Historian J.R. Russell attempted to discredit the rumors in his 1975 Kansas City Kansan article Old Mansion Filled with Legend. Required fields are marked *. Michael Crichton. who first came to Kansas City in the 1860s. These accents may be cosmetic, but they are vitally important to the life that remains of Sauer Castle. "From the mid-fifties on, the Castle has been the subject of constant trespassing, attempted break-ins, dangerous encounters and often violence. Even with the threat, Laurance kept the images up. By 1868, Anthony and his children had settled into growing Kansas City. Jones was in the middle of the room shoveling debris when something seemed to fall from the ceiling. Eva Sauer Perkins outside the house her father built. I suppose to him its not important. UPDATE: The Sauer Castle Haunted House of Kansas City has its surrounding 11 acres currently up for auction according to a posting on the Unified Governments website , as well as the house itself, in separate auctions. Carl has a soft spot for family, Laurance explained. Some people told me that there had been frequent apparition sightings by previous residents. Due to his worsening case of tuberculosis and Francesca's death in 1868, he decided to move his family to Kansas City. My father-in-law laughs at me, but he must admit that he has had experiences he cannot explain. Old Houses Under $50K and Beyond participates in Amazon, Target, Home Depot and eBay partner networks. The front entrance had double, three-paneled doors of solid walnut with an arched stone frame. But my favorite legend goes with the haunting storiesmurders on the Property. There have been several ghost stories based on tales that can be disproved (such as the previous family all being murdered there by the father, who then committed suicide) that attract vandals, which prevents Lopp from receiving insurance money. Schwalm was the organizer of an Occult Studies Special Interest Group in the Kansas City branch of Mensa. Its current condition doesnt help with the suspicions surrounding the three-acre property. Rumors of hauntings of the castle began in the 1930s, likely caused by these documented tragedies. A wine cellar lay underneath and a music room sat adjacent to the parlor which had patterned wood floors covered with rich rugs. They have been on the government website for a while now with no auction date or starting bid, so we are unable to provide that information. In the 1980s, the Sauer Castle was acquired by Anton Sauer's The first building constructed on the property was said to be a barn to hold materials for his large project. The interior of St. Ignatius Church (built 1776). The foundation did look like it was in good shape, but as my editor was taking her turn leaning and looking. He wasnt happy with my assessment and demanded that I, basically, take it back. I wanted to know what his plans were- specific, detailed plans. She told her children about her fond memories of curling up in her father, John Perkins lap in a chair next to the fireplace while he read to her. Unusual plants and trees were also imported from Europe and planted on the property. Perhaps it was simply Mary atop the tower at night that was mistaken for a ghostly figure. After a couple of years, a family moved in, and I got to know them. Yes, there have been multiple deaths on the property. The part Carl was missing was that he let it get to such a state that there were gaping holes in it. This was obviously interesting to me, because I had been told that no one in the family had been asked. When Laurance was let on the property for a tour with his cousin, he took video of the condition of the interior. Some of it already has. These stories sometimes make the crazed man Anthony Sauer himself or even his son-in-law, John Perkins. They had plans to make it into a bed and breakfast.

He was particularly angry that the photo I had chosen of the castle for the newspaper was a few years old. Not just had three years of property taxes piled up- but the castle had 28 property violations just in the past two years. Even with a caretaker, vandals continuously came onto the property, likely enticed by the ghost stories surrounding it. The prices are the same if you go through an affiliate link and if you went direct. In 1997, Lopp was found guilty of two housing court violations and was sentenced to probation. Mary lived in the house until she died in 1919. Carl Lopp, owner of Sauer Castle since 1988 and the great-great grandson of the man who built it, wasnt thrilled with my description of the Castle in the article I wrote in the newspaper just weeks prior. It was a long few minutes. My findings are disappointing to most people as I do not believe the property is haunted. I found a post on an Internet bulletin board, and I have tried to locate the person who posted it but to no avail. Debris covered the floor- a fireplace stands practically naked. Those memories arent often told in newspaper clippings or in legal documents I search. But after Antons infant great-granddaughter tragically drowned in the pool, two people committed suicide and several deaths of natural causes occurred in the house, rumors were sparked that the house was haunted. However, the deed and papers are on file in the courthouse in the Register of Deeds' office, and they show that the Indian Commission approved the sale. The now deserted mansion originally stood on 63 manicured acres with room for Antons vineyard, a winery, bakery and pergola for outdoor dining. My caretaker and dogs are harassed nightly and often threatened with physical violence. But given Carls 32-year history, no one is stepping forward to help. The post is as follows: And, hes thinking about putting solar panels on the back side of the house. Anthony, it seems, had become extremely successful in his extensive enterprises. For 20 years, Lopp and his lawyers insisted he had plans to restore the home, but nothing ever came of it. It was May 1. The original tax sale was delayed due to the pandemic. google_ad_slot = "7565819021"; He is half con man and half deluded child in my opinion. He lamented that people, specifically on a Facebook group page called Sauer Castle, are ignorant when they claim the castle is falling down. Its articles like mine, he told me, that give people the impression that its falling down. Unfortunately, the work wasnt completed because Lopp stopped making payments. This would give the Unified Government power of eminent domain, meaning the government could condemn the property, if necessary, the Kansas City Star reported. They were detached. Shortly after, he committed suicide by throwing himself from the tower. Anton chose the location of his home because it reminded him of this hometown along the Rhine River in the Swiss Alps. The dining room to the west of the entrance was furnished with a marble-top table and 24 chairs. A microburst did even more damage to the west side of the property and the tower. Carl wanted to meet us this weekend, she said. As a Sauer descendant from Anton Philio Sauer in New Orleons, I am indebted to you for documenting the who story and situation. Jones also told of a day that she woke up with the idea to take photos of the Sauer family plot. She remained where she was until her husband returned. Jones recalled her most frightening experience to Hughes in the attic level of the tower. The definitive, most authoritative work ever authored about the castle. He planted 18 acres of vines on his property and built a wine cellar from stone on the side of the cliff. The reports say that one of the former owners killed his entire family (a wife and either one or two children, depending on who is telling the story) and buried them in the backyard. This was just a ranch-style house with a massive tree in the front yard. Victoria came to Kansas City to visit family with her sisters in 1996. People believed these arrows meant finding a hidden treasure if the searchers discovered the point where the arrows' lines converged. The properties were owned by Mr. Lopp, a descendant of the original Sauer family. In 2015, a Facebook group page called Sauer Castle was created and now has over 10,000 members all dedicated to restoring the property. The foundation did look like it was in good shape, but as my editor was taking her turn leaning and looking, I took a good look inside the room that was once the parlor. The pictures we took show the figure of a woman in the fount upstairs window on the right looking at the house and another on the entrance stairs. Vine-covered arches led from the entrance of the cellar and a high-arched ceiling complimented racks placed to hold kegs of wine. The parlor on the west side featured Belgian lace curtains and a large fireplace with imported marble. has been the source of much speculation for its entire existence. As more potential delinquent tax sales came and went with Carl Lopp paying the taxes and fines at the very last minutes, more extended family came into town to see their descendants castle on the hill. The reason he doesnt pay the taxes isnt because he cant- its because he disputes the special assessments. People are tired.

Architect Asa Beebe Cross designed it as an example of Italianate architecture. READ MORE IN KANSAS CITY HAUNTINGS: HISTORY AND MYSTERY OF THE PARIS OF THE PLAINSby Becky Ray, On July 2, 2015, Sauer Castle's owner made a post to a Facebook group about the house, and I think it is essential that anyone interested in this home knows his feelings and respects his wishes and property. The script was rehearsed and perfected he has regurgitated the same stories- with the same attention to specific details- that I had seen in Thomas Laurances, Even though he had read my article and should have acknowledged that I knew the history of Sauer Castle quite well, he still started from the very beginning- unable to break from the repeated record of detail given to people less informed than I. Her own mother, Eva had grown up inside its walls and wanted her daughters to spend time with Eva Marie Sauer Perkins, who they called Gross Mutter (German for Grandmother). If the plan was approved, revenue from the project would help pay for wider roads and sewers. Historical societies have even offered to fix it up or buy it and put the family name on it, but Loop was unwilling.

Carl Lopp, a 64-year-old New York socialite, seemed to have lofty plans for his familys historic property. At the visitation, the police arrested him for not reporting to jail. He told me that he had done tuck-pointing a very costly expenditure. He allowed no one inside the home, but the exteriors broken windows, falling-down iron work and unkempt grounds could be seen from the street. Contact the agent for information.

He had plans of converting the mansion into a bed and breakfast, but as an absentee owner, the roof began to leak and windows were broken. Even when I am not there, I get daily reports on everything. Ill let those of you who know me well or have followed my writing take a quick guess of how this turned out. Sauer Castle is just a beautiful empty house that seems to beg for ghost stories to be attached to it. After his visit, Laurance did more research on his own and realized that there was more to the restoration of Sauer Castle. On Sept. 19, Carl greeted me as we walked toward the Castle. Carl has been an absent landlord, and the only one responsible for its current condition is Carl. home was haunted. Many thanks, Lillian. It was a newspaper clipping that looked to be about 20 years old with a woman's photograph in a wedding gown. That's the asking price for Sauer Castle", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sauer_Castle&oldid=1085830076, Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Kansas, Buildings and structures in Kansas City, Kansas, National Register of Historic Places in Kansas City, Kansas, Articles using NRISref without a reference number, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from October 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 2 May 2022, at 18:00. Bedrooms were on the second floor, and the Sauer Mansion was one of the first homes in Kansas City to have running water. He failed. Jones went on to relay to Hughes a couple of strange happenings in the house. However, for a house that most people in Kansas City consider haunted, no one has any activity stories. The Sauer family stored food and goods there for many years, and it is still intact and in perfect condition. Pritchard. She married widower John Seaman Perkins in 1907. From the third floor, a staircase ascended to the tower with a lookout showcasing the spectacular view. For years, his 18 acres of fine vineyards produced grapes to be made into wine. I'm afraid nobody can. It is worth the watch. Transoms still opened and closed and intricate knobs still adorned the doors. I started asking around locally for haunting stories when I began this research early in 2003. His orchids were award-winning, and his year-round access to flowers meant fresh arrangements always adorned the dining room table. I wasnt sure what to expect. On the first floor, 14-foot ceilings with 12-foot high windows welcomed visitors. He ignored me for the most part. The two and a half story home with a four-story tower was a sight to see for miles. At this time, no one lived in the house. In 1875, tragedy struck directly into the home when Anthonys 23-year-old son, Emil from his first marriage died inside the castle. He asserted that hed repaired the chimneys, brickwork, rebuilt the fireplaces, repaired the dormers, removed rotting floors in the basement, redone the plumbing in the bathrooms and replaced the electrical wiring. Huber subcontracted the work to erect the 8-foot, chain-link green fence that still stands today. great-great-grandson, Carl Lopp. He dealt in wine, wool, cotton, and coffee. There he remarried, had more children (total of 12) and built his c.1871 mansion, the Sauer Castle. unforgiveable that one person could be so short sighted. After they sold it, the next owner, Paul Berry, only lived in a small section of the house. No one knew who this boy was or what he did. In March 2000, the Kansas City Star wrote, In the last year, Lopp has cleared brush from the grounds, replaced broken window glass and repaired the brick facade. The music room adjoined the parlor and, along with another fireplace, included a grand piano. I must admit, it does resemble the Addams Family mansion. I received several emails from people who remember calling the place Igors and trespassing or harassing the caretaker while in high school. Mr. Lopp must make that payment by December 9 to remove the property from the sale, Green responded. That is why I have never given interviews to newspapers, radio, or TV stations who constantly contact me. I took a good look inside the room that was once the parlor. They walked the grounds, and Victoria noted that the smokehouse and chicken coop had collapsed. This is Carls reality. I am shocked by how many times the court has given him, "One last shot at a payment plan". There was never a hanging at the house, although there were one suicide and one natural death.

The way that they believe in their delusions is almost like a mental illness. I hate to be a party pooper, but I bet I could go to any cemetery today and find someone who died on this day. He has two vicious German Shepherd dogs to keep loiterers, looters and larcenists off the estate.. However, as with all social media, there is a big downside when people come onto sites who are not informed or who have a negative agenda. However, a later mention of Maurice Schwalm in the article leads me to believe that he was the psychic. Lopp visited Kansas City in 1997 for this mothers funeral and was promptly arrested. Daughter Eve Maria Sauer married William C. Van Fossen in the house, having one child named Helen before the marriage failed 18 months into it. His mission with this methodical tour was to convince me that I was incorrect in my words an, If you liked this post, please check out my Facebook group page and "like" it so you don't miss any of my writing!-, Remembering the Ruskin Heights Tornado 60 Years Later, Log Cabin in Cass County Uncovers a Promising Link to the Civil War and Order No. But when questioned as to who these residents were, no one knew names or periods. When I conduct research, I go all in. What sets me apart from most historians are two things: I contact living descendants and I tell history in stories. Lopp was very close to losing the castle to eminent domain. This home needs to be saved while there is still time, So what I am getting from what I have read- I can not purchase land and house together it is a beautiful well constructed home needs work but is simply beautiful . This site is strictly for informational and entertainment purposes and will not be held responsible or liable for its use or accuracy. A fountain in the front yard had water piped from a nearby spring.Stone pig-pens, a chicken house, a smoke and milk house along with outdoor brick ovens also graced the grounds of the property. He was ordered to pay back taxes and come up with a formal plan to restore the home. The work that Huber Construction did in 2000 on the west side porch is unrecognizable. Neighbors wanted to give him another chance. There must be credible correlating stories about the haunting, as this is the only proof we can obtain at this time. europe henry hallam state middle jordi

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