the ocean. The house, along with its striking grounds, provides a window into an opulent past. Though the house was donated for historic preservation in 1949, some feel that the last resident still has a ghostly presence there.
Front of the Great House
The mansion in question is known as the Great House, while the 165-acre hill it sits on is Castle Hill. The house and hill sit within the 2,100-acre Crane Estate. The Great House contains 59 rooms and was built in the Stuart-style. Finished in 1928, it was the summer home of industrialist Richard Teller Crane, Jr., his wife Florence, and their two children. Sadly, Mr. Crane was only able to enjoy the Great House for a few years, passing away in 1931 at the age of 51. Mrs. Crane continued to summer at the mansion, and would sometimes even winter there, until her death 18 years later.
Library
Hallway
The main floor of the mansion and the grounds are self-guided experiences. There are also guided tours that will bring you upstairs and tell you more about the history. Behind the house is an undulating half-mile of lawn known as the Grande Allée, which terminates at a vista looking out at the sea. Behind one crest of lawn is an Italianate complex that featured additional guest quarters and a pool (now filled). Classical style statues also flank the allée. Surrounding the house on the hill are gardens and nature paths.
Rear of Great House
Looking back towards the house
Of course, at the start of this post, I mentioned a ghostly presence. I wasn’t sure if there were any supernatural accounts associated with the mansion when I arrived there. At the end of the tour I attended (which I found quite interesting), I approached the guide and asked if there were any ghost stories. She immediately responded that the spirit of Mrs. Crane was still in the house! Apparently there had been various instances of doors inexplicably getting closed and even locked. When she told me this, it made me reflect on an incident that happened earlier in the day. While I was in the main hall waiting for the tour to begin, I heard an immense bang. I looked and saw that one of the tall, heavy doors leading to another area of the house was now closed. Some staff rushed over and, with some degree of effort, were able to reopen this large door. Upon doing so, no one appeared to be on the other side. Did vibrations or air currents move the door? Perhaps a visitor bumped it and then stayed in another room, avoiding the attention. Or maybe … just maybe … the ghostly hand of Mrs. Crane gave it a push!
Drawing of Mrs. Crane by John Singer Sargent
An entertaining detail about the Crane Estate is that it’s been used as a filming location for a number of major movies. Little Women (2019), The Equalizer (2014), Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009), and The Witches of Eastwick (1987) are just a few films to have scenes shot there. So, aside from history or ghosts, the location can also be a great spot to visit for movie fans.
View at the end of the lawn
Italianate Complex
For those interested in vising Castle Hill on the Crane Estate, make sure to check the official website for open dates, hours, tours, etc. There is a parking lot right near the mansion. You’ll drive a road the loops around the hill as it ascends towards the Great House. With the mansion itself, the landscaped grounds, and the nature trails, there’s certainly a lot to see at the estate. If Mrs. Crane is still there, it’s easy to see why she wouldn’t want to leave.
Gardens
Additional Gardens
Location:
290 Argilla Road
Ipswich, MA 01938
Sources:
Brown, Nell Porter. “An Ipswich Idyll.” Harvard Magazine. September-October 2015. https://harvardmagazine.com/2015/08/an-ipswich-idyll.
Cabot, Carroll. “The Crane Estate.” The Trustees of the Reservations. Pages 1-4. http://www.thetrustees.org/what-we-care-about/history-culture/sp-the-crane-estate.html.
“Castle Hill on the Crane Estate.” Essex National Heritage Area. Accessed February 23, 2020. https://essexheritage.org/attractions/castle-hill-crane-estate.
MacAlpine, Dan. “Crane Estate in Ipswich serves as setting for ‘Little Women.’” Wicked Local. January 2, 2020. https://ipswich.wickedlocal.com/entertainmentlife/20200102/crane-estate-in-ipswich-serves-as-setting-for-little-women.
Phelps, Jonathan. “The Crane Estate: A Hollywood hit.” The Salem News. August 14, 2013. https://www.salemnews.com/news/local_news/the-crane-estate-a-hollywood-hit/article_454125e0-0fe7-5254-98f6-96e2d753ade6.html.
Written by A. P. Sylvia
