On the Massachusetts coast, in the town of Gloucester, sits a building that appears to be, quite simply, on the wrong continent. It’s as if a medieval castle were plucked out of the Old World and dropped in the New World. The creation of a wealthy and eccentric inventor, Hammond Castle Museum is filled with antiques, ancient artifacts, and (as far as some are concerned) ghosts.
Main Gate of the Castle
Front Exterior
The castle, originally called Abbadia Mare (popularly translated as “Abbey by the Sea”), was the creation of John Hays Hammond, Jr. A millionaire inventor, Hammond held hundreds of patents and is today known as the “Father of Radio Control.” Some of his inventions included radio controlled ships and a light-targeting torpedo. Intended to be a wedding present for his wife, Irene Fenton, the castle was built between 1926 and 1929. This astounding structure was the couple’s home, and they entertained many prominent celebrities of the day there. Additionally, it also served as the headquarters of Hammond Research Corporation. So the famed inventor would have done work and experiments onsite.
Rear Exterior of Castle
Side Rear Exterior
The castle is actually a combination of multiple architectural styles from different centuries. As you gaze over the exterior, you may notice this and be able to identify changes in designs. Much of the castle is open to the public to tour. In my opinion, one of the most memorable features is the internal courtyard. It is enclosed with a glass roof and contains facades from 15th century buildings. With a pool in the middle and plantings around, it was intended to make you feel like you were in a medieval village. Hammond even installed a system to control the weather inside the courtyard – rain, fog, sunshine, and moonlight.
View of Interior Courtyard
15th Century Building Facade
Like the building facades, a great deal of the contents of Hammond castle came from Europe. Antiques and artifacts abound as you stroll through the rooms. There are tapestries, armor, architectural elements, furniture, and so on. You’ll even see Roman tombstones inlaid into the walls. One particularly grim relic on display is a skull that supposedly came from one of Christopher Columbus’ crewmembers. Also of note in the castle is the pipe organ. It consists of 8,400 pipes and was one of the largest in the world. Hammond claimed that he built the castle just to hold it!
Great Hall
The Skull
Wandering through this immense stone castle, surrounded by relics of the past, one thing becomes chillingly clear – it’s an amazing setting for a ghost story! John Hammond would probably have agreed. He and his wife had a keen interest in the paranormal. They believed in spiritualism and often hosted séances at their home. Hammond also felt that spirits were attached to some of the items in his collection. The inventor even conducted scientific experiments around psychic phenomena. Interestingly, Hammond was known to say that, after death, he planned on coming back as a black cat!
Roman Tombstones
Roman Sarcophagus
There have been reports of various supernatural occurrences at the castle. Apparitions of Hammond and his wife have been seen, mysterious voices have been heard, and books have been known to fly off of shelves. A mysterious cat has also been seen sighted. The castle was even featured in an episode of the TV series Ghost Hunters.
Ultimately, Hammond Castle Museum has a lot to offer: a stunning structure, a fascinating collection, a remarkable history, and maybe even some ghostly inhabitants. Any one of these things could draw you in. Together, they make for a truly unique location.
One of many dazzling views
Location:
80 Hesperus Avenue
Gloucester, MA 01930
Official website: https://www.hammondcastle.org
Sources:
“About Hammond Castle Museum.” Hammond Castle Museum. Accessed August 6, 2018. https://www.hammondcastle.org/about/hammond-castle-museum/.
“About John Hays Hammond, Jr.” Hammond Castle Museum. Accessed August 6, 2018. https://www.hammondcastle.org/about/john-hays-hammond-jr/.
Carey, Frank. “Hammond Castle Houses Magical Inventions.” Evening Star. (Washington, D.C.), 19 April 1942. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1942-04-19/ed-1/seq-26/.
Driscoll, Anne. “Castle Is Inventor’s Vision of the Past.” The New York Times. October 9, 1988. https://www.nytimes.com/1988/10/09/us/castle-is-inventor-s-vision-of-the-past.html.
“Ghost Hunters Recap – Paranormal Pioneers.” Syfy Wire. Accessed August 6, 2018. http://www.syfy.com/ghosthunters/episodes/season/8/episode/23/paranormal-pioneers.
Guided Tour of Hammond Castle. July 9, 2017.
Haun, Jacqueline. “The Spirit of Invention.” The Lawrentian 77, no. 3. https://issuu.com/thelawrencevilleschool/docs/the-lawrentian-summer-2013.
Northshore Magazine. “Haunted Places on the North Shore.” Northshore. October 22, 2015. http://www.nshoremag.com/community-news/haunted-places-on-the-north-shore-2/.
Written by A. P. Sylvia
