The Kreischer Mansion in Charleston is known for its haunted past and present, with employees reporting hearing crying, furniture moving, and even seeing faces in photos they take of the historic house. The mansion was the site of a mob murder in 2005, where a Bonanno crime family associate named Robert McKelvey was stabbed by Mafia hitman Joseph Young, who was working as a caretaker at the time. Young then proceeded to cut up McKelvey’s body and burn it in the mansion’s furnace. Today, the caretaker of the mansion, Rick Rispoli, runs haunted house and Halloween events there.
The mansion was built around 1885 by German brick magnate Balthasar Kreischer for his sons Charles and Edward. Although one of the twin homes burned down, Charles’ still stands on the property today. Edward, the other son, was found dead behind his father’s brick factory in 1894. It is said that his widow, Frieda, haunts the house. Rispoli shared a story that Charles tried to communicate with Edward by opening portals through seances, leading to the house being haunted. Visitors have reported hearing a woman wailing and howling upstairs, believed to be Edward’s wife, and seeing furniture moving on its own.
The haunting of Kreischer Mansion includes apparitions seen in windows and photographs. A photographer captured a full-body apparition that resembled the mansion’s builder, Balthasar Kreischer, and a woman sitting next to him wearing a bonnet hat. Additionally, a photo taken by a business partner’s father showed seven faces in seven windows of the mansion. The mansion gained landmark status from the city in 1968 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Rispoli, the current caretaker of Kreischer Mansion, shared more chilling experiences within the house. He mentioned hearing a woman wailing upstairs and seeing a black shadow descending the staircase. Rispoli believes that Edward’s wife, Frieda, may be the source of these haunting activities. With its dark history and numerous reports of paranormal occurrences, the mansion continues to attract those interested in the supernatural.
Today, Kreischer Mansion is a popular location for haunted house events and Halloween celebrations, allowing visitors to experience the eerie atmosphere firsthand. Despite its haunted reputation, the mansion is recognized for its historical significance and architectural beauty, being designated as a historic landmark. With the ghostly presence of past residents lingering in its halls, Kreischer Mansion remains a mysterious and intriguing destination in the forgotten borough of Charleston.
