Sunday Favorites: Local Hauntings

This week, we’ll explore some more local ghost lore. You may have heard of the Braden Castle, but did you know a strange and unusual being once lurked on its premises?

 

Today Braden Castle, located in present-day east Bradenton, is no more than a pile of ruins, but it once was the esteemed home of Dr. Joseph Addison Braden. A native Virginian, Braden acquired approximately 1,100 acres in on the Manatee River and ran a sugar plantation. He also constructed a solid-two story tabby home in the early 1850s where the mouth of the Braden which was known as Braden Castle due to its large size and 20-inch-thick walls.

 

The home had a chilling history. It was the site of a skirmish during the Third Seminole War (1855-1858). On March 31, 1856, a band of seven Seminole Natives unsuccessfully attacked the castle with the Braden family and other settlers inside. They held off the Seminoles with rifles, injuring one in the battle. The natives retaliated by capturing several slaves. The settlers listened to their screams as they disappeared into the darkness.

Years later, the castle was abandoned. After the structure was deserted, nature began to reclaim the property. Surrounded by cabbage swamp, the castle quickly became over-grown and dilapidated. However, travelers on their way up the Manatee River to get supplies often utilized the impressive, yet eerie, landmark as an overnight campsite.

Stories circulated that the property was haunted. On several occasions, campers heard strange sounds emanating from the castle’s thick walls. The unnerving calls and circulating footsteps frightened even the bravest of travelers.

On one evening, three courageous cow hunters Andrew Curtis ”A.C.“ Pope, Seth Stephens and John Bulford were camping after bringing supplies up the river. As the three men sat by the fireside, they started to discuss the legend of the ghost. Seth dared A.C. to enter the castle while John retrieved supplies to create torches, according to a 1980 interview with the Manatee County Historical Society.

With torches ablaze the trio began exploring the mysterious abandoned structure. Old furniture cast long shadows into the dimly lit rooms. After they explored downstairs, they decided to climb up an old stepladder to the upper story. As soon as A.C ’s feet hit the ladder they started hearing noises. John begged the others not to continue their crazy search, but they couldn’t be swayed.

As soon as they approached the top, they heard footsteps. John’s eyes were as big as fists. He turned white with fear and his eyes rolled back into his head. He looked as if he would faint and lose his footing on the rickety ladder. A.C. shined his light into the upper level, but every time he’d shine the light on the area where the sound was coming from, the footsteps would recede into the darkness.

A.C. and Seth continued. While on the upper level, the noise would return when they shined their torches into a new room, they’d hear the footsteps again. Room by room they looked for the ghost. The hair was standing up on their necks as they approached the last four and John was so close to the other two, he was stepping on their heels. He was sure if he lagged, the ghost would jump out of darkness, grab him and pull him into the unknown.

Finally, a strange sound began emanating from the last room, something was breathing heavily. They slowly entered the darkness. They could see something lingering in the corner, but their eyes strained to make out the mysterious shape When they shined the light in that direction, yellow eyes lit up. They continued on a little further – finally able to perceive the fierce creature that had been tormenting campers for over half a decadeÉ. It was the biggest old Billy goat the men had ever seen. Relieved they were finally able to exhale and have a good laugh.

A man by the name of Will Vanderipe, who always let his goats run free, owned the great creature. It apparently had been utilizing the castle as a den at night. When A.C. would tell the tale years after the bone-chilling account took place, he’d laugh and laugh at the listener’s reaction to the finale.

Today all that remains of the sturdy castle are a few crumbled walls. The Camping Tourists of American purchased the ruins in 1924 and has been protected ever since.