Joseph Johnson House - The Castle

Dr. Joseph Johnson once called The Castle his home and the 1850 Italian Renaissance building is said to be haunted. Its story surround a ghost of a dwarf named Gauche, who was a jester brought to the area in 1562 by Jean Ribaut, a French explorer. Gauche's apparition has been spotted by people as far back as Dr. Johnson himself, both inside and outside the home. Dr. Johnson's daughter Lily was said to have played tea time with the ghost many times as a child, and visitors to The Castle have seen him on tours. His ghost is known to tap out messages in 16th-Century French, open and close doors, move furniture around, and leave red handprints on windows. Some witnesses have said you can hear ringing of the bells on his costume when his spirit is nearby.