Connecticut Unsolved Part 2
The Black Dog of Gillette Castle
As illustrated in the previous article, Connecticut has no shortage of peculiar history and veritable urban legends. However, the last issue only focused on the big ones, the stories popularized by the media and whispered behind folded hands throughout all parts of the state for the last handful of centuries. This installment, instead, seeks to highlight the lesser known oddities and ghost stories, those mostly only familiar to Connecticut natives and local historians. This article focuses mainly on the history (and mystery) of Gillette Castle, from its strange namesake to the English folklore creature said to haunt its wooded grounds.
Gillette Castle, along with its surrounding grounds and water-front view is one of Connecticut’s premiere state parks, as evidenced by this written record of a grant dedicated to the restoration and upkeep of the castle and its grounds. The medieval style castle, complete with soaring stone turrets and spiraling stairwells, is located in East Haddam. It was originally built in the first half of the twentieth century by famous actor William Gillette after the death of his wife. There, Gillette lived until the estate was eventually purchased by the state of Connecticut in 1943 and converted into a state park. The castle had initially been dubbed “Seventh Sister” by Gillette himself, who insisted that the stone fortress was not, in fact, a castle but rather an estate. The Seventh Sister Estate’s original title was instead a reference to the seven surrounding hills, though it was changed by the state of Connecticut to its current name upon its purchase after Gillette’s death in 1937 at the ripe old age of 83. Today, visitors can take a tour of the fully furnished castle to catch a firsthand glimpse at its relatively modern interior, one that is certainly in disharmony with its intimidating stone exterior. Moreover, the labyrinthian trails spanning the castle’s grounds have been converted into well-maintained hiking trails, allowing visitors to make their own way throughout the estate’s grounds and visit the remnants of the miniature railroad track Gillette had built across the property.
The castle itself raises many questions. We know who built it, but why? Gillette’s ties to the nineteenth century world of Sherlock Holmes and dedication to stagecraft are perhaps why the castle appears so outdated, despite being built only a little over a century ago. During his lifetime, and before the castle was built, Gillette was best known for his on-stage portrayal of Sherlock Holmes. In fact, Gillette’s ties to the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle run deep. Gillette was not only a stage actor, but a screenwriter as well. Over the course of his career, he expanded upon Doyle’s work like no other writer had, until his influence became tied directly to Sherlock Holmes and his famous tales. This close tie is perhaps the reason for the rumored haunting of Gillette Castle, a rumor which has circulated throughout the East Haddam area since Gillette’s death, and centers around an infamous creature from English folklore: the bone-chilling Black Dog.
Made famous by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles and subsequent media such as the character Sirius Black in the Harry Potter franchise, the Black Dog is thought to be a harbinger of death, a grave omen for the living. Known by many names throughout history — including but not limited to: the Barghest, Black Shuck, the graveyard grim, and the church grim — the Black Dog earned a name for itself as a terrifying beast of monstrous proportion, complete with shaggy black fur and glowing red eyes, an apparition whose sudden appearance would spell certain doom for all witnesses. According to English folktales and history, it was thought that the first person (or animal) buried in a fresh graveyard would be cursed to wander the mortal plane eternally as a guide for wayward souls. As such, a dog would often be buried in each new graveyard plot so that a human soul would not be condemned to such a fate. Thus, the legend of the Black Dog came into being. Some accounts framed the Black Dog as a sort of spiritual guide, one that would lead lost travelers safely to their destination in the dead of night. Others told of a massive beast of shadow and sharp fangs, insisting that hearing the dog’s ghostly howl three times would spell imminent death.
Since it was built, there have been numerous sightings of the Black Dog at Gillette Castle. It is said that the castle grounds have become home to a strange black dog, who wanders the grounds seemingly aimlessly, no collar or owner in sight. However, Gillette Castle is not home to the only Black Dog sightings in Connecticut. Rather, perhaps more famous, is the Black Dog of Hanging Hills, which has reportedly taken up residence in Meriden’s very own Castle Craig, a location incredibly similar to Gillette’s twentieth century estate. For over 100 years visitors have reported sightings of this spectral canine, thus effectively dismissing the idea that the strange apparition might simply be some local resident’s lost pet.
As one might expect, the CTDA houses little information relating to the elusive Black Dog, a story so incredibly entrenched in local folklore and superstition that it has become a local myth. However, the repository does contain a surprising amount of information relating to Gillette and his family, as well as Meriden’s Hanging Hills and Castle Craig. Searching “Gillette Castle” brings up some 21,000 related items, including letters written by William Gillette, a photo of Francis Gillette (William’s father) and his family and a photo of one of the Castle Craig stone turrets. Similarly, a search using the term “Hanging Hills” brings up a painted landscape of Meriden’s scenery at sunset, complete with its mountainous hills and sprawling fields. Such items offer a fact-based glimpse into the histories and origins of such deep-rooted folklore. While there is, of course, no definitive proof that Gillette Castle boasts the infamous Black Dog of famous folklore, its history is fascinating and inviting all on its own, especially considering that it has been recognized as a state park, available for public visitation and exploration. The CTDA’s repository grounds these far-fetched fairytales, providing a realistic glimpse at the interesting locations, people, and chronology Connecticut has to offer.
Whether or not there truly is a Black Dog roaming throughout Connecticut, there is no denying that such tall tales lend a certain sense of relevance and intrigue to CT’s historical state parks and attractions. Regardless of if one chooses to believe Connecticut’s ghost stories, these legends have become an integral part of the state’s history and local culture. Gillette Castle and Castle Craig remain as some of the most interesting places to visit in the state, teeming with rich histories and thrilling rumors. Though, perhaps it is best to visit on a clear, bright day, lest you find out that the rumor of Connecticut’s very own Black Dog is more fact than fiction.
For more information on Gillette, his castle, and the Black Dog of the Hanging Hills, visit the links below!
https://www.gillettecastlefriends.org/history-of-the-castle
https://www.gillettecastlefriends.org/park-info
Connecticut Digital Archive Connect is the publication of the Connecticut Digital Archive, a program of the UConn Library. Visit https://ctdigitalarchive.org to learn more.
