Murder Castle

by Tyler

It's gone now, but you can find a few pics of the place. In 1887 a man by the name of H.H. Holmes began working for a woman by the name of Dr. Holden. She owned a drugstore in englewood (it was either outside of or part of chicago i think) he was a pretty cool guy to most who knew him, most said he had a good sense of humor and that he was easy to get along, basically an all around pleasant guy. He was a guy who could really go far in life and he knew it. Well the same year he began working for Mrs. Dr. Holden, she vanished without a trace. When people curiously questioned it was announced to them that she had moved out west, and that she had sold him the place. 2 years later he bought a large lot of land nearby. He had a 3-story hotel built. The 1st floor had an area to buy jewelry and included the drugstore. The 2nd and 3rd levels were living quarters for guests, he had heard that the columbian exposition was coming in 1893 and decided this would be perfect to make money from the all the people coming (some would never be seen again) he added in some hidden staircases and passageways too. In short, H.H. Holmes was a monster, it isn't known for sure but estimates say that a little less than 50 people disappeared in his "hell hotel" He was a genius at insurance fraud and financial schemes, (which probably wasn't completely hard to do back in those days.) His wife, one of her friends and one of his friends were all in on it. He also got "married" several times (it's known one of his previous wives showed up to one of his marriages and pretended to be just a friend.) He would scheme his women out of money (including female guests who were either married or single) and during this time a pinkerton agent was on his trail (Holmes really got around) eventually he was caught (after he had killed his wife (the one that pretended at the marriage) and his good partner AND his wife and her children) but the agents kept wondering what happend to everyone else? well when they searched the place they discovered that the guests had quickly became his prisoners, he would interrogate them and extract their valuables then torture and execute them. In the secret rooms and basement it was discovered he had made his own makeshift medieval stretching rack, he had other torture devices too. He had his own crematorium, disecting table, surgical gear, and he had an acid vat and 2 quicklime pits each could dissolve someone in hours. He had dozens of bones and pieces of their clothing, he even preserved some of the skeltons of his mistresses, many of his prisoners were kept in gas chambers he created. He was hanged 9 days before his 36th birthday. At some point the place burned down, and many say he was America's 1st serial killer. Many will never forget his depraved doings thats for sure!